Arnulfo Trejo
Encyclopedia
Arnulfo Duenes Trejo was a writer and Professor of Library Science at the University of Arizona
. He was a leader in the movement to increase library
collections
of Latino
literature and Spanish-language
materials in the United States. He was also instrumental in efforts to train more Latino and Spanish-speaking people as professional librarians.
, Mexico
. He moved to the United States
at the age of three, gaining American citizenship in 1944 during his service with the U.S. Army. He earned a B.A. in Education, University of Arizona
, 1949; M.A. in Spanish Language and Literature, University of the Americas, 1951; M.A. in Library Science, Kent State University
, 1953; Litt.D. (with honors), National University of Mexico, 1959.
When he started his position as a Professor of Library Science at the University of Arizona
in 1965, Trejo was one of only five Hispanic librarians in the nation.
In 1971 he founded REFORMA
, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking, which is today a prominent organization for Latino librarians as well as for librarians serving Latino communities. Trejo was inspired to start REFORMA
after a screening of the film I Am Joaquin, based on the epic poem of the same title, by Corky Gonzalez and exploring the struggles and exploitation of Mexican Americans. He served as president of the organization from 1971 to 1974. In recognition of his importance to the organization, REFORMA's Librarian of the Year Award is now named after Dr. Trejo.
In 1975 he founded the Graduate Library Institute for Spanish-speaking Americans (GLISA), an American Library Association
-accredited Masters degree program for training librarians. During the institute's four-year existence Trejo was directly involved in recruiting Latino students into the program and contributed to their education. GLISA's graduates include many Latina and Latino librarians who are present-day leaders in the field.
In 1980 Trejo cofounded Hispanic Books Distributors, a Spanish language book seller aimed at increasing the availability of Spanish-language materials to libraries in the United States. In 1992, he, his sister Luisa Duenes Trejo, and his second wife, Annette M. Foster Trejo, created the Trejo Foster Foundation for Hispanic Library Education, which has sponsored national institutes for library education to serve the information needs of Latinos. His third wife Ninfa Trejo (married in 1995), continues the work of the Trejo Foster Foundation as President of the Foundation.
He won many awards, including: the Simón Bolivar Award, Colegio de Bibliotecónomos of Venezuela, 1970; El Tiradito Awards, El Tiradito Foundation, 1973 and 1975; annual award from League of Mexican-American Women, 1973; Rosenzweig Award, Arizona State Library Association, 1976; Distinguished Alumni Award, Kent State University School of Library Science. In 2001, the American Library Association
(ALA) granted Trejo Honorary Membership, an honor conferred on a living citizen of any country whose contribution to librarianship or a closely related field is so outstanding that it is of lasting importance to the advancement of the whole field of library service. It is intended to reflect honor upon the ALA as well as upon the individual.
Arnulfo Trejo died in his home in Tucson, Arizona
in 2002, at the age of 79. He was survived by his wife, Ninfa, and daughters, Rachel, Rebecca and Ruth.
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
. He was a leader in the movement to increase library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
collections
Library collection development
Library collection development is the process of meeting the information needs of the people in a timely and economical manner using information resources locally held, as well as from other organizations....
of Latino
Latino
The demonyms Latino and Latina , are defined in English language dictionaries as:* "a person of Latin-American descent."* "A Latin American."* "A person of Hispanic, especially Latin-American, descent, often one living in the United States."...
literature and Spanish-language
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
materials in the United States. He was also instrumental in efforts to train more Latino and Spanish-speaking people as professional librarians.
Biography
Trejo was born in Villa Vicente Guerrero, DurangoDurango
Durango officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is located in Northwest Mexico. With a population of 1,632,934, it has Mexico's second-lowest population density, after Baja...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. He moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
at the age of three, gaining American citizenship in 1944 during his service with the U.S. Army. He earned a B.A. in Education, University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
, 1949; M.A. in Spanish Language and Literature, University of the Americas, 1951; M.A. in Library Science, Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
, 1953; Litt.D. (with honors), National University of Mexico, 1959.
When he started his position as a Professor of Library Science at the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
in 1965, Trejo was one of only five Hispanic librarians in the nation.
In 1971 he founded REFORMA
REFORMA
The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking, more commonly known as REFORMA, is an affiliate of the American Library Association formed in 1971 to promote library services to Latinos and the Spanish speaking. It is registered in...
, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking, which is today a prominent organization for Latino librarians as well as for librarians serving Latino communities. Trejo was inspired to start REFORMA
REFORMA
The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking, more commonly known as REFORMA, is an affiliate of the American Library Association formed in 1971 to promote library services to Latinos and the Spanish speaking. It is registered in...
after a screening of the film I Am Joaquin, based on the epic poem of the same title, by Corky Gonzalez and exploring the struggles and exploitation of Mexican Americans. He served as president of the organization from 1971 to 1974. In recognition of his importance to the organization, REFORMA's Librarian of the Year Award is now named after Dr. Trejo.
In 1975 he founded the Graduate Library Institute for Spanish-speaking Americans (GLISA), an American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
-accredited Masters degree program for training librarians. During the institute's four-year existence Trejo was directly involved in recruiting Latino students into the program and contributed to their education. GLISA's graduates include many Latina and Latino librarians who are present-day leaders in the field.
In 1980 Trejo cofounded Hispanic Books Distributors, a Spanish language book seller aimed at increasing the availability of Spanish-language materials to libraries in the United States. In 1992, he, his sister Luisa Duenes Trejo, and his second wife, Annette M. Foster Trejo, created the Trejo Foster Foundation for Hispanic Library Education, which has sponsored national institutes for library education to serve the information needs of Latinos. His third wife Ninfa Trejo (married in 1995), continues the work of the Trejo Foster Foundation as President of the Foundation.
He won many awards, including: the Simón Bolivar Award, Colegio de Bibliotecónomos of Venezuela, 1970; El Tiradito Awards, El Tiradito Foundation, 1973 and 1975; annual award from League of Mexican-American Women, 1973; Rosenzweig Award, Arizona State Library Association, 1976; Distinguished Alumni Award, Kent State University School of Library Science. In 2001, the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
(ALA) granted Trejo Honorary Membership, an honor conferred on a living citizen of any country whose contribution to librarianship or a closely related field is so outstanding that it is of lasting importance to the advancement of the whole field of library service. It is intended to reflect honor upon the ALA as well as upon the individual.
Arnulfo Trejo died in his home in Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
in 2002, at the age of 79. He was survived by his wife, Ninfa, and daughters, Rachel, Rebecca and Ruth.