Ethnic Librarians Associations | The American Library Association Archives

Classified under Ethnic Librarians Associations are two organizations: Chinese-American Librarians Association and REFORMA: National Association to Promote Library Services to the Spanish Speaking.

CALA:

The Chinese-American Librarians Association (CALA) was founded in 1973 to replace the Mid-West Chinese American Librarians Association (1).  It is affiliated with the ALA and the National Library and Information Associations (2).  In 1983, it absorbed the Chinese Librarians Association which was founded in 1974 (3).

The purpose of the organization is to promote better communication among U.S. Chinese-American librarians, serve as a form for the discussion of problems, and support the development and promotion of librarianship (4).

CALA Publications include the Chinese-American Librarians Association Membership Directory and the Annual Chinese-American Librarians Association Newsletter which includes a calendar of events, lists of employment opportunities and member news (5).

The CALA has two committees: Awards and Foundations.  It offers placement referral service and scholarships for library school students and bestows awards.  In addition to a semi-annual meeting, the organization holds an annual conference in conjunction with the ALA (6).

REFORMA:

Founded in 1971 as REFORMA: National Association of Spanish Speaking Librarians, the organization changed its name in 1983 to REFORMA: National Association of Library Services to the Spanish Speaking (7).  Affiliated with the ALA, REFORMA is comprised of librarians and institutions interested in working with the Soanish speaking community (8).

REFORMA's publications include the biennial REFORMA Membership Directory and REFORMA Newsletter, a quarterly which provides information regarding REFORMA activities, programs, and local projects.  In addition, it includes chapter reports, new publication news, committee reports and information on people and events.  REFORMA also publishes The "English-Only" Movement: A Selected Bibliography and REFORMA/UCLA Mentorship Program: A Mentoring Manual (9).

The organization has three committees: Legislative Education, Public Relations, and Scholarship.  It maintains a Speaker's bureau and meets semi-annually in conjunction with the ALA (10).

1.Enclyclopedia of Associations (Detroit: Gale Research Inc., 1993) v. 1, part 1, p. 1100.

2.  ALA Handbook of Organization, 1993/94, p. 105.

3.  Ibid.

4.  Ibid.

5.  Ibid.

6.  Ibid.

7.  Enclyclopedia of Associations, p. 1106.

8.  ALA Handbook of Organization, 1993/94, p. 106., Encyclopedia of Associations, p. 1106.

9.  Ibid.

10.Ibid.