Who We Are
A Message from Our President
With about 30 years as an experienced public librarian serving Latino communities in the Bay Area (Northern California), I look forward to leading this organization and using my professional experience as a public librarian to continue and expand Bibliotecas Para La Gente’s mission to provide resources, professional developmental and mentorship opportunities to our organization’s members. My hope is to empower BPLG members to better serve the Latino/Latinx communities they serve with professional tools and resources.
Furthermore, after having faced a worldwide Pandemic that presented us with challenges and difficulties in providing library services to the Latino/Latinx communities we serve, we now have the opportunity to better serve our Latino/Latinx communities which need more than ever. Incorporating the talents of all librarians (experienced & new to the profession) and the professional tools & resources (used in the past & new technologies/tools) will help our organization reach that goal.
Adrián Barrientos
Bibliotecas Para La Gente
President 2023-2024
Officers of Bibliotecas Para La Gente
Past-President
General descriptions of positions
- CHAPTER PRESIDENT
- 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.
- VICE PRESIDENT / PRESIDENT ELECT
- 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.
- 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
- 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.
- IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT
- Offers assistance to the current President and Officers.
- Serves as a Q&A person to the organization.
- WEBMASTER
- 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