Loida Garcia-Febo

About Loida

 

Loida Garcia-Febo is a Puerto Rican American librarian and International Library Consultant expert in library services to diverse populations and human rights. President of the American Library Association 2018-2019. Garcia-Febo is worldwide known for her passion about diversity, communities, sustainability, innovation and digital transformation, library workers, library advocacy, wellness, and new librarians about which she has taught in 45 countries. In her job, she helps libraries, companies and organizations strategize programs and services related to these topics and many others. Garcia-Febo is the first Health and Wellness Ambassador for San Jose State University’s School of Information. Garcia-Febo has a Bachelors in Business Education, Masters in Library and Information Sciences. Born, raised, educated in Puerto Rico.

She has a long history of service at library associations. Highlights include- At IFLA: Governing Board 2023-Present and 2013-2017, Chair Management of Library Associations 2023-Present, Co-Founder of IFLA New Professionals, two-term Member/Expert resource person of the Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression Committee of IFLA (FAIFE), two-term member of the Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning Section of IFLA (CPDWL). Additionally, currently at IFLA: CPDWL Advisor, Information Coordinator of the Management of Library Associations Section. Currently at ALA: Chair, Committee on the Status of Women in Librarianship (COSWL) and Chair, ALA IRC United Nations Subcommittee. She is serving a second term as an elected Trustee of the Freedom to Read Foundation. Born, raised, and educated in Puerto Rico Garcia-Febo. She has advocated for libraries at the United Nations, the European Union Parliament, U.S. Congress, NY State Senate, NY City Hall, and on sidewalks and streets in various states, and at the NASDAQ Stock Market because librarians have to advocate everywhere.

Garcia-Febo received the 2015 Elizabeth Martinez Lifetime Achievement Award from REFORMA, the American Library Association’s 2010 Elizabeth Futas Catalyst for Change Award, was named a Mover & Shaker by Library Journal, and an Outstanding Woman by Impremedia and El Diario/ La Prensa. She is a Notable Member of the ALA International Relations Round Table. She is passionate about libraries and works with diverse communities globally.

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At IFLA: Served two first terms as member of the IFLA Governing Board, during which she Chaired IFLA’s Action for Development through Libraries Programme (ALP). She served two terms on the Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning Section (CPDWL) and currently is an Advisor to the Section. She served as Secretary of IFLA’s Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression Committee (FAIFE), a Core Activity of IFLA, where she served as an Expert Resource Person. She advices IFLA’s New Professionals Special Interest Group which she co-established in 2004. She established New Librarians Global Connection: best practices, models and recommendations in 2012, an international quarterly webinar series hosted by IFLA CPDWL and IFLA NPSIG, which partnered with ALA during the early years, to provide online continuing education opportunities in languages that have included English, Portuguese and Spanish.

As part of her work with the Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression Committee of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), she has presented workshops about human rights, access to information and advocacy in many regions of the world. Loida has also coordinated programs including topics of interest to new librarians and new professionals for IFLA Congresses in Oslo, Seoul, South Africa, Quebec, (Bologna) Milan and (Boras) Gothenburg. She was a Co-Convenor of the first Pre-Conference hosted by IFLA NPSIG with IFLA CPDWL in Bologna (August 2009). She was the Co-Convenor of the 2010 NPSIG Pre-Conference, The Global Librarian in Boras, Sweden (August 2010).

In the Spring of 2021, Garcia-Febo was a candidate for the IFLA President-Elect Position demonstrating her professionalism, tenacity, perseverance and deep commitment to libraries, librarianship, librarians and the communities they serve. Garcia-Febo was endorsed by library associations from all regions of the world including a number of published statements:  ALA, ARL, ACURIL, France Cfibd, Brazil FEBAB, and CALA.

IMG_9247At ALA: Served as President 2018-2019, Chair of the Committee on Membership Meetings, Chair of the ALA Intellectual Freedom Round Table, and Chair of the ALA International Relations Committee. She served as a member of the Diversity Council, the Intellectual Freedom Committee, the ALA Planning and Budget Assembly, and the ALA Board Finance & Audit Committee.

Garcia-Febo served as President of REFORMA.  She served as a member of the Public Library Association where she chaired the Gordon Conable Award Committee, and she is currently a member of National Library Associations of Librarians of Color: American Indian Library Association, Asian Pacific American Librarians Association, the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, and Chinese American Library Association. She is a member of ACURIL, the Association of Caribbean University, Research and Institutional Libraries with which she coordinated an IFLA/UNESCO Internet Manifesto Guidelines workshop for librarians attending the XXXVIII ACURIL Conference in Jamaica.

Garcia-Febo is an international librarian and consultant, researcher, speaker and writer of topics such as library services and human rights, access to information, advocacy, diverse populations, new professionals and continuing professional development. She is an expert strategizing services for diverse and multi-ethnic groups. Garcia-Febo is Principal at LGF International Strategies where she help organizations, libraries and professional associations to carry out global research, strategize international relations, access to information, services to diverse populations and communities. Additionally, she is an expert coordinating educational events, leadership programs and developing curricula for the mentioned subject areas. She enjoys working with students and new professionals. Garcia-Febo is pursuing a Ph.D. in Information Studies. Her areas of expertise also include grant-writing, international relations, internships & exchanges, customer service, collection development, outreach, and services to immigrants and multicultural populations. She has spoken about these topics at ABC, CNN, NPR, Univision, Telemundo, New York Times and media outlets in different regions of the world.

Garcia-Febo has spoken at events coordinated by US Embassies in Italy, Mexico, Serbia, Spain, and Tokyo. She notably advocated for access to information and library matters in collaboration with various global NGOs at the United Nations on behalf of IFLA. Additionally, Loida has participated in worldwide strategic meetings to streamline library services. Countries include Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, The Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Peru, Sweden, South Korea, South Africa and Spain. She has taught in 45 countries.

Her writing has been published in the Australian Library Journal, Feliciter Canadian Library Association Magazine, inCite News magazine of the Australian Library and Information Association, dvb-Newsletter International published by the Goethe-Institute in Germany, Latino Experience Database (Greenwood Press), and in various books and proceedings. Her writing focuses on continuing professional development, new professionals, multi-ethnic populations, Latinos and other diverse groups, and library association’s work. Her research interests also include information seeking behavior, multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual populations.

Loida has experience as a member of various boards including the Access to Learning Award Advisory Board for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation\ Global Libraries, Library 2.0 Advisory Board from the San Jose State University School of Information, Library Advisory Board of Praeger an imprint of ABC-Clio, and the Public Libraries Advisory Board.

Loida Garcia-Febo is an experienced urban public library manager specializing in the areas of services for immigrants and outreach to special populations. Loida’s career includes experience as an academic library manager and as a school librarian.

Loida’s work has received the following recognitions:

Loida supports the Leroy C. Merritt Humanitarian Fund and the Freedom to Read Foundation.

Contact and Web Presence:

Loida Garcia-Febo on You Tube.

Twitter name: @loidagarciafebo

Email: loidagarciafebo@gmail.com

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