Counternarratives of Chicana/o Librarians from Los Angeles County

• In Event: Narratives of Resistance within Education, Past, Present, and Future

Abstract

Overview and Purpose
In 2025 libraries have seen a rise in funding cuts and a new record of book challenges (American Library Association, 2025). While it is not uncommon to have book challenges and bans, this data confirms that despite their perceived innocence, literature and librarianship are highly political, as evidenced by its history of perpetuating white supremacist ideologies (Harris, 1990; MacCann, 1998; Welch, 2016). The history of Latina/o/x children’s literature and librarianship is not well documented, however, there is evidence of its relevance to the 1960s Civil Rights Movement, and the demand for more ethnic and culturally relevant materials for students of all ages (Author, 2022). Considering this context, this paper asks—What is the history of efforts by Chicana/o librarians to challenge censorship within children’s literature and librarianship?

Theoretical Perspectives & Methodology
This paper foregrounds Critical Race Theory and its affordances to unmask white supremacist ideologies and the continuity of censorship while creating space for counternarratives of activism. This analysis makes connections between racial realism, the permeance of racism in American life, and its ability to adapt over time (Bell, 1991), to racist policies and how they impact children’s literature and librarianship today. In addition, counternarratives (Solórzano & Yosso, 2002) are presented from the oral histories of four Chicana/o librarians and their activism to develop culturally affirming programming for their communities. In addition, personal records from the Chicana/o librarians, such as pictures, were collected to create a counter narrative of events as told through the perspective of the librarians.

Findings & Significance
Across the oral histories, Chicana/o librarians shared how the passing of education policies such as California’s Proposition 227 in 1998 impacted their advocacy, although they were not directly working in schools. As a response, Chicana/o librarians who were a part of REFORMA organized book drives to redistribute the Spanish books discarded by the schools back to the community. REFORMA is the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, and was co-founded by Elizabeth Martinez in 1971, one of the Chicana librarians whose oral history is highlighted in this paper. REFORMA played a critical role in the mentorship of new generations of Chicana/o librarians in Los Angeles, especially as local chapters were established and advocacy for Spanish-speaking communities grew. Stories of mentorship among Chicana/o librarians during the 1970s and 1980s are part of the counternarratives highlighted in this paper, as they show how librarians are activists within their own communities. This legacy is present today as REFORMA continues it’s advocacy for vulnerable populations today, such as immigrant rights, amidst mass ICE raids and kidnappings. Racial realism is a tale as old as time; however, findings presented in this paper discuss the importance of documenting the activism of Chicana/o librarians who have been at the forefront of transforming librarianship for Latina/o/x communities. These perspectives are urgent, as we find ourselves contending with attacks on public institutions and intellectual freedom today.

Author

• Lorena Camargo Gonzalez, California State University - Sacramento