Manuel “Manny” Figueroa
2025 Elizabeth Martinez Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
After serving a combined 31 years at The New York Public Library (NYPL) and at Queens Public Library (QPL), Manuel “Manny” Figueroa will be retiring in June of 2025 to focus on the care of his 87-year old mother who has been living with dementia for ten years. Manny began his career at New York Public Library as a Young Adult Librarian Trainee and quickly moved up though several different supervisory and managerial positions until becoming the Manhattan North District Librarian, where he served predominantly Black and Latino communities in Washington Heights and Harlem. In 2008 Manny accepted a position at the Queens Public Library where he managed 20 community libraries throughout the borough of Queens. He will be retiring as the Talent Development & Training Manager, a position he has held since 2014, where he coordinated training programs and assisted in the professional development of all full-time QPL staff. One of his greatest accomplishments was implementing the “EDI Dialogue” as part of EDI Training for all employees at QPL. Each month employees would engage in a guided discussion based on a different EDI topic. The program allowed employees to come together to discuss important and sometimes difficult themes.
In 2008 Manny joined the Northeast Chapter of REFORMA. He quickly became an active member of the chapter and served as the Northeast Chapter President in 2010-2011. During his presidency Manny awarded the first Lillian Marrero Scholarship to a chapter member enrolled in a Library Science program, following up on the idea from his predecessor. In 2014 he became the treasurer of the chapter, a position that he still holds today.
In 2018, Manny was elected as the Chapter Representative of the East Region, a position he served in for two terms from 2018 through 2022. He continues to serve on REFORMA’s Finance Committee and on the Organizational Development and New Chapters Committee, which he chaired for two years. Serving in these roles Manny was instrumental in the revival of the REFORMA de Florida Chapter and in the creation of the El Corazón de la Nación Chapter (serving Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma), and the REFORMA de las Carolinas Chapter. In 2022 he served as co-chair of the Sponsorship and Fundraising Committee for RNC VII. In addition to his extensive activity with REFORMA, Manny has been an active member of ALA, PLA, and NYLA.
Identifying as Afro-Puerto Rican, Manny understands first-hand what it means to be discriminated against and made to feel unwelcome. These experiences have been the driving force behind his interest in the struggle for greater representation and increased opportunities for communities of color and has motivated him to be an advocate for marginalized communities. At QPL, he introduced an EDI Training Program, and in 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, he joined the President’s Council for Racial Equity, for which he currently serves on the Steering Committee. In 2022, Manny was one of the co-founders of the Afro-Latiné affinity group of REFORMA which is now celebrating three years.
Although he will be retired, Manny plans to remain active in the Northeast Chapter of REFORMA as treasurer, and in REFORMA National as a member of the Finance Committee and of the Organizational Development and New Chapters Committee.
Comments from colleagues about Manny Figueroa
There is no doubt that Manny has made significant and lasting contributions to REFORMA. His period of service has been exemplary. There is no candidate more deserving than Manny to receive this award. The recognition accompanying the award would be a wonderful way to recognize his passion, devotion and lifetime allegiance to REFORMA and serving the Latino and Spanish speaking community.– Tess Tobin, REFORMA National President, 2017-2018I believe that Manny Figueroa embodies the spirit and values that the Elizabeth Martinez Lifetime Achievement Award seeks to recognize. His positive influence and dedication have left an indelible mark on our organization, and I am confident that he will continue to excel and inspire in the future.– Gloria Grover, REFORMA Treasurer 2017-2019
Manny has been a dedicated member of REFORMA for over 12 years, consistently demonstrating leadership, advocacy, and a deep commitment to uplifting Latino and Spanish-speaking communities. As Chapter Representative (East Region), he collaborated closely with colleagues to strengthen the organization and foster meaningful connections across chapters.– Mary Marques, Free Library of Philadelphia
Manny is retiring soon. It would be a wonderful “grand finale” for his career to receive this award. He truly deserves it. His many contributions to our profession and to REFORMA, which I am sure will continue after his retirement, as well as his giving and caring personality, his positive enthusiasm and influence on others embody what the Elizabeth Martinez Lifetime Achievement Award is all about - and it is what the “REFORMA familia” represents to me.– Adriana Blancarte-Hayward, REFORMA Membership Committee Chair