Who We Are

A Message from Our President

Greetings!

My name is Andy Paul, and it is a great honor to serve as president of the Northern California REFORMA chapter Bibliotecas Para La Gente for the current 2021/2022 term. I have been working in public libraries in the San Francisco Bay Area for over 20 years and have almost completed my MLIS. I have been active in Bibliotecas Para La Gente since 2018 and was a previous recipient of the Rita Torres scholarship.  I am a 4th generation Californian who speaks Spanish, and I am a translator for the city and library I work for. I learned Spanish in school, at work, by helping and speaking to people in my community, and I kept learning as an undergraduate at SJSU and after, taking courses at San Jose City College. I am active in the local labor movement and have been fighting for public employees and working families for about 10 years. I am currently also the secretary of my bargaining unit and am working diligently to negotiate good contracts that support safe and fair working conditions for employees.

Please join us for a meeting to see what Bibliotecas Para La Gente is all about! We have some exciting things coming on the horizon and are always looking for new members to advocate for promoting and enhancing library services to the Hispanic and Spanish speaking communities.

Thank you,

Andy Paul

Bibliotecas Para La Gente

President 2021-2022, 2022-2023

Officers of Bibliotecas Para La Gente

President

BPLGinfo+president@gmail.com

Vice-President

BPLG+vp@gmail.com

Past-President

General descriptions of positions

- Calls and presides over 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 written notice or by email at least 1-2 weeks ahead.

- Compiles and distributes the Agenda 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 conferences, including ALA annual and midwinter.

- Prepares annual reports of Chapter accomplishments and activities to be presented at REFORMA Executive Board meeting at the annual ALA conference.

- Coordinates conference responsibilities.


- Chairs the Nominations Committee.

- 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.


- 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.


- Takes charge of and is responsible for all the fiscal, financial, and budgetary affairs of BPLG.

- Prepares and distributes a Treasurer’s Report at every BPLG meeting.

- Makes payment to REFORMA of one third of Chapter dues collected as stipulated by REFORMA procedures.

- Makes payment to REFORMA of all member donations to REFORMA scholarship fund as stipulated by REFORMA procedures.

- Processes membership information and payments in a timely manner.

- Forwards new member information to BPLG President.

- Compiles and distributes a membership directory on a regular basis.

- Coordinates, together with Secretary, membership renewal campaign in the fall.


- Offers assistance to the current President and Officers.

- Serves as a Q&A person to the organization.


- Is responsible for the BPLG website.

- Updates the website as needed.

- Collaborates with the Web Committee.

- Presents proposals for changes to the website to the membership.

Prior Executive Boards

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

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

President - Adriana Lugo

Vice President - Andy Paul

Past President - Jennifer Maria Weisberg

Secretary - Esmeralda Casas

Treasurer - Patricia (Pat) Toney

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

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

President - Francisco Vargas

Vice President - Esmeralda Casas

Past President - Armando Rivera

Secretary - Jennifer Weisberg

Treasurer - Patricia (Pat) Toney

Officers 2016-2017

President - Armando Rivera

Vice President - Francisco Vargas

Past President - Janice Garcia

Secretary - Esmeralda Casas

Treasurer - Patricia (Pat) Toney

Webmaster - Heather Ott