• 2024 Pura Belpré Book Donation Grant

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    CONTACT: Pura Belpré Book Grant Committee

    Submissions now open for Pura Belpré Book Donation Grant

    REFORMA de Florida announces the creation of a book donation grant of Latinx children’s and YA books to a Florida library or organization serving Latinx youth that demonstrates how their community might benefit from receiving the books. The grant aims to bring books created by Latinx authors and illustrators portraying the Latino cultural experience into the lives of children. You do not have to be a member of REFORMA de Florida to apply.

    Your application should explain how your Florida community will benefit from receiving the books, and include your name, email address, phone number, type of library, name of your library, your status as a REFORMA de Florida member (non-members are welcome to apply), and anything else you’d like the committee to know.

    To apply by the August 15th deadline, send proposals to: redeflpurabelprebookgrant@gmail.com

    About the REFORMA de Florida Book Donation Grant

    Applicants submit proposals to qualify to win a collection of 100-200 books published in 2023, among titles submitted to the 2024 Pura Belpré Award Selection Committee. Applicants may include public libraries, school libraries, and/or other institutions providing literacy-based family programs to Latino communities in Florida.

    The deadline for submitting applications is August 15, 2024.

    Questions regarding the application process may be addressed to committee members Isabel Castro, Lucia M. Gonzalez or Alma Ramos-McDermott at redeflpurabelprebookgrant@gmail.com

    About REFORMA de Florida

    REFORMA de Florida is a chapter of REFORMA which actively seeks to promote the development of library collections to include Spanish-language and Latino oriented materials; the recruitment of more bilingual and bicultural library professionals and support staff; the development of library services and programs that meet the needs of the Latino community; the establishment of a national information and support network among individuals who share our goals; the education of the U.S. Latino population in regards to the availability and types of library services; and lobbying efforts to preserve existing library resource centers serving the interests of Latinos. REFORMA is an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA).

    To learn more about REFORMA de Florida visit https://reformadeflorida.org/

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  • REFORMA de Florida Says “Presente” at ALA Annual 2022

    The 2022 Annual Conference of the American Library Association (ALA) took place in Washington, DC, June 24-28, 2022. Several of our members and officers attended and/or participated in different capacities. Here are some highlights of our members participation:

    Lucia Gonzalez, former Director of North Miami Public Library, concluded her year as President of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC.) As such, she hosted the Newbery/Caldecott Banquet to honor this year’s winners of best literature for children. What a nice coincidence that this year’s Newbery Medal was presented to Donna Barba Higuera for the book The Last Cuentista, which is also the recipient of REFORMA’s Pura Belpré Award! Lucia presided the awards ceremony with grace and we all feel proud of her representing us! Congratulations, Lucia!

    ALSC President Lucia Gonzalez presides the Newbery-Caldecott Banquet at ALA 2022

    In addition, Lucia presented the ALSC Charlemae Rollins President Program with the title: “Boundaries Be Gone!: Using Stories to Connect” which included a panel with speakers: author and scholar David Bowles, illustrator Michaela Goade, and USF SI Professor Emerita and Community Literacy activist Dr. Cora Dunkley. The program was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Henrietta M. Smith, USF School of Information Professor, who was Lucia’s beloved mentor. Dr. Smith was also a member and supporter of REFORMA de Florida in the early 2000s.

    Dr. Cora Dunkley & Lucia Gonzalez at ALSC President’s Program 2022
    Dedication to Dr. Henrietta M. Smith

    Several Florida reformistas, including Alma Ramos McDermott, Alicia Long, Isabel Castro, Jenny Lizarraga, and more, attended several of REFORMA’s events, which included a “Tarde de Cuentos” at the Library of Congress (read this ALSC blog post to know more), a Fundraising Gala at the Martin L. King, Jr. Memorial Library, and membership and committee meetings. Past-President Alicia K. Long received the Dr. Arnulfo Trejo Librarian of the Year (LOTY) Award along with Oralia Garza de Cortés, who received the Elizabeth Martinez Lifetime Achievement Award.

    Tarde de Cuentos at the Library of Congress
    REFORMA President & Vice President with 2022 Award Recipients Oralia Garza de Cortes and Alicia K. Long
    REFORMA de Florida present at Newbery/Caldecott Banquet

    As always, a highlight of the Annual Conference is the presentation of the Pura Belpré Award, also called the “Celebración”. Our members who were able to attend enjoyed the annual display of color, music, art, and literature, as well as the speeches from Belpré honorees, who were very emotional and poignant. You can read more about the event in this ALSC blog post.

    Pura Belpré Award 2022 Celebración
    Authors and Illustrators Honored with Pura Belpré Award 2022
    Bailes de mi Tierra – Children performers

    Images courtesy of Alicia K. Long, 2022.

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  • “Para Bailar la Bamba…” REFORMA de Florida Member Interviews Los Lobos

    Maria Vega, REFORMA de Florida member and Librarian Senior at Northwest Regional Library (Broward Libraries,) had a unique opportunity to interview the members of the iconic musical group Los Lobos. What an honor!

    In an upcoming meeting, Maria will share the experience with us, and she will also let us know where the interview will be posted. Well done, Maria!

    Maria Vega, our new Vice-President/President-Elect
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  • REFORMA at Florida Library Association (FLA) 2022 Annual Conference

    The 2022 Annual Conference of our state’s library association (Florida Library Association, or FLA) took place in a hybrid format this year, for the second time. In addition to a virtual component, the in-person event took place in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. on May 23-25, 2022.

    Members Freda Mosquera, Heidi Colon, and Alicia Long were some faces seen at the in-person version, who made sure to spread the word about the chapter, They attended several events, networking and hosting an informal meet-up for those interested in the chapter. In the virtual version, members Mari Martinez Serrano and Dr. Vanessa Reyes participated and presented programs, and we heard that they were very active in the chat rooms!

    REFORMA de Florida President Alicia K. Long & Member Freda Mosquera at FLA 2022

    Recap of the Conference: https://www.flalib.org/2022-conference-recap

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  • News

    Welcome to REFORMA de Florida’s new website!

    In this section you will find the latest news from our chapter, as well us downloadable copies of past newsletters.

  • Book Review: Singing with Elephants

    Singing with Elephants by Margarita Engle, Penguin Random House (Viking Books), 2022.

    Reviewed by: Alma Ramos McDermott

    Category: Children (Recommended for 10-14 years old)

    Rating: 5 stars

    Oriol misses her grandmother and Cuba. She, her parents and older sister moved to California to get special treatment for her grandmother’s diabetes, but it didn’t work. Due to trouble mastering English, she’s bullied at school and has learned to keep herself closed to others. She can be herself with the animals she helps her veterinarian father to care for, as she remembers Cuba and time spent with her beloved grandmother.

    On one of her daily walks she meets a friendly woman named Gabriela Mistral, the first Latin American winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, who helps her learn how to turn thoughts into poetry. Oriol is thrilled when she meets a friendly elephant who gives birth to twins, as spending time with them, writing poetry and singing with their elephant voices helps her feel better. Unfortunately their rich owner has other plans for the family. He believes elephants exist for his pleasure, so decides to take one of the twins to train for his own use. Without nourishment and love from its mother, Oriol knows the baby elephant will die. Can an eleven-year-old girl use her newly found voice to convince others they need to help her save its life?

    Oriol’s words and thoughts flow through Margarita Engle’s poetic style of writing. As she learns to shape her poetic voice, and sing the song of elephants, young readers will also be excited to do so and learn how to sing too.

    Includes “Author’s note,” “Gabriela Mistral’s poetry for children,” and “Further reading.”


    Note: This review was originally posted in You Decide: Should I Read it or Not?.

    Reproduced here as a courtesy of Alma Ramos McDermott.