Arnulfo Trejo - Trejo Foster Foundation For Hispanic Library Education

Trejo Foster Foundation For Hispanic Library Education

In 1992, Trejo, his sister Luisa Duenes Trejo, and his second wife, Annette M. Foster Trejo, created the Trejo Foster Foundation for Hispanic Library Education (TFF) which has sponsored national institutes for library education to serve the information needs of Latinos. The TFF was formed as a “think-tank” to address issues concerning library and information science education. Under the aegis of the TFF Institutes on Hispanic Library Education have engaged the faculties of library and information studies throughout the nation in planning, preparation and implementation. Dr. Trejo’s astute recognition that he must ignite passion for service to the Spanish-speaking in all regions of the United States through the Institutes resulted in the first five Institutes.

• I. Status of Hispanic Library and Information Science; A National Institute for Educational Change. University of Arizona, School of Information Resources and Library Science. Tucson, Arizona. July 29-31, 1993.

• II. Latino Populations and the Public Library. University of Texas-Austin. Graduate School of Library and Information Science. Austin, Texas. November 12-15, 1995.

• III. Hispanic Leadership in Libraries. Rutgers University, School of Communications, Information, and Library Studies. New Jersey. August 8-10, 1997.

• IV. Library Services to Youth of Hispanic Heritage. University of South Florida, School of Library and Information Science. Tampa, Florida. March 12-14, 1999.

• V. Bridging Borders: Building Hispanic Library Education and Services in a Global Perspective. University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Library and Information Studies and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, School of Information Studies. Madison, Wisconsin. July 20-22, 2001.

Dr. Trejo’s message inviting librarians to the 5th TFF Institute in Wisconsin in 2001 was a clear and strong reminder that the work is far from done:

“According to the U.S. News and World Report (March 19, 2001): “The number of Hispanics here today is greater than the entire population of Canada.” Yet the number of Hispanic librarians is less than two thousand. This includes librarians from Puerto Rico. The dire need of Latino Librarians is a national, serious problem.

This and related problems will be addressed at the 5th National Trejo Foster Institute of Hispanic Education. I personally wish to invite you to this event. You, meaning librarians, students and faculty in schools of library and information science as well as library assistants who are working in libraries with a large representation of Spanish-speaking patrons.

Favor de asistir a este evento, todas aquéllas personas que estén interesadas en la tarea de incrementar el número de bibliotecarios Latinos en este país. Vivimos en un país que está inundado de información; sin embargo, nuestra gente, sedienta de esa información, no tiene quien les informe en su idioma. Hagamos un esfuerzo especial para vernos en Madison, Wisconsin.”

— Gracias, Arnulfo Trejo, Presidente TFF

His third wife Ninfa Trejo (married in 1995), continues the work of the Trejo Foster Foundation as President of the Foundation.

• VII. The University of Arizona School of Information Resources and Library Science and the Arizona Health Sciences Library seventh biannual Trejo Foster Foundation Institute focusing on issues of health information services for Hispanic constituencies.July 12 - 14, 2007. The University of Arizona,Tucson, Arizona.

• IX "Education & Library Services: Connecting Borders" October 5, 2012 - October 6, 2012. Chihuahua City, Mexico.