Bruce Jensen

Border girl, border librarian: Angélica María García

Three years ago, federal funds went toward training and recruiting home-grown librarians in underserved areas of the US.  Historically impoverished South Texas was one of them—you might recall reading in recent years of genuine librarian shortages around here.  The ambitious Rio Grande Initiative set out to take that problem by the horns.  In "Librarian shortage on the border," the Valley Morning Star reported,

The Rio Grande Initiative paid tuition and fees plus $10,000 annually toward salary for 20 new librarians training at “partner” libraries while taking distance learning courses. The partner libraries in turn were responsible for paying a minimum of $10,000 toward the librarians’ salaries.

“There was a cry from communities in the area,” said Ana Cleveland [of University of North Texas], who runs the grant program. “As a profession, we are much more aware of the needs to serve diverse populations. That, in the state of Texas, means the Hispanic community.”

The grant was one of more than $21 million awarded by the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services in 2005 to help recruit librarians nationwide in underserved areas such as inner-city school districts, Native American communities, rural areas, and areas with large Spanish-speaking populations.

That group of Fellows graduated last year with their library degrees. I used to share an office with one of them, and another one and I work together now.  She's Angélica María García, MLIS, born on a May 31 back in the late 1970s.

She was born in Brownsville, TX and spent her first five years in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, its twin city across the mouth of the Rio Grande.  Her parents (dad from Monterrey, mom from Matamoros) moved to Brownsville but Angélica grew up on both sides of the border.  She still spends time almost every weekend with family and friends in both cities.

Angélica is comical in both languages.  She has worked in many kinds of libraries, from a medical library to a college library that lacked indoor plumbing.  She went to a Maná concert when she was 13.  She married the gallant Paco and they have a sweet daughter named Ximena.  She can tell you some of the rest, in this exclusive interview:

B: Why did you decide to be a librarian? 

A: It was an opportunity I couldn't say no to!  I was offered the opportunity to be a recipient of a Rio Grande Initiative scholarship through the IMLS [Institute of Museum and Library Services].  Having worked in the library at UT-Brownsville as a part-timer, and then as a manager of a couple libraries at South Texas College, I didn't hesitate to take the opportunity to become a librarian.
 
Do you have some early memories of libraries?
 
Of course!  When I was in college I would search for books using an actual card catalog with index cards and all that good stuff! So I guess I can say I am a pioneer of libraries and their changes around here throughout the years!
 
What are some things you've enjoyed about your work in libraries so far? 

It would definitely have to be helping out students who come by the library in their first days of the semester and ask for help.  Knowing that what you showed them has earned them a good grade on their assignment is the greatest feeling ever.  Teaching library orientation classes is another great passion I have, and it's something I miss in my current assignment.  I've always said that being a librarian is not a career that will make anyone rich monetarily, but it's an incredibly rewarding job!
 
What are your thoughts on the Rio Grande Initiative? 

The best thing there has ever been!  It gave me, along with 19 other Fellows, the opportunity to get a master's degree without the cost coming out of our own pockets, and it was a great idea that UNT and UTB had, to recruit bilingual individuals who wanted a profession in libraries
 
What are some of your hopes and ambitions for the future of libraries, and for yourself as a librarian?

One thing that concerns me is hearing some people say that librarians will no longer be needed in a library—they believe it could be a setup where a person would simply use a computer and be able to get all of their answers. I don't feel it will be like that. I strongly believe that a "real life" person should spend time in libraries!  I see myself being more and more involved in the sense of helping out students who come to the library, offering them a guiding hand until they feel comfortable being on their own.  Maybe this is the mother in me, but that will give them the sense of security they may need when it's their first time in college!

(The photos, by the way, I harvested from Angélica's Facebook.  Befriend her there and you can see more.)

Posted by Bruce Jensen on May 30, 2008 | Comments (0)