BRLA Upcoming Events
2023 Día de los Niños
Come visit our booth at Día De Los Niños! We'll have games, books and more!!!! If you would like to volunteer please contact Debi Lopez at dlop156@epcc.edu
2024 BRLA Board Member Nominations
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We are looking for BRLA board member officers for 2024 for the following offices:
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Past Events
BRLA Annual Banquet

Updated February 18, 2023
For many, many years, the last Saturday in February has been a night when the librarians of El Paso, Cd. Juárez, and Southern New Mexico gather to honor the best of our region. COVID may have kept us apart these last two years, but the BRLA Board is committed to returning to an in-person awards dinner to recognize outstanding books, librarians, library workers, volunteers, and scholarship recipients.
For that reason, you are invited to join us in-person on February 25th for the BRLA Annual Awards Banquet. We’ll celebrate the excellence of Southwest writing during the Southwest Book Awards portion of the evening, hearing from the authors of each of the ten Book Award winners. A complete list of titles can be found on our Southwest Book Awards page.
In addition, we’ll honor the Librarian of the Year, Staff Member of the Year, and Volunteer of the Year, who have demonstrated creativity and innovation in this year full of challenges and obstacles. Our BRLA Scholarship will be awarded to a deserving Library Science student. Nominations for these awards are due by February 4th and can be found on our Awards/Scholarships page as well.
But wait, there’s more! For additional fun, our 7th Annual Auction/Raffle will be held online, using the RallyUp platform, with winners announced at the end of what promises to be an entertaining and celebratory evening. All items will be available to be collected at the event or can be delivered.
Schedule
6 PM Cocktail Hour (Cash Bar)
7 PM Dinner
8 PM Awards
6 PM Cocktail Hour (Cash Bar)
7 PM Dinner
8 PM Awards
Location
Ardovino's Desert Crossing
1 Ardovino's Drive Sunland Park, NM 88063 |
RegistrationRegistration is CLOSED. If you need to make changes or have questions, contact Joy.
Dinners are $50.00 per person. Please use our online registration form. Registration & payment deadline: February 15th Questions on form or menu: Joy Urbina Hospitality Chair 915-308-1414 (Google Voice Number) joyurbina1@gmail.com Questions on payment: Sebastian Diaz Treasurer 915-240-5266 sdiaz@utep.edu |
RallyUp RaffleParticipate in our online raffle. All the proceeds go to our scholarship funds.
go.rallyup.com/brla2023 Raffle will end February 25th at 8:00 PM. You do not need to be present at the banquet to win or collect a prize. |
Awards
2022 BRLA Librarian of the Year
Ida Gonzalez Scholarship Fund
Ida Gonzalez served 35 years at El Paso Community College (EPCC) as a librarian and Head of Library Technical Services. Her devotion to student success was one of Ms. Ida’s best qualities, she also heartened the lives of many of her colleagues as well. She was a legend and she was active and always supporting library professional associations and will be greatly missed. BRLA would like to acknowledge Ida Gonzalez Family for their contributions to both the BRLA and Reforma El Paso Chapter scholarship funds to support students pursuing a Master’s degree in the library field, keeping Ida’s legacy.
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BRLA + REFORMA El Paso Chapter
Scholarship Recipient
Conference Evaluation - Deadline Nov. 30th
The conference evaluation allows us to gauge the successes of the conference. Please complete the evaluation by Nov. 30th.
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Taco Night & Evening with an Author
Meet Mexican American writer Yasmín Ramirez and her debut memoir, ¡Ándale Prieta!: A Love Letter to My Family, from Cinco Puntos Press, an imprint of Lee & Low Books. The memoir delicately shows us the experience of a young Latina growing up on the U.S-Mexico Border and subsequent years searching for herself and fulfillment after the passing of her grandmother Ita. Enjoy tacos and wonderful conversation with our author! Limited amount of books available for purchase at a special event price. Thanks to TLA's "Best of the Best" funds for the sponsorship of Yazmin Ramírez.
REGISTRATION
Please select the Friday night option when you register for the conference, so there is enough for everyone to enjoy!
Conference attendees are free with registration. Guests are allowed for a price, if reported to Sebastian Diaz, sdiaz@utep.edu by Monday, October 31st. Guests can pay at the door.
Deadline: Monday, October 31st
FREE - Registered Conference attendees
$10 fee* - Guests of Conference attendees
Please select the Friday night option when you register for the conference, so there is enough for everyone to enjoy!
Conference attendees are free with registration. Guests are allowed for a price, if reported to Sebastian Diaz, sdiaz@utep.edu by Monday, October 31st. Guests can pay at the door.
Deadline: Monday, October 31st
FREE - Registered Conference attendees
$10 fee* - Guests of Conference attendees
Fall Conference
Posted April 21, 2022, Updated November 1, 2022
Theme: "Librarians Helping Librarians" Proposals are now closed. Contact Angie Garcia via email at angel40_2001@yahoo.com. Current Guests include:
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Conference Survey - Deadline Nov. 30th - Click here.
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Conference Parking - UTEP Parking
Conference Location
UTEP Library 1900 Wiggins Way El Paso, TX 79902 Campus has open parking (permits not needed), but the University would like attendees to use the Schuster parking garage to allow regular patrons and conference attendees with accessibility needs to the closest parking.
UTEP's Interactive map that can help with walking paths: click here. Please review below your options for parking with notes. Printer friendly maps available below including instructions. |
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Most Accessible Parking Lot
This parking lot has the most direct and flat access to the Library's front entrance. This lot also provides the closest accessible reserved parking spots. Please leave this inner campus parking lot to those that need accessible parking and UTEP students and use the Schuster Garage and surrounding parking lots marked below.
This parking lot has the most direct and flat access to the Library's front entrance. This lot also provides the closest accessible reserved parking spots. Please leave this inner campus parking lot to those that need accessible parking and UTEP students and use the Schuster Garage and surrounding parking lots marked below.
Covered Parking Garage - Schuster Garage
Use the top level and take the elevator to level 4 to use the catwalk to head to the Library. About a 5 minutes walk in about 300 feet. Here's the approximate walking path recommended: click here. |
Near the Library
These parking lots are near the Library, but have a slight inclined walk.
These parking lots are near the Library, but have a slight inclined walk.