Harlem Book Giveaway Helps Celebrate Pioneering Puerto Rican Librarian

HARLEM, NY — Pura Belpré led a life focused on community and books.

She was a trailblazer as the first Puerto Rican woman hired as a librarian in the New York Public Library system, hosted the city's first bilingual story hours, pioneered library outreach into the Puerto Rican community in Harlem and wrote several popular books for kids, including Pérez and Martina, a love story between a cockroach and a mouse.

On Friday, the New York Public Library will be hosting its fourth annual celebration of Belpré at Harlem Art Park, on East 120th Street between Lexington and Third avenues, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Last year's event drew a crowd of over 150 people of all ages, organizers said.

To help promote Belpré's mission of spreading books and literacy in the community, the celebration will be giving away hundreds of books for children and adults.

Live music will be performed by the Bilingual Birdies and the fun also includes face painting and art making.

Belpré is credited with bringing a major advocate for the Spanish-speaking community in New York City and wrote numerous books, many of them English translations of Puerto Rican folktales.

In April 2022, the corner of East 109 Street and Lexington Avenue was co-named “Pure Belpré Way” in honor of her contributions to the residents of East Harlem, where she worked as a librarian the the Aguilar Library on East 110th Street.

Belpré also worked at the West 115th Street branch as the Puerto Rican community grew in south west Harlem, turning the library into a major cultural hub for residents in New York City.

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