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A Message from Our President
A Message from Our President
Bibliotecas Para La Gente (BPLG) is the local Northern California Chapter of REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking. We meet every other month via zoom for our regular business meeting. On the other months, we have an in-person Social in person at a restaurant somewhere in Northern California. These are usually on a Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Our activities at the current time include fundraising for our various scholarships and grants for library school students, library workers, and librarian professional development. We also host an annual Spanish Book Fair every February in Northern California that allows people to select Spanish language materials from vendors who accept our invitation to show us their materials in person at a library that varies from year to year.
The relationships formed in this organization have allowed me to mentor and be mentored. I personally did not hear about BPLG until a fellow student in library school asked me why I was not involved. This was shortly before I graduated. I did join after being hired for my first librarian position but did not have the ability to attend the meetings until I changed jobs. I am so glad I did. For me, BPLG allowed me the opportunity to be with others doing the same type of work I did. BPLG fought the isolation I might have felt at work otherwise. By getting involved in BPLG, I learned leadership skills and networked with others who became my library family. Later, I became involved in National REFORMA and eventually became National REFORMA President. That expanded my professional network exponentially. I now have a large network of people I can turn to within Spanish Services, Children's Services, and other library areas. Being a member of this organization has been incredibly beneficial to both my professional career and personal life. I do not think I am alone in feeling this way and I invite you to join us if you work in a community that serves Latinos and the Spanish Speaking. I strongly encourage students to join us as well — you can do so for free!
Ana Elba Pavón
Bibliotecas Para La Gente President, 2025-2026
Officers of Bibliotecas Para La Gente
Officers of Bibliotecas Para La Gente
Vice-President
Vice-President
Catarina De Los Santos
Catarina De Los Santos
BPLGinfo+vp@gmail.com
General descriptions of positions
General descriptions of positions
- CHAPTER PRESIDENT
Calls and presides over the Executive Board and all general membership meetings of the Chapter, serves as the Chapter’s official representative and provides leadership for
all its activities.
Notifies all members of upcoming meetings by email at least 1-2 weeks ahead.
Compiles and distributes the Agenda, Minutes of previous meetings and Treasurer’s Report for the Chapter Meeting to all members.
Represents and speaks on behalf of the organization in its relationship with any other organizations or agencies as appropriate.
Keeps track of and facilitates the work of all BPLG committees.
As a member of the REFORMA Executive Board with one vote, represents the Chapter at REFORMA business meetings and activities at national Library conferences
Prepares mid-year and annual reports of Chapter accomplishments and activities to be presented at REFORMA Executive Board meetings in January and at the annual ALA
conference.
Coordinates conference responsibilities.
- VICE PRESIDENT / PRESIDENT ELECT
Chairs the Membership and Nominations Committees.
Assists the President with the duties listed under that office.
Becomes President after serving one year as Vice President.
Assumes the duties of the President in the President’s absence or incapacity.
- SECRETARY
Is responsible for taking minutes at the chapter’s bi-monthly meetings.
Sends out minutes to membership following the chapter’s bimonthly meetings.
Coordinates, together with Treasurer, membership renewal campaign in the fall.
- TREASURER
Manages and is responsible for all the fiscal, financial, and budgetary affairs of BPLG.
Prepares and distributes a Treasurer’s Report at every BPLG meeting.
Receives donations for Chapter scholarship and fundraising.
Receives payment from REFORMA for Chapter dues collected as stipulated by REFORMA procedures.
Makes payment to REFORMA of any member donations to REFORMA scholarship fund as stipulated by REFORMA procedures.
Files annual paperwork related to taxes and non-profit status.
- IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
Offers assistance to the current President and officers.
Serves as a consultant to the chapter and active member of the Executive Board.
- WEB ADMINISTRATOR
Is responsible for updates to the BPLG website, both English and Spanish versions.
Collaborates with the Web Committee.
Presents proposals for changes to the website to the membership and reports updates to Executive Board and membership meetings.
Chairs the Social Media Committee which includes public information and marketing.
Prior Executive Boards
Prior Executive Boards
Officers 2024-2025
Officers 2024-2025
President - Joanna M. Arteaga La Spina
Vice President - Élan Delgadillo
Past President - Adrián Barrientos
Secretary - Janice Garcia
Treasurer - Patricia (Pat) Toney
Webmaster - Yajaira Cavazos
Officers 2023-2024
Officers 2023-2024
President - Adrian Barrientos
Vice President - Joanna M. Arteaga La Spina
Past President - Andy Paul
Secretary - Adriana Lugo
Treasurer - Patricia (Pat) Toney
Webmaster - Joanna M. Arteaga La Spina
Officers 2022-2023
Officers 2022-2023
President - Andy Paul
Vice President - Adrian Barrientos
Past President - Andy Paul
Secretary - Hector Garcia
Treasurer - Patricia (Pat) Toney
Webmaster - Joanna M. Arteaga La Spina
Officers 2021-2022
Officers 2021-2022
President - Andy Paul
Vice President - Adrian Barrientos
Past President - Adriana Lugo
Secretary - Susan Nilson
Treasurer - Patricia (Pat) Toney
Webmaster - Joanna M. Arteaga La Spina
Officers 2020-2021
Officers 2020-2021
President - Adriana Lugo
Vice President - Andy Paul
Past President - Jennifer Maria Weisberg
Secretary - Esmeralda Casas
Treasurer - Patricia (Pat) Toney
Officers 2019-2020
Officers 2019-2020
President - Jennifer Maria Weisberg
Vice President - Adriana Lugo
Past President - Esmeralda Casas
Secretary - Andy Paul
Treasurer - Patricia (Pat) Toney
Webmaster - Elizabeth Munoz Rosas / Nancy Macias
Officers 2018-2019
Officers 2018-2019
President - Esmeralda Casas
Vice President - Jennifer Maria Weisberg
Past President - Francisco Vargas
Secretary - Adriana Lugo
Treasurer - Patricia (Pat) Toney
Webmaster - Dolly Goyal
Officers 2017-2018
Officers 2017-2018
President - Francisco Vargas
Vice President - Esmeralda Casas
Past President - Armando Rivera
Secretary - Jennifer Weisberg
Treasurer - Patricia (Pat) Toney
Officers 2016-2017
Officers 2016-2017
President - Armando Rivera
Vice President - Francisco Vargas
Past President - Janice Garcia
Secretary - Esmeralda Casas
Treasurer - Patricia (Pat) Toney
Webmaster - Heather Ott
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