A librarian from Bronx Community College recognized for his dedication to Latin American cultural representation has won a prestigious “I Love My Librarian” award from the American Library Association (ALA).
Nelson Santana, an associate professor and collections development librarian at BCC, was one of 10 honorees from across the country who make a meaningful impact on their communities through their library work. Over 1,300 public school, college and university librarians were nominated for the award, which includes a ceremony in Arizona and a $5,000 cash reward.
Santana now joins the 160 other librarians who have received the honor since 2008. He said he was shocked to win the award, to the point where he blurted out “stop lying” when the phone call came. But he’s grateful for the recognition for himself and his team, especially since the nomination came from two students and a colleague he works with every day.
“People I haven’t heard from in a long time are reaching out,” he said. “I hope it brings visibility for the work that we do.”
‘The library needs to be present’
In an interview with the Bronx Times, Santana said his passion for libraries began as a little boy from a Dominican family in Sunset Park, Brooklyn. His parents often brought him to the library for afterschool programming, and there was a Saturday program that gave students free books for attending four weeks in a row. Santana said he easily accumulated a collection of “Goosebumps” and “The Babysitters’ Club” series and discovered a love of reading through comic books.
Paging through Marvel comics such as “X-Men,” “That’s how I learned to read,” Santana said.
A turning point came when a librarian at his high school gave him a copy of the short story collection “Drown” by Dominican author Junot Diaz. It was “the first time anyone provided me a book about my culture,” said Santana. “I actually saw my family reflected in the collection.”
He went to Baruch College intent on becoming a librarian, and he worked at the campus library and later with the CUNY Dominican Studies Institute, which houses the Dominican Library and the largest Dominican archives collection outside of the Republic itself.
Santana said working there for seven years informed his current approach at BCC. Since starting at the college in 2017, Santana has focused on “decolonizing the library,” though this effort has occasionally faced resistance.
While the BCC library collection has typically reflected different races, cultures, experiences with the justice system, sexual orientations, and more, his push for more inclusive library policy has seen pushback at times, said Santana.
He has also pushed for more library involvement across campus, rather than only engaging with people who walk through the doors. Santana has worked to increase the library’s prominence on campus and off. For instance, he promotes media literacy across all subjects and has received an ALA grant for a project now underway: an immersive online library tour that allows students to get acquainted with its services and offerings before setting foot on campus.
“The library needs to be present,” he said.
Teaching one of the required first-year seminar courses is also a great way for Santana to make himself known. He is the only BCC librarian to have taught the course for three consecutive semesters, and his work with the students is very rewarding, he said.
“I’m able to connect with students who have all sorts of needs and challenges, and I also see them have success,” said Santana.
Fighting for libraries
As the news of the “I Love My Librarian” recipients has begun to spread, Santana said he enjoys the accolades while reflecting on the importance of libraries in every community. Many people like him would say that libraries changed their lives, but budget cuts remain a constant threat, he said.
When it comes to advocating for resources from elected officials and donors, “We want to be at the table, and we need to be at the table,” said Santana.
Library administrators should be actively involved in fundraising — not just rely on what is allocated by a school or government — and too many shy away from the responsibility, he said. In his capacity, Santana has already been awarded three ALA grants for work towards improving the library’s connection to the community, which he views as “planting the seeds so I can get larger grants” in the future, he said.
Beyond the recognition of his own work, the national award reflects the dedication of the BCC library team and the importance of these institutions in every community, said Santana.
“It highlights the work we do as librarians,” he said. “There is never one person who does everything.”
Reach Emily Swanson at eswanson@schnepsmedia.com or (646) 717-0015. For more coverage, follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @bronxtimes
