The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking, more commonly known as REFORMA, is an affiliate of the American Library Association

American Library Association

The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....

 formed in 1971 to promote library

Library

In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...

 services to Latino

Latino

The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...

s and the Spanish

Spanish language

Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...

 speaking. It is registered in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....

 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization

Non-profit organization

Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...

.

REFORMA's activities include promoting the collection of Spanish-language materials in libraries; advocating the recruitment of Latinos to work in libraries in order to better serve the Latino population, educating Latinos about the services public libraries offer; promoting library programs that benefit Latinos. REFORMA also serves as a network of librarian

Librarian

A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...

s who share these interests.

Many of REFORMA's activities are pursued within twenty-four regional and local chapters, which operate autonomously to achieve the association's goals in local libraries and communities. National activities include a scholarship drive which funds graduate education in librarianship for students sharing REFORMA's goals and the publication of a biannual newsletter. REFORMA also grants three awards: the Trejo Librarian of the Year Award to a librarian who has made exemplary contributions to the library profession in service to the Latino community, the Mora Award to libraries in recognition of their Día de Los Niños/Día de Los Libros (Children's Day/Book Day) activities, and the Pura Belpré

Pura Belpré

Pura Belpré was the first Puerto Rican librarian in New York City. She was also a writer, collector of folktales, and puppeteer. There is some dispute as to the date of her birth which has been given as February 2, 1899, December 2, 1901 and February 2, 1903.- Education :She was born in Cidra,...

 Award, which recognizes children's books on Latino themes. Over the years, Reforma has also taken positions and become involved in political issues concerning Latino communities in the United States, especially issues that affect reading and library services. Examples are: Position on Language Rights; Resolution in Support of Immigrants' Rights to Free Public Library Access; Resolution Opposing Sensenbrenner Bill (H.R. 4437); and Statement Regarding Censorship of Children's Book (in Florida).

Presidents

The Presidency of REFORMA is currently a position that is held for three years, including one as Vice President/President-Elect and one as Past President. Past and current presidents:

• Loida Garcia-Febo, (2009-)
• Luis Chaparro, (2008–2009)
• Mario Ascencio, (2007–2008)
• Roxana Benavides, (2006–2007)
• Ana-Elba Pavón, (2005–2006)
• José Ruiz Álvarez, (2004–2005)
• Linda Chavez Doyle, (2003–2004)
• Ben Ocón, (2002–2003)
• Susana Hinojosa, (2001–2002)
• Oralia Garza de Cortes, (2000–2001)
• Toni Bissessar, (1999–2000)
• Jacqueline Ayala, (1998–1999)
• Sandra Ríos Balderrama, (1997–1998)
• Edward Erazo, (1996–1997)
• Judith Castiano, (1995–1996)
• Gilda Baeza Ortego, (1994–1995)
• Camila Alire
  Camila Alire
  Camila Alire, Past-President of the American Library Association for 2009–2010, currently serves as Professor of Practice for the Simmons College’s PhD program in library managerial leadership and professor at San Jose State University's LIS executive MLIS managerial leadership program...
  
  , (1993–1994)
• Martín Gómez, (1992–1993)
• Mario González, (1991–1992)
• Ron Rodríguez, (1990–1991)
• Rhonda Ríos-Kravitz, (1989–1990)
• Ingrid Betancourt, (1988–1989)
• Elizabeth Rodriguez-Miller, (1987–1988)
• Elena Tscherny, (1986–1987)
• Susan Luévano, (1985–1986)
• Salvador Güereña, (1984–1985)
• Albert A. Milo, (1983–1984)
• Luis Herrera, (1982–1983)
• Cesar Caballero, (1980–1982)
• Daniel Flores Durán, (1978–1980)
• Roberto Cabello Argandoña, (1977–1978)
• José G. Taylor, (1976–1977)
• John Ayala, (1974–1976)
• Alberto Irabian, (1974-1974)
• Arnulfo Trejo
  Arnulfo Trejo
  Arnulfo Duenes Trejo was a writer and Professor of Library Science at the University of Arizona. He was a leader in the movement to increase library collections of Latino literature and Spanish-language materials in the United States...
  
  , (1971–1974)