Bibliotecas Para La Gente

Bibliotecas Para La Gente The Northern California chapter of REFORMA, National Organization to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking

Our History

In 1975 the first meeting of BPLG was attended by individuals from different library systems that served the Spanish-speaking community in Northern California; including Debbie Cornue (San Francisco Public Library), Miguel Alaniz (Spanish Services Project), Yolanda Cuesta (California State Library), Ed Cavellini (Santa Clara County Library), Francisco Pinelli (San Francisco Public Lib

rary), and Bill Ramirez (Head of San Francisco Public Library). Those in attendance formed a support group to continue the exchange of information. In the beginning, their charge was to present training workshops and issue occasional collection development bibliographies — something that was desperately needed in the time before the Internet and other technological advances. Soon, the group added raising awareness among library administrators about regular library services to Spanish-speakers and issuing Guidelines for Spanish Services that was sent to every library director in California. Newsletters from the 1980's reflect information sharing and included collection development suggestions, storytime resources, and articles regarding Latino interest. Later activities included printing publications and supporting libraries outside the United States such as the library in Oaxaca. On June 29, 1981 at ALA, BPLG sponsored a tour of Spanish language collections and visited the Alameda County Library, San Jose Public Library's Biblioteca Latinoamericana, UC Berkeley's Chicano Studies Library, and Oakland Public Library's Latin American Library. On December 4, 1983, BPLG and REFORMA co-sponsored a dinner with Edward James Olmos as Keynote Speaker at CLA. BPLG celebrated their 10th Anniversary Dinner on November 16, 1985 at 7:30 p.m. at the California Wok Restaurant in Oakland during the annual CLA Conference. On February 25, 1995, BPLG celebrated their 20th Anniversary with a conference (Alma, Vida, y Corazon: Empowering the Latino Community Through Our Libraries - A Conference at the University of California at Berkeley's Dwinelle Hall) over a year before REFORMA held RNCI in August 1996. Founded independently in 1975, on July 29, 1977 at a meeting at San Francisco's Mission Library, it was moved, seconded, and passed that BPLG affiliate with CLA. The Resolution was passed by CLA Council on April 27, 1979. On November 13, 1988, BPLG and REFORMA had their first joint meeting at CLA. In the early 1990's, BPLG became a chapter of REFORMA.

08/27/2026

What do you have planned for 'Hispanic Heritage Month'?

The Public Library Association has created a new practical guide designed to help library workers better engage with Spa...
08/26/2026

The Public Library Association has created a new practical guide designed to help library workers better engage with Spanish-speaking families.

The “Family Engagement for Spanish-Speaking Community Members” workbook provides templates, worksheets, best practices, and other easy-to-implement resources to guide readers in fostering authentic family engagement.

The guide is available for free download in English and Spanish.

English language version of the Toolkit: PLA_Advancing_Family_Engagement_Workbook.pdf

Spanish language version of the Toolkit: Spanish_PLA_Advancing_Family_Engagement_Workbook.pdf

08/25/2026

✨ The ALA Annual 2027 Call for Program & Poster Proposals is NOW OPEN! You are officially invited to share your ideas, research, and expertise with the goal of presenting to thousands of attendees at the ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition in New Orleans, June 24–28, 2027.

Submit your program or poster proposal today! https://bit.ly/4qz7PgR

07/30/2026

PLA releases "Family Engagement for Spanish-Speaking Community Members" workbook

Estos videos fueron creados utilizando los fondos provistos por la subvención de la ALA para el fortalecimiento de la ca...
07/24/2026

Estos videos fueron creados utilizando los fondos provistos por la subvención de la ALA para el fortalecimiento de la capacidad de las bibliotecas (ALA Building Library Capacity Grant), con el fin de incrementar la capacidad de OPL para servir a la comunidad Maya Mam en Oakland.

These videos were created using the funding provided by ALA Building Library Capacity Grant to increase OPL's capacity to serve the…

City of Redwood City recruiting Library Director (+3% COLA increase effective 12/1/2026)
07/22/2026

City of Redwood City recruiting Library Director
(+3% COLA increase effective 12/1/2026)

The City of Redwood City invites you to apply for the position of Library Director. Please click on the job announcement file below to review the full recruitment brochure.Applications will be reviewed as they are received.Apply via www.CalOpps.org.The first round of interviews is tentatively schedu...

Sonoma County Library Job OpportunityBranch Manager - Sonoma Valley
07/22/2026

Sonoma County Library Job Opportunity

Branch Manager - Sonoma Valley

Sonoma County LibraryAnnounces an Employment OpportunityBRANCH MANAGER – SONOMA VALLEY REGIONAL LIBRARY40 HOURS PER WEEK – FULL TIMEWe are seeking a collaborative and community-focused Branch Manager to lead the operations of the Sonoma Valley Regional Library. The ideal candidate will be an exp...

2026-27 BPLG Membership Meeting Schedule -Bi-Monthly-First Friday-Zoom-10:30am-12pm2026August 7thOctober 2ndDecember 4th...
07/15/2026

2026-27 BPLG Membership Meeting Schedule

-Bi-Monthly
-First Friday
-Zoom
-10:30am-12pm

2026
August 7th
October 2nd
December 4th

2027
February 5th
April 2nd
June 4th

BPLG Social (No-Host Event)Sunday, July 26th, 2026 @ 12:30pmPasta Pelican Restaurant2455 Mariner Square Drive, Alameda, ...
07/15/2026

BPLG Social (No-Host Event)
Sunday, July 26th, 2026 @ 12:30pm

Pasta Pelican Restaurant
2455 Mariner Square Drive, Alameda, CA 94501

Deadline: RSVP to [email protected] by Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026

Address

360 Vernon Suite 201
Oakland, CA
94610

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