From: Maria Mena <MenaM>
Date: Thu, 28 Feb 2002 14:13:35 -0500

I applaud Mr. Langdon's comments and wholeheartedly concur. In fact, many Pura Belpre candidates come from the small publishing houses he mentions. Reforma
(National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking), which co-sponsors the Pura Belpre Award, is committed to work towards improving the availability of books in Spanish representing the Hispanic/Latino experience. Certainly the Pura Belpre Award is a step in that direction. Librarians and teachers must make an effort to expose children not only to books translated from the English but to literature originating from Latin American countries as well. In this area, we are endebted to the many book distributors who make an effort to make this material available in the U.S.

Maria Mena Co-chair Children and Youth Services Committee Reforma



Maria Mena Leon County Public Library 200 West Park Avenue Tallahassee, Florida 32301w20
(850) 487&65 menam at mail.co.leon.fl.us

menam at mail.co.leon.fl.us

"I have always imagined that paradise will be a kind of library."
                            --Jorge Luis Borges
Received on Thu 28 Feb 2002 01:13:35 PM CST