Lopez, Lillian

Lillian López was among the first Puerto Rican librarians in the New Public Library System (NYPL) and a pioneer in her efforts to create library services and programs for Puerto Ricans and other Latinos. Born in Salinas, Puerto Rico in 1925, she moved to New York City in 1935 and settled in El Barrio (Spanish Harlem). In 1960, she joined the NYPL system where she remained for twenty-five years until her retirement in 1985. She become the first Puerto Rican to hold important administrative positions, which allowed her to help set policies and change the way the library related to minority communities. In 1967 she was instrumental in establishing the innovative South Bronx Library Project and became the administrator of this model library outreach project. In 1979, she became Bronx Borough Coordinator with responsibility for the 33 branch libraries in the Bronx and worked toward strengthening the role of libraries in the revitalization of the area.

Lillian López was among the first Puerto Rican librarians in the New York Public Library system (NYPL) and a pioneer in her efforts to create library services and programs for Puerto Ricans and other Latinos. Born in Salinas, Puerto Rico in 1925, she moved to New York City in 1935 and settled in El Barrio (Spanish Harlem). In 1960, she joined the NYPL system where she remained for twenty-five years until her retirement in 1985. She became the first Puerto Rican to hold important administrative positions, which allowed her to help set policies and change the way the library related to minority communities. In 1967 she was instrumental in establishing the innovative South Bronx Library Project and became the administrator of this model library outreach project. In 1979, she became Bronx Borough Coordinator with responsibility for the 33 branch libraries in the Bronx and worked toward strengthening the role of libraries in the revitalization of the area.