Member Spotlight: Patricia Valdovinos

Patricia Valdovinos

Adult Librarian III

Multilingual Collections, Los Angeles Public Library

What is your primary library service role? 

I help with the selection and purchasing of Spanish material for the Los Angeles Public Library, with the focus on children’s material. I provide in-house translations for the Library and promote our Library’s resources through Spanish/English and Bilingual blog posts and social media. I also am a substitute librarian for the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture system.

How does your work align with service to Latinos and Spanish-speaking communities?

Most, if not all, of my work consists of providing Spanish material, resources, and services to our Los Angeles Spanish-speaking and Latinx community by purchasing books and resources that connect to the Spanish language. In addition, I also help with translations, which provides easier and equitable access to Spanish speaking folks.

What is your favorite aspect about your work?

My favorite aspect of my work is being able to connect library resources and material to folks from Latinx and Spanish speaking communities, especially generations who solely find themselves represented. I love being able to write blog posts that connect to a person’s cultural experiences growing up Latinx to libraries. In a society where we get so used to paying for subscriptions and material, I like to be able to share with folks that a lot of the trendy items, popular books, songs, etc., are available for free. 

What advice do you have for other librarians and present/future MLIS students?

Listen to yourself both spiritually and physically. Invest in yourself. Learn to find your voice and vocalize your interests and points of views. The beauty of this profession is that there really is something for everyone. Try out new things, keep tabs of what you like and what you do not like, what you’ve outgrown, but try to place yourself in new adventures. Never settle when you know you are worth a lot more. Be the librarian that you wish you had when you were growing up! 

What programs have you been in charge of or involved with?

Recently, I have been Chair or Co-Chair of the Author/Performer Sub-Committee of the Los Angeles Libros Festival during 2019, 2020, 2021, and now in 2023. I was also involved with the LA Made 2020/2021 LA Made Programming Series. 

What personal interests or hobbies do you have that you would like to share?

You can most likely find me spending time with family and friends on my days off. As my mother likes to tell me, “¡eres bien callejera!” I also am usually at Disneyland or randomly attending vending events around SoCal. I also collect art pieces from artists, so if you ever visit my home you can see different pieces I have purchased. 

Program Inspiration - Mini Cafecitos

As an organization whose purpose is to promote library and information services to Latinos and Spanish-speaking patrons, it is our honor to recognize the efforts of library workers and students across California doing just that. We hope to inspire others with new ways of engaging staff and patrons by highlighting these successful program ideas.

This month, we spotlight Sarah Wilson and Rosa Hughes de la Rosa from the REFORMA SJSU iSchool Student and Alumni Group on… Mini Cafecitos!

Program Type: Bilingual conversation group

Ideal Age Group: Teens, Adults

Frequency: Monthly or bi-monthly

Length of Time: 30 minutes

Supplies (for virtual events): 

• Computer

• Zoom account

• Additional staff or member from your team

• Exit survey for participants

• Discussion focus (e.g., working in the library and related vocabulary, etc.)

One of the most common questions asked about REFORMA is “Do I have to identify as Latinx or speak Spanish to join?” Not. At. All! Simply working with (or having a desire to work with!) this population is enough, which includes 40+ million people across the United States. That’s why when we think of innovative library programming, Mini Cafecitos immediately come to mind! This program–created by a graduate student–connects students and faculty from different departments around one common goal: to practice speaking Spanish.

Sarah Wilson, MLIS ‘22, recognized there was a need for students to feel confident speaking Spanish in their library careers. As a REFORMA student group executive board member, she had a unique position to serve the members of the SJSU community and share her interests in the language. Sarah worked with her Spanish 132 professor, Aurelio Días Ferreira, and her executive board committee, including Rosa, to offer informal Spanish conversation Zoom meetings called Mini Cafecitos.

The benefits to the SJSU student body were immense! The REFORMA student group fulfilled their mission of offering professional development and networking opportunities while supporting culturally competent professionals. For participating students, they were able to role-play typical library settings, build confidence, learn from their peers about the nuances of Spanish, and (for those enrolled in Aurelio’s class) earn a little extra credit. 

Ready to plan this program in your own academic library, internally at work, or even as a chapter-sponsored event? Then heed Sarah and Rosa’s advice for preparation, execution, and patience:

• Make sure you identify and articulate the need in your community, which will guide you in the planning process.

• Share the work of hosting, answering the chat, and monitoring the wait room with another co-worker or board member.

• Don’t be discouraged if your group starts out small because as awareness builds so will your participation!

Photo courtesy of the REFORMA San José State University Student & Alumni Group

Be sure to check out Sarah’s bilingual interview with Aurelio, which talks more about Mini Cafecitos here: https://ischoolgroups.sjsu.edu/reforma/?p=1225

Thank you, Sarah, Rosa, and Aurelio, for championing this innovative program! For questions and comments about this program, please connect with Sarah Wilson at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkirbywilson/.

If you would like to nominate a library’s recent program or service for this blog series, please reach out to Erin Castillo at Erin.Castillo@SJSU.edu. 

Member Spotlight: Azalea Camacho

Azalea Camacho
Archivist and Special Collections Librarian
Special Collections and Archives, University Library, California State University, Los Angeles

What is your primary library service role? 

I am an Archivist and Special Collections Librarian. I first started at California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA) as the University Library Archivist for 5 years and slowly moved my way up to my current role as an Archivist and Special Collections Librarian. I have been in this role for 4 years. I oversee the operations of the department, which includes archival processing, instruction, reference, public services, outreach, and collection maintenance. I have strengthened community partnerships and fostered student curiosity in the field by providing engaging opportunities for the campus community. I have worked in Special Collections and Archives at Cal State LA for 9 years. 

Overall, I have 15 years experience working in academic libraries in special collections and archives settings. I am currently a fellow for the Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship for Diversity, Inclusion, and Cultural Heritage, which aims to advance multicultural collections through innovative and inclusive curatorial practice and leadership. I hold an MLIS with a concentration in archival studies from San Jose State University and a BS in communications from Cal Poly Pomona.

How does your work align with service to Latinos and Spanish-speaking communities?

I work for Cal State LA, which is a Hispanic-Serving Institution, Minority-Serving Institution, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. My work as an Archivist and Special Collections Librarian is to document the lives and historic narratives reflected in our student population and bring to light their stories through instruction, outreach, and public programming. In order to engage with students and the campus community through my work, I not only preserve community archives but also work with them to bring to light their untold stories. The importance of this is that students begin to see themselves in the archives and the impact their communities have made to the culture of Southern California.

What is your favorite aspect about your work?

My favorite aspect about my work is engaging with students and the campus community. At Cal State LA I have been able to establish the Special Collections and Archives Student Assistant Program, which exposes Cal State LA students to the archival field, and provides hands-on training in processing, digitization, reference, instruction, programming/outreach and curation. Student assistants work closely with special collections personnel to develop projects that align with their academic goals and interests. The program is centered on the department's commitment to student success and fostering curiosity in the archival profession. The program offers an opportunity for students to combine their lived experience and expertise with the skills they acquire through guidance and training in archival practice. With this hands-on approach, I have been able to create a work environment that supports student’s thinking, and encourages dialogue and exchange of ideas. Through the program I have had the opportunity to provide mentorship to Cal State LA students that would like to pursue a career in archives.

What advice do you have for other librarians and present/future MLIS students?

Surround yourself with people in the field who have your best interest at heart. Once you have found those people, stick to them. They will help you get through the hard times and celebrate your good times.

What programs have you been in charge of or involved with?

At Cal State LA, I manage the Special Collections and Archives Student Assistant Program and the University Library Exhibits Program. I’ve also collaborated on many other outreach and public programming initiatives with fellow colleagues and the campus community.

What personal interests or hobbies do you have that you would like to share?

I am a true crime buff, especially when it comes to LA true crime. I collect vintage clothing and accessories from the 1920s through 1980s. I have also been known to be into the art of taxidermy.

How would you like to see the REFORMA Archives used?

I would like to see the REFORMA Archives grow to include oral histories and digital materials. At the moment, the archives are not fully processed and I would like to provide an internship opportunity for MLIS students interested in archival processing to make the collection accessible and discoverable. Once the collection is processed, the internship opportunity can continue through other projects, such as an oral history project and assisting with bringing awareness of the collection through public programming. 

Program Ideas: Lotería

As an organization whose purpose is built on promoting library and information services to Latinos and Spanish-speaking patrons, it is our honor to recognize the efforts of library workers in the Los Angeles area doing just that. We hope to inspire others with new ways of engaging patrons by highlighting these successful program ideas.

This month, we spotlight Ana Villalpando and Luisa Leija’s program at Long Beach Public Library on… Lotería!

Program Type: Bilingual group game

Ideal Age Group: ALL ages!

Event Date & Time: Weekend afternoons

Supplies: 

• Lotería game pack, or

• Custom Lotería playing cards

• Optional: Prizes or library swag

Adaptations: 

• Eloteria (make sure to have elote supplies, too!)

• National events: Pride, Latinx Heritage Month

• Library services: literacy, community resources

Lotería is a beloved game (most similar to Bingo) that is easily played and understood by patrons of all ages and cultures! Custom Lotería playing cards can be made using free programs like Canva and adapted for national events or your library’s own services. Thanks to the efforts of Long Beach Public Library’s Cynthia Bautista and Sheridan Jay Cazarez, Lotería has been a long-running program for Long Beach’s Latinx and Spanish-speaking community. Today, LBPL Vida Latina Committee Chairs Ana Villalpando and Luisa Leija lead 2-3 programs per year and find it to be a successful intergenerational event every time!  

Photo courtesy of Ana Villalpando

Aside from a fun afternoon, Lotería is another way for patrons to engage with the library while feeling represented and welcomed. One of the key elements to a successful program is, as Ana puts it, “promoting it with your patrons, even without a set date.” If this is your first event, you may need to build rapport and communicate the idea directly with patrons to ensure attendance.

The beauty of Lotería is that it’s a game for all ages and languages! Invite patrons of all cultures to the program for an opportunity to improve their English-Spanish translations. Ana’s advice for anyone who is hesitant: don’t be afraid to play with it!

Thank you, Ana and Luisa, for your incredible inspiration! For questions and comments about this program, please contact Ana at Ana.Villalpando@LBPL.org. 

Photo courtesy of Ana Villalpando

If you would like to nominate a library’s recent program or service for this blog series, please reach out to Erin Castillo at Erin.Castillo@SJSU.edu. 

Member Spotlight: Cybele Garcia Kohel

Cybele Garcia Kohel

Library Coordinator, Jackson STEAM Dual Language Magnet, Pasadena Unified School District

American Library Association 2023 Emerging Leader

What is your primary library service role? 

I am an elementary school librarian (K-5), my title is Library Coordinator.

How does your work align with service to Latinos and Spanish-speaking communities?

Our school community is very diverse, and a majority of our school families are Latin@. Jackson is a dual language (Spanish) school, so I do storytime and curriculum in Spanish as well as English. 

What is your favorite aspect about your work?

I really love teaching information literacy and digital literacy to my students. Students have Chromebooks assigned to them by the school district, so I teach them how to access our online catalog, how to perform searches, how to tell the difference between fiction and nonfiction, etc. I also love helping students find what they are looking for in our library! We do scavenger hunts to learn the Dewey system and students help in the library as well. It is always very satisfying to see a child walk away excited about their library book. I also really love working with parents and community members to plan storytimes and other events. In short, there are quite a lot of things I love about library work! 

What advice do you have for other librarians and present/future MLIS students?

Stop and ask your patrons how they are. I do this with my students when they come to my desk to check out books. I take a moment and look them in the eye. I am present with them. This builds a connection, and hopefully in that moment, they know they are seen.  

What programs have you been in charge of or involved with?

I create my own curriculum to fit whatever is happening in the school year. I am the one that teaches students how to use the online encyclopedias so they can write reports for classroom learning. In partnership with teachers, we are creating a curriculum around writing book reviews that will be posted inside our online catalog (in English and Spanish), so students can read what their peers are saying about books. Next semester I am piloting a new tech program, which will allow students to search our catalog via a tablet that they can hold in their hands while they are searching for a book. Our school also has a yearly Read-a-Thon in partnership with Altadena Library. 

What personal interests or hobbies do you have that you would like to share?

I am a writer, and an advocate for women and non-binary writers as part of the leadership team for Women Who Submit literature. We work for gender parity in publishing. I am a trained consensus-based facilitator and strategic planner and still jump at the chance to use these skills with a wide range of groups. 

I am a mom, a reader, an animal lover, I garden with California native plants, and I love hiking and riding my bike.

What are you looking forward to most as 2023 ALA Emerging Leader?

Working with a diverse team of other professionals and learning from them will be the highlight for me, as well as going to my first LibLearnX and ALA conferences! 

Member Spotlight: Mario A. Ascencio

Mario A. Ascencio 

College Librarian/Managing Director, ArtCenter College of Design

What is your primary library service role? 

My title is College Librarian and Managing Director. This means that I am the library director for my organization. I oversee the College Library over a two-campus system.

How does your work align with service to Latinos and Spanish-speaking communities?

We don’t have many Latinx or Spanish Speaking students at ArtCenter. Therefore, I consider my connection to REFORMA ever more so important because I’m able to serve as a mentor, serve on committees, and network with colleagues.

What is your favorite aspect about your work?

My favorite aspect of my work is being able to make an impact on people’s lives. I no longer work one-on-one with students or faculty. I’m responsible for the big picture. So, making decisions about the library’s services (with our library users in mind) is what I like.

What advice do you have for other librarians and present/future MLIS students?

My professional career has always been tied to professional associations, such as REFORMA. So, my advice to other librarians and future librarians is to get involved in REFORMA and similar organizations. It’s a place where you can get involved and develop leadership skills that you may not be getting on the job.

What programs have you been in charge of or involved with?

I’ve never really been in charge of programs, but one thing that I’ve made happen at ArtCenter College of Design is to invite Pura Belpre illustrator winners and honorees to speak to our students during Latinx Heritage Month. So far, we’ve had John Parra (ArtCenter Alumnus), Raul the Third, and Rafael Lopez (ArtCenter Alumnus). The idea is to invite a Pura Belpre illustrator winner and/or honoree to speak at ArtCenter. I would like to expand this idea and to invite illustrator winners and/or honorees of the Coretta Scott King award and the Asian/Pacific American Award.

What personal interests or hobbies do you have that you would like to share?

I enjoy traveling, architecture, art, and music. I enjoy visiting museums and libraries. My undergraduate degree is in art history from California State University, Northridge (CSUN). During my time at CSUN, I studied abroad in Florence, Italy for a year during the 1995-96 school year. This has been the best educational experience of my life. I got to travel, learn about art, and visit many museums throughout Europe. In addition, I’ve always felt that my life has been so defined by being a librarian - I constantly want to help people. So, being able to mesh my passions for art and libraries has provided me with a rich career as an art librarian. Sadly, the pandemic disrupted our lives…and it literally took people’s lives. For me, it meant that I wasn’t able to travel and visit museums and libraries in other parts of the world. So, now that the pandemic seems to be slowing down, I’m excited to be planning a big trip next year. In April 2023, I’ll be returning to Florence, Italy for the first time in 27 years. I can’t wait to share my love for Florentine art with my husband. Truth be told, I’m also trying to schedule an appointment at the Biblioteca Medicea Laurenziana (The Laurentian Library) in Florence to see if I can see the Florentine Codex, the 16th-century ethnographic research study in Mesoamerica by the Spanish Franciscan friar Bernardino de Sahagún.

Member Spotlight: Ana Villalpando

Ana Villalpando

Literacy Coordinator, Long Beach Public Library

What is your primary library service role? 

As the Literacy Coordinator for the Long Beach Public Library, I develop programs, training and services for adults interested in improving their reading and writing skills. My role also includes creating programs for English learners, as well as building a path for Spanish speakers to engage with the library and feel comfortable navigating our spaces and resources. 

How does your work align with service to Latinos and Spanish-speaking communities?

One of my goals in this role is to extend the notion of literacy, including building the knowledge required to navigate systems that community members may not be familiar with. In practice, this translates to meet our patrons where they are and not impose our beliefs on what our communities need. A fundamental part of it is also making sure we emphasize how their expertise and knowledge is valued and we provide a space for collaborations and partnerships to be built according to their insight. 

What is your favorite aspect about your work?

As an educator, I believe you can’t really teach anything to anyone, but–instead–you can provide tools, resources and serve as a companion to folks while they massage an idea until it clicks; then it becomes relevant to their context and their lives. My favorite part is to connect people with these resources and share the excitement of knowledge being attained, feeling ownership of knowledge and applying it to improve or change their lives. 

What advice do you have for other librarians and present/future MLIS students?

Learn to recognize and celebrate existing community assets. Think of all community members as partners, collaborators and consultants for all your program development.  

What programs have you been in charge of or involved with?

The most recent one was an interdepartmental collaboration between teen services, the family learning center and our maker space, the studio, to develop our first project-based group learning ESL program, Los Bookies. During four sessions, our wonderful staff, Antonette Franceschi-Chavez, Elena Vieiro, Fiorella Casella, Jessica Araiza and Ted Farias, engaged with our patrons with a variety of activities that included reading and translating stories, poetry and culminated with a letterpress workshop, where our learners printed collective poems that explored their identities. Part of the success of this program is due to the atmosphere we were able to build with participants, where our goal is to diminish our learners’ cautiousness and encourage them to make mistakes. 

What personal interests or hobbies do you have that you would like to share?

I’m a big fan of the new wave of latinamerican authors, in particular female authors, who have been writing the most layered stories in the last 20 years. It’s incredibly powerful to narrate la cotidianidad, the everyday life noting its complexity, how mutually devastating and beautiful it is, and navigating how to celebrate and mourn simultaneously. 

Program Inspiration: Papel Picado

As an organization whose purpose is built on promoting library and information services to Latinos and Spanish-speaking patrons, it is our honor to recognize the work of librarians in the Los Angeles area doing just that. We hope to inspire other librarians looking for new ways to engage patrons with these successful program ideas.

This month, we spotlight Esmeralda Cabral’s program at Alhambra Library on… Papel Picado! 

Program Type: Arts & Crafts

Ideal Age Group: ALL ages!

Event Date & Time: Saturday, 11 am to 1 pm

Supplies per Person (or Kit):

• How-to sheet (1)

• Colored tissue paper (5)

• Scissors (1)

• Marker (1)

• Optional: Ziploc bags for take-home kits; mariachi background music

Photo courtesy of Esmeralda Cabral

If you’re looking for a simple way to engage your community and incorporate their contributions to the library, then try this arts and crafts activity suitable for all ages. Patrons were given the option to donate their finished (and unique!) papel picado to the library to use for decoration during Hispanic Heritage Month. Esmeralda, who was inspired to do something “fun, festive, and transformative,” noted that the donated papel picado “added color and life” to the library, and gave patrons the chance to “see their artwork and connect their work to the library.”

Photo courtesy of Esmeralda Cabral

The community response was incredible, too! Families, friends, and individuals of all ages (yes, even college-aged patrons!) came to the library to socialize and make their own papel picado. Throughout the week, patrons asked about the program and commented on how good the donated crafts looked around the library.

Photo courtesy of Esmeralda Cabral

Esmeralda’s advice to anyone interested in doing a similar program: “Let go of the fear! Your community is open and ready to see themselves. Embrace that and it will guide you.”

Thank you, Esmeralda, for your incredible inspiration! For questions and comments about this program, please contact Esmeralda at EsmeraldaC@AlhambraLibrary.org.

If you would like to nominate a library’s recent program or service for this blog series, please reach out to Erin Castillo at Erin.Castillo@SJSU.edu.

Member Spotlight: Cristina Banuelos

Hi, I'm Cristina Banuelos. I was born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. I have been living in Los Angeles for 5 years.

PRIMARY LIBRARY INTEREST: 

I would love to continue working with children, or if possible with adults. I participated and volunteered with the Los Angeles Public Library Adult Literacy program and I would like to continue helping more people with their life-long learning goals.

HOW DOES YOUR WORK ALIGN WITH SERVICE TO LATINOS AND SPANISH-SPEAKING COMMUNITIES?

I work with USC in the School for Early Childhood Education head start program to help low-income families and children that live around the university, who are primarily Latino families. We serve children from 3 to 5 years old.

FAVORITE ASPECT OF THE WORK:

I enjoy working with children because they always make my work day more pleasant. I even miss them during the hours I don't work with them.

WORDS OF ADVICE TO OTHER LIBRARIANS AND PRESENT AND FUTURE MSLIS STUDENTS: 

My advice is to get involved in as many activities as possible to gain the experience and connections to be successful in our profession.

PROGRAM IDEAS / WHAT PROGRAMS WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO:

My bachelor’s degree is in Nutrition. I would love to work in an organization that provides access to information to improve the health and wellness of the community.

PERSONAL INTERESTS OR HOBBIES YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE:

My favorite activities include wellness, education, and physical activity. I love walking, exercising, and having classes and talks that make me learn different topics in life.

Member Spotlight: Joel Ramirez

JOEL RAMIREZ

Library Aide, Euclid Avenue Elementary

PRIMARY SERVICE ROLES: As the library aide, also known as the school librarian, at Euclid Avenue Elementary, part of LAUSD, I provide school library services, which includes access to books, story times, collection development, and programming to students in grades K-5.   

HOW DOES YOUR WORK ALIGN WITH SERVICE TO LATINOS AND SPANISH SPEAKING COMMUNITIES?

Euclid Avenue Elementary is located in Boyle Heights and serves a predominantly Latino and Spanish speaking community. As someone who is Spanish speaking and of the community, the work that I do here is especially important and fulfilling. My parents immigrated to East Los Angeles from Guatemala during the 1980s seeking a better life. The struggles students and families face on a daily basis at my school are ones that I have experienced. And because of this, the work that I do in serving a Latino/Spanish speaking community I feel is even more impactful and comes from a place of true care and empathy. 

FAVORITE ASPECT OF THE WORK:

Connecting with students, and inspiring them to become lifelong readers, learners, library users, and kind human beings. 

WORDS OF ADVICE TO OTHER LIBRARIANS AND PRESENT AND FUTURE MSLIS STUDENTS: 

Don’t be afraid to fail, to try, and keep striving no matter what setbacks you encounter. Always remember that If your heart’s in the right place and you try your best, you can do no wrong.  

PROGRAMS THAT I’VE DONE:

Every school year I have the honor of running the Scholastic Book Fair which brings in the whole community into the school library and gets everyone excited about books and reading. During Book Fair week, I host raffles, games, activities, and give away hundreds of free books. It’s a lot of work, but the reward of seeing students with their families walk away with books is worth all of the effort.

PERSONAL INTERESTS OR HOBBIES YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE:

When I’m not at the library, I like to keep active and engaged by exercising. I love running, hiking, weight lifting, and trying new physical activities. I also enjoy reading, playing video games, and watching anime. I’m currently replaying The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask on the Nintendo switch, a game I hadn’t played since I was in elementary school. If you're a gamer, it’s definitely a must play.