2022-2023 Board members from left to right, Vanessa Reyes, Alicia K. Long, Isabel Castro, and Mari Martinez Serrano.
About JCLC: The Joint Council of Librarians of Color (JCLC, Inc.) formed in June, 2015 as a nonprofit organization that advocates for and addresses the common needs of the American Library Association ethnic affiliates.
What is the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award:
The Elizabeth Martinez Lifetime Achievement Award (LAA) was created to recognize those who have achieved excellence in librarianship over an extended (over 20 years) period of service and who have made significant and lasting contributions to REFORMA, as well as to the Latino and the Spanish-speaking communities.
About Lucia Martinez Gonzalez (from the REFORMA National website)
Lucia Gonzalez came from Cuba to the US with her parents and sister as refugees. She was 11 years old and didn’t know the language. In 1983 she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and in 1988 her MLIS from the University of South Florida, Tampa. She is the author of The Bossy Gallito, 1996 Pura Belpré Children’s Literature Honor Medal; Señor Cat’s Romance and Other Favorite Stories from Latin America, and The Storyteller’s Candle, 2009 Pura Belpré Children’s Literature Honor Medal. Lucia served as Chair of REFORMA’s Children & YA Services Committee from 2006-2016; is a co-founding member of Noche de Cuentos; two-time recipient of Library Journal’s Movers & Shakers Award, the 2010-11 Past-President of REFORMA; and the 2020-21 President of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). She is inspired by the pioneering work of Pura Belpré and the visionary librarians who were, and continue to be, innovators in providing services to immigrant families and who understand the importance of honoring culture and preserving stories.
REFORMA de Florida Nominations Committee is pleased to announce that the election to fill positions on the Executive Board 2023-2024 has concluded. Thanks to all who cast their votes, you are helping us to shape and empower our chapter.
Congratulations to Maria Feliciano and Isabel Castro!
Maria Feliciano has been elected as our new vice president. She is a recent MLIS graduate from USF and is now a children’s librarian.
Isabel Castro has been reelected as treasurer.
Everyone Can Serve! We remind you that there are special committees that also need your participation and support. Visit our website to learn more about the different opportunities to serve the chapter and help REFORMA de FL thrive!
Also, please check your REFORMA membership status. Some of your memberships expire soon, so we want to make sure your renewal doesn’t slip by you.
We look forward to another great year!
REFORMA de Florida
Executive Board 2022-2023
A Brief History of El día de los niños/El día de los libros
El Día del niño is celebrated each year on April 30th. This day is all about recognizing the importance of children in society and promotes their well being and literacy. “El día de los niños,” is a traditional holiday that is celebrated in Mexico and many other Latin American countries sin 1925. Acclaimed author Pat Mora took up the cause in 1997 and brought it to the United States where the celebration includes literacy and the love for reading. A year later, the U.S. Congress officially designated April 30 as “Day of the Child.”
As stated in the American Library Association website, Día is a nationally recognized initiative that emphasizes the importance of literacy for all children from all backgrounds. It is a daily commitment to linking children and their families to diverse books, languages and cultures. The common goals of all Día programming are to:
Planning to celebrate Día at your library? Check out the following resources:
Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) – A Division of the American Library Association (ALA)- webpage: El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day) – Booklists
Another ALA webpage dedicated to Día: Celebrating Día Today and Every Day of the Year
REFORMA – The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and Spanish Speaking – Día Mini-Grants
Pat Mora’s Website: Children’s Day, Book Day Resources to Share
Colorín Colorado: El día de los niños/El día de los libros
California State Association: Día de los niños/Día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day)
Texas State Library: El Día de los niños/El Día de los libros: A Celebration of Childhood and Bilingual Literacy
We would love to see you at the JCLC Conference. Join us during the JCLC All Conference Meet and Greet Thursday, February 9 from (5:30-to 7:30pm). We hope to see you there!
Youth Illustration Award: “Where Wonder Grows,” Illustrated by Adriana M J Garcia and written by Xelena Gonzalez. Published by Cinco Puntos Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books
Youth Illustration Honor Books:
“The Coquíes Still Sing,” illustrated by Krystal Quiles, written by Karina Nicole González
“A Land of Books: Dreams of Young Mexihcah Word Painters,” illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh
“Magic: Once Upon a Faraway Land,” illustrated and written by Mirelle Ortega
“Phenomenal AOC: The Roots and Rise of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez,” illustrated by Loris Lora, written by Anika Aldamuy Denise
“Srta. Quinces,” illustrated and written by Kat Fajardo
“Still Dreaming / Seguimos soñando,” illustrated by Magdalena Mora, written by Claudia Guadalupe Martínez, translated by Luis Humberto Crosthwaite
Children’s Author Award: “Frizzy,” by Claribel A. Ortega. Published by First Second Books, a division of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
Youth Author Honor Books:
“The Coquíes Still Sing,” written by Karina Nicole González, illustrated by Krystal Quiles
“The Notebook Keeper: A Story of Kindness from the Border,” written by Stephen Briseño, illustrated by Magdalena Mora
“Tumble,” written by Celia C. Pérez
YA Author Award: “Burn Down, Rise UP,” by Vincent Tirado. Published by Sourcebooks Fire, an imprint of Sourcebooks
Young Adult Author Honor Books:
“Breathe and Count Back from Ten,” by Natalia Sylverter
“High Spirits,” by Camille Gomera-Tavarez
“The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School,” by Sonora Reyes
You all have spoken! The results of the first REFORMA de Florida Mock Pura Belpré Award are in. Thank you to everyone who voted. We invite you all to watch the announcement of the American Library Association’s Youth Media Awards (YMA) on Monday, January 30th 2023, at 9:00am EST and see if we selected any of the winners! REFORMA President Romelia Salinas will be announcing the Belpré Awards in English and Spanish…
Now, on to our predictions!
Visit https://www.reforma.org/dia-grants to learn more and to apply!
El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), commonly known as Día, is a celebration every day of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30. The celebration emphasizes the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds. REFORMA is proud to be a founding partner of Día.
REFORMA will award up to 5 mini-grants of $300 to support a Día program that celebrates Latino culture.
Each year the American Library Association honors books, videos, and other outstanding materials for children and teens. Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, the ALA Youth Media Awards – include the prestigious Pura Belpré Awards, named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. These awards guide parents, educators, librarians, and others in selecting the best materials for youth. As we approach the annual Youth Media Award (YMA) announcements to be held at the 2023 LibLearnX on January 30th, join us to predict which titles will be selected as the 2023 Pura Belpré Award winners for the categories of Children’s Author (Text), Children’s Illustrator, and Young Adult.
On this short form, share which books you feel (or hope) win the Pura Belpré Awards for this year. We can’t wait to see what everyone is predicting the winners will be!
About the Pura Belpré Awards (from the ALSC website):
The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), divisions of the American Library Association (ALA), and the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking ( REFORMA), an ALA affiliate.
The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. As a children’s librarian, storyteller, and author, she enriched the lives of Puerto Rican children in the U.S.A. through her pioneering work of preserving and disseminating Puerto Rican folklore.
The award is now given annually. It was given as a biennial award from 1996 through 2008. Beginning with the 2021 award, the Young Adult Author category was added with YALSA’s partnership.
Does your library have all the past Pura Belpré Award winners? Download a list of past winners HERE!
Want to host a Mock Pura Belpré Award at your library!?
Thank you! Good luck to all the proposed titles!!!
REFORMA de FL Executive Board
The Joint Conference of Librarians of Color has been rescheduled to February 8-12, 2023 at TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach, FL. You can visit the conference’s website for more information. REFORMA de FL will be present and we will plan a meet up. More details coming soon! We hope to see you in St. Pete on February!
REFORMA de Florida 