WHO IS LOIDA GARCÍA-FEBO
I am a library and information professional who is passionate about working with diverse communities. I believe that libraries and librarians have the power to save and enrich lives. My passion to make an impact on society stems from my personal desire to save lives.
During my graduate studies at the University of Puerto Rico, I was introduced to the power that libraries have on communities. I was fortunate to work as an elementary school librarian providing library instruction, homework help, storytelling and programs, and training for the faculty.
I later began working at the Centro de Información (PRATP) of the Unidad de Servicios Bibliotecarios para Personas con Impedimentos (SBPI) [Library Services for Persons with Disabilities’ Assistive Technology Information Center]. While at PRATP, I was responsible for acquiring and cataloguing printed materials and objects that served persons with disabilities. Months after I started my work, the chief went on maternity leave and in her absence I became the acting chief. In this capacity, I was responsible for the annual reports, staff evaluations, and the overall management of the service.
Seeking to expand my career, I moved to a job serving Latinos and Spanish speakers at Queens Library in New York. In addition to creating programs and services for this large segment of the Queens community, I also developed health-related programs and services for the homeless, incarcerated, multilingual populations, older adults, and job seekers.
I have been fortunate to have served as consultant for libraries throughout my entire career. During the past years, I’ve been focusing, full-time, into expanding my consulting to include not-for-profit organizations. It has been a humbling experience to provide advice, strategize ways to provide access to information, creation of information resources, reference, and also work one-on-one in communities helping homeless populations, multilingual diverse populations, people that have lost houses and belongings due to natural phenomenon, and with victims of different types of abuse. That is where my main passion is.
I love to work with all librarians, and my heart is with library services to communities served by academic, public, school and special libraries.
I have learned that access to information can save and enrich lives. Librarians from different fields are instrumental to help people understand how to find, analyze and use information to improve their finances, monitor their health, find jobs, and obtain basic services such as housing, school and medical care. Empowering communities is a noble cause that I, as a librarian, embrace with all my being.
I love the work I do in different arenas, advocating for libraries at the United Nations, doing grassroots advocacy, and also working through the night to help homeless or abused women. I love being a librarian. Together, we can bring change!
Retrieved from http://loidaforalapresident.com/blog/
LETTER FROM LOIDA GARCÍA-FEBO TO ALL COLLEAGUES
Dear colleagues,
As ALA President I will work together with all members for an association that will be the leading advocate for libraries while maintaining our core values, will build partnerships with value-sharing organizations, will have a place and voice in Congress, state senates, city councils, and school boards, particularly for those with no voice. We will advance concerns focused on our commitment to public education, intellectual freedom, diversity, and professional development.
Libraries are pillars of public education. Libraries change lives in every community in our nation. Our strong value system propels us to create new ways to help children read, assist job seekers, support first-generation college students, and connect battered women and children with shelters. Today, thanks to our work, libraries remain the true bastion of intellectual freedom, privacy, democracy, diversity, public good, professionalism, and social responsibility in each one of our communities. Given the threats we face to these core values, we cannot afford to stay on the sidelines. These are challenging times, but in the midst of these changes, I am confident that together, we can bring change to impact public policy, benefit our communities and our profession!
STRONG Experience:
- Librarian in academic, school, and special libraries in Puerto Rico, public librarian in Queens
- Consultant, educator, and mentor of new librarians
- Advocate for libraries at global forums including the United Nations with country representatives, civil society partners, private and public organizations
- Advocate at grassroots, local, and national levels to bring change through impacting policy
STRONG Leadership:
- Current member of the ALA Executive Board, and member of the Finance & Audit Committee
- Current member of IFLA Governing Board, and Chair of the Action for Development through Libraries Core Activity (ALP)
- Served as Chair of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table, International Relations Committee, and the Committee on Membership Meetings leading initiative to establish ALA’s Annual Virtual Meeting
- Served in ALA’s round tables, divisions, affiliates, and international not-for-profits like the Gates Foundation Global Libraries
- REFORMA President 2009-2010
As ALA President, I will build on the Libraries Transform Communities partnership launched by Molly Raphael, Maureen Sullivan and Barbara Stripling, the public awareness campaign Libraries Transform launched by Past President Sari Feldman, the career development initiatives of Courtney Young, the Expert in the Library focus of ALA President Julie Todaro, and the Librarians Lead! theme of ALA President-Elect Jim Neal. I will work together with ALA Divisions, members, and chapters, with Librarian of Congress.
I am eager to work with you as your President. Thank you for your vote!
Loida García-Febo
http://loidagarciafebo.com
loidagarciafebo@gmail.com
FELICITAMOS A LOIDA POR SU GESTA VANGUARDISTA Y ENDOSAMOS SU NOMINACIÓN A LA PRESIDENCIA DE LA AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
FELICITAMOS A LOIDA POR SU GESTA VANGUARDISTA Y ENDOSAMOS SU NOMINACIÓN A LA PRESIDENCIA DE LA AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
Nos encontramos en el Umbral de los Desafios… preparándonos para la 47ma Conferencia de ACURIL 2017 PUERTO RICO, del 4 al 8 de junio de 2017, en el Hotel Condado Plaza Hilton. La conferencia gira en torno al tema Investigación Interdisciplinaria en el Caribe.
Nos detenemos en el camino para exhortarles a respaldar con su voto, la nominación de Loida García-Febo para la Presidencia de la ALA 2018-2019.