School libraries in Puerto Rico have played a significant role in the education and cultural development of students since their inception in the 19th century. Despite the contemporary challenges they face, school libraries remain a vital resource for the advancement of any nation. Furthermore, libraries would not fulfill their potential without their most essential asset: the librarians.

School librarians in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean are integral to the academic and personal development of students. Their contributions extend beyond mere collection management; they act as agents of change, promoting literacy, inclusivity, and critical thinking in an increasingly complex world. They play a crucial role in the current educational landscape of Puerto Rico, serving as facilitators of learning by fostering the development of essential skills in students. They assist students in cultivating critical research, reading, and analytical skills, which are indispensable in today’s educational environment. By collaborating with educators to integrate resources and activities into the curriculum, librarians align library services with the educational needs of each class.

Librarians are key players in facilitating access to resources, encompassing both digital media and traditional formats. They encourage access to a diverse range of literary materials, ensuring that all students can engage with content that aligns with their interests and needs. As advocates for literacy, they establish reading programs and events. They also promote information literacy, equipping students with the skills to discern credible sources of information—an essential competency in an era characterized by information overload. Moreover, they often provide social and emotional support by creating safe spaces for students. They are champions of inclusion and diversity, serving as vital connections to the community.

For these reasons and many others, this year's conference is dedicated to them. Without their invaluable contributions, we would not be here today.

Acuril LV honors Pura Belpré (1899-1982) a librarian, author, and storyteller who wrote and re-interpreted Puerto Rican folk tales. In 1920, Belpré interrupted her studies at the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras to attend her sister’s wedding in New York City, where she was recruited by a public library effort to hire young women from ethnically diverse backgrounds. This first job led to a remarkable career that had Belpré travel the city, from the Bronx to the Lower East Side, telling stories in both English and Spanish, something that had not been done before. Belpré broke the barriers that led the Spanish speaking community to believe the library was "only English." 

In 1925 she began her formal studies in the Library School of the New York Public Library. In 1929, due to the increasing numbers of Puerto Ricans settling in southwest Harlem, Belpré was transferred to a branch of the NYPL at 115th Street. She quickly became an active advocate for the Spanish-speaking community by instituting bilingual story hours, buying Spanish language books, and implementing programs based on traditional holidays. Through Belpré's work, the 115th Street branch became an important cultural center for the Latino residents of New York. Belpré continued these efforts at the 110th street (or Aguilar) branch.

Belpré's library career was tied to her literary career. The first story she wrote and published was "Pérez and Martina", a love story between a cockroach and a mouse. Belpré also collected many other folktales from Puerto Rico, translated them into English and had them published as children’s literature.

Belpré wrote, among other books, the first major Juan Bobo story published in the United States, "Juan Bobo and the Queen's Necklace: A Puerto Rican Folk Tale" (1962).

The Pura Belpré Award was established in 1996 as an homage to Pure Belpré. It is a children's book award, presented annually, to Latinx writers and illustrators whose works best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience in outstanding works of literature for children and youth. The Pura Belpré Award is co-sponsored by REFORMA: the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

Publication of National Hispanic Cultural Center.

Another sites: 

1. Colección Pura Belpré: https://centroarchives.hunter.cuny.edu/repositories/2/resources/37
2. Pura Belpré Award: https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia/belpre
3. Pura Belpré Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pura_Belpr%C3%A9
4. NYPL Pura Belpré Library Storyteller: https://www.nypl.org/blog/2020/11/12/pura-belpre-library-storyteller
5. EBSCO Research Starters Pura Belpré: https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/pura-belpre