Maria F. Estrella (she/her/hers/ella) earned a Master of Communication and Information in Library and Information Science from Kent State University, two Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Social Work and Spanish from Cleveland State University, and received Diversity and Inclusion certification from Cornell University. She also holds two decades of library experience working in a five-star rated urban-research library system, including eight years working as a Children's/Teen Librarian and a Youth Services Subject Department Librarian. Maria similarly has fifteen years of significant knowledge advocating, promoting, and providing services to youth and caregivers. She served on national committees, juries, and task forces, whose primary goal is to provide diverse literacy and technological resources/services to enhance the lives of young readers and encourage them to become life-long scholars.
About the Founder
Mrs. Estrella is a former REFORMA (National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking) Executive Board Member, the Children and Young Adults Services Committee Chair, and a REFORMA liaison to the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC). She was also a book juror on the 2020-2022 Coretta Scott King Book Award, served on the 2019 ALSC Excellence in Early Literacy Digital Media Committee, and the 2016 Pura Belpré Award Selection Committee. Maria was honored with the 2021 REFORMA Dr. Arnulfo D. Trejo Librarian of the Year Award, recognized as a 100+ Latinos Cleveland Must Know, 2021 Edition, and was awarded the 2022 Champion of Central Award. To enhance her professional skills and advocate for diverse, equitable, and inclusive library policies and services, she began her service as a 2022-2025 Councilor-at-Large for the American Library Association and is a Board of Directors member for the Association for Library Service to Children.
Maria similarly has experience providing training to paraprofessionals and professionals on the following topics:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Youth Library Services and Programming
Latine Library Family Engagement
Bilingual Storytime
Pura Belpré Award and Process
Inclusive Conversations: Convening, Hosting, and Facilitating Inclusive Conversations in Your Communities
Media Mentorship
Facilitating One-On-One Interviews and Focus Groups To Obtain Qualitative Data For Strategic Plans.
