Yolanda Bonitch Receives 2007 Pura Belpré Librarian of the Year Award

by Ximena Diego -- Críticas, 4/1/2008 9:00:00 AM

New York Public Library’s (NYPL) Outreach Librarian Yolanda Bonitch was named 2007 Pura Belpré Librarian of the Year by REFORMA's Northeast Chapter. The award, which will be presented at Queens Library's Flushing Branch on Friday, April 18, honors Bonitch's many contributions to promoting and advocating services to the Spanish-speaking and Latino communities.

Bonitch, who has been NYPL's Chair of the Children’s Spanish Book Selection Committee for more than 18 years, was selected for her many accomplishments throughout her career. In listing them, the award committee highlighted some of her positions, including past chair of the Pura Belpré Award for Latino Children's Literature and past secretary of the New York Library Association’s Ethnic Services Round Table. Bonitch was also commended for coordinating the Spanish Language Children’s Summer Reading List Committee for Tri-Lib (NYPL, Queens Library, Brooklyn Public Library) for many years.

"Receiving this award is comparable to receiving a 'Lifetime Achievement' award," said Bonitch to Críticas via email. "I feel honored and humbled at the same time. I have been a proud member of REFORMA in the past and have felt it was a privilege to be associated with a group of people who are so sincere and hardworking in their efforts to reach out to the Spanish speaking community."