REFORMA Call for Libraries, Librarians and Information Workers to Support Human Rights
The members of REFORMA represent Latino and Spanish speaking communities around the nation, and throughout the world. Our mission to provide services to all without discrimination to their country of origin, their citizenship status, or any other distinguishing status in our libraries is part of the foundation of our work. Information services are an essential part of our access to the democratic process and human rights.
REFORMA defends human rights of all persons without distinction of any kind, such as race, color, sex, language, religion, national or social origin, birth or other status as stated in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
REFORMA declares that all human beings including immigrants have the fundamental right to access to information as stated in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
REFORMA rejects any legislation that infringes on the rights of anyone in the USA or its territories, citizens or otherwise and declares that all human beings including immigrants have fundamental rights.
REFORMA opposes the federal travel ban against Muslims and the executive orders on immigration and visas.
REFORMA advocates for libraries and information workers to provide access to information to our patrons to help them understand the new executive orders.
REFORMA asserts that this is a humanitarian plea for dignity and justice for immigrants and refugees.
REFORMA reaffirms its support for immigrant rights as stated in the American Library Association Resolution in Support of Immigrant Rights 2006-2007 CD #20.2.
REFORMA will continue to support the REFORMA Children in Crisis Project to assist unaccompanied refugee children who are being processed, and Dia de los Ninos/ Dia de los Libros, a celebration emphasizing the importance of literacy for children of all linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
REFORMA fully supports the efforts of the Libraries Serve Refugees initiative and encourages librarians and information workers to stay engaged with our communities as per REFORMA's statement dated November 18, 2016.
REFORMA is the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking. Established in 1971 as an affiliate of the American Library Association (ALA), 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. For more information, please visit www.reforma.org.
