REFORMA mission and goals - Spanish language Denver Public Libraries at taxpayer expense

(From REFORMA's Colorado website hosted by the Colorado Westminster Library - http://wallace.westminster.lib.co.us/reforma/index.htm).

Mission and goals

REFORMA'S mission is to improve the full spectrum of information services for Latinos, Hispanics, and Spanish-speaking persons in the United States. Our goals in support of this mission are:

• To promote development of Spanish-language and Latino/Hispanic oriented library collections
• To support active recruitment of bilingual, bicultural library staff
• To increase Latino/Hispanic awareness of available library services and collections
• To advocate on behalf of the information needs of the Latino/Hispanic community

History

Established in 1971 as an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA), REFORMA has actively sought to promote the development of library collections to include Spanish-language and Latino oriented materials; the recruitment of more bilingual and bicultural library professionals and support staff; the development of library services and programs that meet the needs of the Latino community; the establishment of a national information and support network among individuals who share our goals; the education of the U.S. Latino population in regards to the availability and types of library services; and lobbying efforts to preserve existing library resource centers serving the interests of Latinos. The organization is governed by an Executive Board which includes the officers, committee chairs, and the Presidents chapters and our one affiliate. Nationally there are twenty REFORMA chapters. These function autonomously, working through their local library systems, state library associations, and local organizations to achieve local objectives. Follow the history of our REFORMA Colorado Chapter by browsing Minutes, Annual Reports and the Bylaws.

Thank you for visiting the REFORMA Colorado site. We look forward to having you as a member.

Individual Members

Annual Reports

Newsletters

Newsletters
Current issue:
Volume 3, Issue 1, August 2004 (pdf)
Volume 2, Issue 4, May 2004 (pdf)

Back issues:
Volume 2, Issue 3, February 2004 (pdf)
Volume 2, Issue 2, November 2003 (pdf)
Volume 2, Issue 1, August 2003 (pdf)
Volume 1, Issue 4, May 2003 (pdf)
Volume 1, Issue 3, February 2003 (pdf)
Volume 1, Issue 2, November 2002 (pdf)
Volume 1, Issue 1, August 2002 (pdf)

Bylaws of REFORMA Colorado Chapter

Article I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be REFORMA, Colorado Chapter.

Article II. PURPOSE

The objectives of this chapter are identical to its parent organization, REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library Services to the Spanish Speaking (see Appendix 1). The main purpose of this organization is to promote the advancement, growth, improvement, and implementation of library and information services to the Hispanic/Latino population in the United States of America, and in particular to the Hispanic/Latino community of the Colorado area.

Article III. MEMBERSHIP

ACTIVE MEMBERS. Any person who is supportive of the goals and objectives of this organization may become an active and voting member by attending the regular meetings, becoming active in the work of the organization and paying membership dues. Annual membership rates apply per calendar year and are renewable in January. The present annual dues* are as follows:

1. Librarian earning > $60,000 per year: $40
2. Librarian earning $30,000-$59,999 per year: $30.
3. Librarian earning < $29,999 per year: $25.
4. Library Support Staff: $15.
5. Library Trustee/Commissioner: $20.
6. Library Science Student (1st year): Free.
7. Library Science Student (>1 year): $5
8. Community Supporter/Retiree: $15.
9. Library/Library School: $50.
10. Corporate Member: $200.
11. Life Member: $400.
12. International Member: $10.

*1/3 of all dues collected must go to National REFORMA.

Article IV. OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of this organization shall be the President, the Vice-President/President Elect, the Secretary-Historian, and the Treasurer.
Section 2. The terms of office shall be from July 1 to June 30th. All of the Officers shall hold their offices for a term of one year or until their successors are chosen. Officers may succeed themselves in office for an unlimited number of terms. Any officer may be removed at anytime by a majority of the membership at a regularly scheduled or special scheduled meeting.
Section 3. All officers shall be democratically nominated and elected by a voting majority of all active members.
Section 4. Subject to Section 5, in the event of any vacancy, the President may fill the vacancy.
Section 5. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the President, the Vice-President will serve as President for the remainder of the term. A special election shall be held to elect a new Vice-President.
Section 6. Duties of Officers.
The duties of the President are as follows:

1. To call and preside over all meetings of the general membership.
2. To determine the will of the membership and act in accordance with that will.
3. To expedite the business of the organization in a manner consistent with the best interest of the membership.
4. To officially represent and speak on behalf of the organization in its relationship with any other organizations or agencies as appropriate.
5. To report to the membership regularly, including an annual report.
6. To delegate responsibilities and form special committees as needed, and to notify the membership of such actions.

The duties of the Vice-President/President Elect shall be as follows:

1. To assist in carrying out the duties of the President.
2. To assume the duties of the President in the President's absence or incapacity.
3. To chair the Nominating Committee.
4. To assume the duties of President after serving one year as Vice President.

The duties of the Secretary-Historian are as follows:

1. To compile agendas and take minutes for meetings of the general membership.
2. To maintain and preserve the records of the organization. The preservation of records will include publications and history regarding the functions and activities of the organization.
3. To be in charge of all official correspondence and publicity for the organization as directed by the President.

The duties of the Treasurer are as follows:

1. To be responsible for handling all financial matters of the organization.
2. To be responsible for keeping accurate and timely records regarding all income and disbursements.
3. To prepare all the necessary reports to the membership and the Internal Revenue Service.
4. To co-sign with the President for all necessary disbursements.

Article V. MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

Section 1. Regular meetings shall be held once every two months.
Section 2. Notification of regular meetings. All members shall be notified of all upcoming meetings by written notice at least two weeks prior to such meetings.
Section 3. Special meetings. The President shall be empowered to call special meetings by written notice to all members at least one week prior to such meetings, or by telephone at least three days prior.

Article VI. COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees.

1. To be established by a majority vote of all members present at a membership meeting.
2. The duties, powers, and number of such committees shall be set by the membership.
3. The President may appoint members to serve in standing committees.

Section 2. Special Committees

1. The President shall be empowered to establish special temporary committees to fulfill a special need.
2. The President shall be authorized to appoint members to serve in special committees.

Section 3. Terms of Office

1. Standing Committees. Members of these committees shall serve for one year.

2. Special Committees. members of these committees shall serve until the objectives of each committees have been met, but no longer than two years.

Article VII. QUORUM

Section 1. A quorum is determined by the members present at any meeting.
Section 2. At any meetings, a simple majority vote of those present is required for passage of a motion.

Article VIII. AFFILIATIONS

Section 1. The active membership of this organization may vote, by a majority vote to affiliate itself with other local organizations.

Article IX. AMENDMENT TO BYLAWS

Section 1. All members shall be informed in writing of all proposed changes to the bylaws at least two weeks prior to the meeting in which such changes will be brought up for consideration.
Section 2. All amendments to the bylaws shall require the vote of at least two thirds active members.

Article X. DISSOLUTION

In the event of the dissolution of REFORMA, Colorado Chapter, any assets remaining after payment, satisfaction, and discharge of any existing liabilities or obligations, and after lawful provisions for the administration and disposition of any property held in trust by or for REFORMA, and all other acts required to adjust and wind up its business and affairs having been done, REFORMA's assets shall be collected and distributed to or among one or more organizations devoted exclusively to educational, charitable, or scientific purposes and exempt from Federal taxation. No private member or individual shall have any right, title, or interest to any remaining assets of the organization. No distribution of assets shall go to any private individual shareholder, nor shall any assets be distributed to any organization, a substantial part of whose activities is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, or which participates in or intervenes in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Rev. June 20, 2001

(From REFORMA's website hosted by the Colorado Westminster Library - http://wallace.westminster.lib.co.us/reforma/index.htm.

10 Reasons Why We Buy Spanish Books

The National REFORMA website has the following answers to the question "Why We Buy Spanish Books?" These answers relate to the Fullerton, CA library.

1. It is part of our library's written mission statement to serve the needs of a "culturally diverse community."
   [Perhaps the written mission statement should be reverted to the original mission statement that addresses the needs of Americans. - Ed.]
2. It is part of our library's collection development plan to purchase non-English materials whenever a group in the community reaches 5% or more of the pop. According to the 1990 Census, the Hispanic pop. of Fullerton is 21%.
   [Why? Do legal immigrants and Hispanic American citizens not want to read material in English? - ed.]
3. Spanish-speakers are "taxpayers" too and contribute to the economic well being of the community. They pay sales, property and utility taxes like everyone else!
   [No, a significant proportion of them are illegal aliens who do not pay property taxes and have no rights to use public library facilities. - ed.]
4. Not all important literary works ever written have been written only in English. There are authors like Pablo Neruda, Octavio Paz, Isabelle Allende, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Laura Esquivel and Cervantes, who all wrote original works in Spanish. Neauthors like Pablo Neruda, Octavio Paz, Isabelle Allende, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Laura Esquivel and Cervantes, who all wrote original works in Spanish. Neruda even received the Nobel Prize for Literature for his efforts!
   [This does not justify replacing significant numbers of English-language books with Spanish-language books - or with books written in any other language. - ed.]
5. The Spanish-speaking have rights to information just like everyone else, particularly in areas of health (e.g. AIDS), law (e.g. how to become a citizen), and parenting (e.g. how to support the family unit). Their reading interests are as wide and varied as those of English speakers.
   [No, the only rights of illegal aliens are to be swiftly and humanely deported - ed.]
6. There is a strong correlation between literacy in one language and literacy in a second language. Just by being in the library, a Spanish speaker gets exposed to the wealth of material available in the English language. When I have done ESL tours I point out our pictures books and even the juvenile collection as starting points for learning basic English.
   [Is the objective of the library system to teach Americans Spanish? - ed.]
7. The library is helping to provide opportunities for recent immigrants to learn English. We have ESL tapes, bilingual dictionaries and literacy classes. How else are they going to learn! People don't learn English just because you pass a law. They need to be provided with opportunities to learn English.
   [Immigrants are required to know English in order to meet citizenship requirements. Illegal aliens - to whom the library is pandering - do not. - ed.]
8. The majority of Spanish speakers that I have met in the library agree that in order to function in the United States that they need to learn English. Most of them are "thirsting" for the ability to speak in English. Just look at the many names on waiting lists for ESL classes. Like many immigrants before them, however, it takes time. Usually by the 3rd generation they, like others before them, become monolingual English speakers. It was true of the Germans, the Irish, and other groups.
   [Then there is no reason to convert our libraries to Spanish-language libraries, is there - unless, of course, you are targeting illegal aliens with an average 4^th grade education. - ed.]
9. Traditionally, public libraries have always had non-English collections. Look at the large city libraries of NYPL, LAPL and Chicago PL. In California one of the main dif ferences is that now the emphasis is on Pacific Rim languages and not European languages. Why weren't there complaints 10 years ago when Fullerton's collection was predominantly Italian, German, and French books?
   [Because of the large percentage of materials being converted to a foreign language. - ed]
10. Finally, the proportion of Spanish books purchased is still dwarfed by the proportion of English books in the collection. Fullerton has 3,000 Spanish books out of 250,000 books total. This translates into only 1% of the collection! If anything, we should be buying more Spanish books not less.
    [This conclusion is a non sequitur. - ed.]
    
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