Core Values

Central American Library Successes in the Face of a Humanitarian Crisis

On Demand

ALA Unit/Subunit: IRO

Moderator(s)

Ady Huertas

Supervising Librarian – Youth & Family Services
San Diego Public Library
San Diego, California

Speaker(s)

Patricia Aldana

Children’s Book Publisher, Chair International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) Trust, member IBBY REFORMA, Canada
William Cartwright, Librarian

President and CEO
Riecken Community Libraries
Chicago, Illinois

Slides Handouts Slides
Melba Salazar Lucio

English Instructor
Texas Southmost College
Brownsville, Texas

Slides Slides
Amanda L. Flayer

Director/Founder
La Puerta Abierta
Santiago Atitlan, Solola, Guatemala

While we often hear of the tragedies related to Central America and the refugee communities, there are many who are working to address the situation with innovative programs and creative alliances. Within the community of librarians, library associations and non-governmental organizations involved with Central American libraries and refugee communities there have been many successes over the past few years.

Some organizations presenting their work include Patsy Aldana from IBBY International (International Board on Books for Young People) discussing their new Guatemala Section, Bill Cartwright & Paco Alcaide with Riecken Community Libraries outlining their award-winning programs in Guatemala and Honduras, Dr. Melba Salazar Lucio with Team Brownsville showcasing their work with arriving migrants in Brownsville, TX and Matamoros, Mexico and finally, Amanda Flayer will introduce us to the Puerta Abierta Atitlán Library in Guatemala. Adriana Huertas with REFORMA, Children in Crisis and the San Diego Public Library will moderate the program.

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion, participants will be able to list all the various library responses to the immigrant youth and families arriving from Central America.
Upon completion, participants will be able to describe the current situation with Central American library efforts.