For Immediate Release March 2000
Contact: Susana Hinojosa  510-643-9347
shinojosa@library.berkeley.edu

REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, will be offering a wide variety of programs on library services to Latinos and people of color at its second National Conference in Tucson, Ariz., August 3-6. Programs will address children's services, adult services, collection development, recruitment of minority librarians, library school curriculum, and much more.

The conference starts Thursday, August 3, with two preconferences. "Serving Latino Communities: a how-to-do-it workshop for beginners" is a half day workshop, led by Dr. Camila Alire and Orlando Archibeque, authors of Serving Latino communities: a how-to-do-it manual for librarians. The second preconference, "Electronic Resources for a New Majority" is a full day workshop on developing library collections for Latino communities using Internet resources including: Spanish Web sites, online databases, full text Spanish newspapers, electronic discussion lists and search engines for Latino sources.

By May 31, 2000, early bird registration prices for the preconferences are: "Serving Latino Communities: a how-to-do-it workshop for beginners," $40; and "Electronic Resources for a New Majority," $100. For more information on preconferences, see the Web at www.reforma.org/rnc2/pre-conference.

REFORMA 2^ND National Conference/add one

The Tucson-Pima Public Library will host a Bienvenidos Reception for all conference attendees on August 3, at 7 p.m.

The opening session, will be held on Friday, August 4, at 8:30 a.m. Keynote speakers will be Sara Martinez Tucker, CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, and Piri Thomas, author of Down These Mean Streets.

A large exhibits area will include Arte Publico Press, Baker & Taylor, Bilingual Review/Press, Libros Sin Fronteras, Random House and many more. Poster sessions and a placement center will also be in the exhibits area.

The Awards and Cultural Night event on Friday, August 4, will honor the recipients of the REFORMA Librarian of the Year, the Pura Belpre Award, the first ever REFORMA Library School Award and library school scholarships.

Other highlights include: two luncheons with local authors Partricia Preciado Martin and Bobbie Salinas, a REFORMA Banquet and Dance and a reception at the Tucson Museum of Art.

Registration fees for the conference are $55 for members, $75 for non-members by May 31; $65 for members; $85 for non-members by July 17; $85 for members registering on site, $100 for non-members; and $25 for students. Exhibits are free.

Registration is available at www.reforma.org/rnc2/registration. See the REFORMA Web site at www.reforma.org for the latest conference information.

REFORMA is an affiliate of the American Library Association.