Welcome to our first contributor post from our very own REFORMA SJSU iSchool student member, Tiffany Wilson. Here she discusses the connections between the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights and REFORMA Nationals Mission and Vision.
The Library Bill of Rights closely connects to the REFORMA National Mission and Vision. The Library Bill of Rights protects the rights of patrons to receive information. The access to information is an essential human right. In the bill titled “Economic Barriers to Information Access: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights it states “Libraries and their governing bodies should carefully examine terms or conditions attached to library funding and should oppose conditions that might limit full and equal access to content” (American Library Association, 2020, para. 10). Libraries and librarians should not limit information access based upon the funding of the library. This aligns with REFORMA’s National Vision and Mission statements which seeks to “promote the development of library collections to include Spanish-language and Latino oriented materials” (REFORMA, 2020 para.1).
The Library Bill of Rights does not promote librarians choosing funding that would limit full and equal access to library content. Full and equal access to library content is in alignment with REFORMA’s mission and vision statements. Since 1971 REFORMA strives to increase “the recruitment of more bilingual and bicultural library professionals and support staff;” (REFORMA, 2020, para. 1). With the increase in bilingual and bicultural library staff; more patrons have the opportunity to connect with bilingual librarians. Bilingual librarians can introduce bilingual resources to patrons. Bicultural librarians also can help promote the importance of libraries to a wider demographic group.
By reaching to a wider demographic group, bicultural and bilingual librarians can help to serve the needs of the Latino community. Serving the needs of the Latino community aligns directly with the mission and vision statements of REFORMA. With the assurance of library content, REFORMA has the opportunity to establish a national information and support network among individuals who share the same mission and vision goals as REFORMA. The education of the U.S. Latino population will be increased due to increased availability and different varieties of library services. By not limiting access to information, REFORMA can meet another goal which is lobbying to “preserve existing library resource centers serving the interests of Latinos” (REFORMA, 2020, para. 1). The Library Bill of Rights will help assist the mission and vision of REFORMA.
Another important goal of REFORMA is to advocate amongst the public about the importance of libraries and librarianship amongst Latinos. This builds the relevancy of libraries and the importance of supporting them. The Library Bill of Rights helps additionally to support free access to information and allows REFORMA to be a liaison to other professional organizations. REFORMA works with other professional organizations to help promote the importance of libraries as well as profess the importance of providing access to information for the Latino community.
By aligning the importance of professional development and education with the ALA Bill of Rights, this helps to promote library and information services to Latinos and the Spanish speaking community. Per Pew Research (2019) Latinos and the Spanish speaking community represented more than half (52%) of the total U.S. population growth (para. 1). This demonstrates the importance that organizations like REFORMA exist to help service this vibrant and growing information community. This information community cannot afford to be overlooked or underserved. It is vital that organizations like REFORMA strive to bring information and promote future bicultural and bilingual librarians to enter programs like the iSchool at San José State University to study library and information science.
References
American Library Association. (2019, June). Economic barriers to information access: An interpretation of the library bill of rights. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/economicbarriers
Pew Research. (2020). Hispanics have accounted for more than half of total U.S. population growth since 2010. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/07/10/hispanics-have-accounted-for-more-than-half-of-total-u-s-population-growth-since-2010/
REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking. (2020). About reforma. https://www.reforma.org/about
About the Author
Tiffany Wilson
Tiffany Wilson is a second year student at the San José State University iSchool. Tiffany currently resides in Monterey, California. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Human Communications at California State University Monterey Bay in 2007 and an associates degree in Spanish from Monterey Peninsula College in 2019. She has a background in volunteering in public libraries and is bilingual in English and Spanish. Tiffany is a current member of REFORMA. Tiffany is dedicated to advocating for equity in public libraries. She is a lifelong reader and passionate about libraries. In her free time Tiffany enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends.
Wonderfully written and very informative.