ALA Adventures: REFORMA

The American Library Association's annual conference at Chicago (#alaac17) for 2017 is concluding tomorrow and luckily I was able to attend for the first time. The conference dates are June 22, 2017 to June 27, 2017. I've attended many sessions that have given me a great deal of inspiring information to bring back to my library. Outside of topics covering my job in a very direct way (instruction, reference, data analysis, research, etc.) there was the opportunity to look into topics important personally that still influence all libraries, one being diversity. Today, I finally took a step to become more involved in an organization I joined in library school called REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking.

I am of Puerto Rican and Irish decent. Being biracial has presented a challenge for me at times because I struggle to feel a part of either community. Spanish was something I learned as an adult and growing up people would tell me I was not a real Puerto Rican since I could not speak the language. On the opposite side, I was excluded or experienced a hard time with my white peers because I am Puerto Rican and have the different behavior that comes with that culture. I always feel like an intruder in each group because I'm not fully either. I'm not Latina enough for one and I'm to much of a Latina for the other. This is not the case with every person or group I know.

During graduate school it was very important to me to join a Library organization that focused on Latinos and Spanish literature because this felt so absent from my experience with literature growing up. REFORMA was that organization and I joined it before even joining ALA. However, I had not felt able to really contribute time to any organization consistently until recently. The general membership meeting was this afternoon and I felt a little intimidated about attending by myself.

Sitting and waiting for things to start I was very nervous about being perceived as an intruder because of my past experiences. Right away, a man began talking to me who was attending for the first time too. We spoke about why we were there and why REFORMA was important to us. He ended up being biracial and had similar difficulties as me. It was instantly a relief to find out that someone else there felt the same way but that it did not hinder his desire to invest time and energy in this organization. It motivated me to speak with other people there to find ways to participate actively. Everyone was gracious and friendly; they were happy to find ways I could contribute. Hopefully soon, I will be able to join the REFORMA mentor program and technology committee. Stay tuned...