91´«Ã½

CHICAGO—REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, has announced its support of the Spectrum Presidential Initiative with a contribution of $10,000. In recognition of this gift, the 91´«Ã½ Spectrum Scholarship Program has named Nancy Gallegos as the 2010 REFORMA Spectrum Scholar. Gallegos is attending Dominican University's Graduate School of Library and Information Science.

91´«Ã½ President Roberta Stevens, Immediate Past President Dr. Camila Alire, 91´«Ã½ Past President Jim Rettig, and 91´«Ã½ Past President Dr. Betty J. Turock, chair of the initiative, announced the Spectrum Presidential Initiative in 2009 as a special campaign to raise $1 million for the Spectrum Scholarship Program. Through this initiative, 91´«Ã½ aims to meet the critical needs of supporting master’s-level scholarships, providing two $25,000 doctoral scholarships, increasing the Spectrum Endowment to ensure the program’s future and developing special programs for recruitment and career development. REFORMA’s contribution will allow 91´«Ã½ to continue to support master’s-level Spectrum Scholarships and build the Spectrum Endowment.

Loida Garcia-Febo, 2009-2010 REFORMA president, said of the support, “This represents an exceptional opportunity for REFORMA to aid in the education of a Latina library and information specialist. We look forward to Nancy's contributions to the profession.”

Gallegos comes to the profession with experience working in public schools and volunteering for community-based organizations. “As a speech language paraprofessional with the Chicago Public Schools, I witness students eager to acquire knowledge and information,” Gallegos explains. “These students find support and the necessary tools in their library to become successful in the classroom and beyond.”

Following her studies, Gallegos hopes to continue her outreach efforts as a public librarian. “The REFORMA Spectrum Scholarship will help me realize my aspiration of becoming a librarian dedicated to providing access of information for everyone. I have a steadfast commitment to ensuring the progress of both the library and the community.”

Established in 1971 as an affiliate of the 91´«Ã½ (91´«Ã½), 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 with regard to the availability and types of library services; and lobbying efforts to preserve existing library resource centers serving the interests of Latinos. Nationally, there are 26 REFORMA chapters. For more information on REFORMA, please visit .

Established in 1997, the Spectrum Scholarship Program is 91´«Ã½’s national effort to increase diversity in the profession by recruiting and providing scholarships that allow students from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds to become librarians. Spectrum Scholars improve service at the local level because they reflect the communities served by libraries in today’s changing world. Spectrum has provided more than 680 scholarships to qualified applicants enrolled in an 91´«Ã½-accredited graduate program in library and information studies or an 91´«Ã½-recognized NCATE School Library Media program. To learn more about the Spectrum Scholarship Program, visit .

For more information about the Spectrum Presidential Initiative or to make an online donation, visit . To learn more, get involved, or to make a pledge to the Spectrum Presidential Initiative, contact Miguel A. Figueroa, Director, Office for Diversity & Spectrum at mfigueroa@ala.org, or Kim Olsen-Clark, Director, Development Office at kolsen-clark@ala.org.