STAFF STORIES: JOHN L. AYALA

STAFF STORIES

JOHN L. AYALA

John Ayala’s library career began as a bookmobile driver for the Long Beach Public Library in 1963. He eventually left the library to serve in the Air Force in Vietnam for two years before returning back to his driver position. In 1971 he went on to complete his Masters of Library Science at the Immaculate Heart College and soon found work as an outreach librarian for the Los Angeles County Library after graduate school. He left that position to become Director of the Library of the Pacific Coast Campus at Long Beach City College, working in that placement for 18 years before coming to Fullerton College in 1990.

For 16 years, Ayala served as Dean of the Library and Learning Resource Center at Fullerton College. During this time, he pitched the original proposal to build a new library on campus in 1992, and contributed to its architecture and look by suggesting a more Spanish Colonial design. Ayala has been an advocate for bilingual service in the community and has authored and co-authored publications that support special library services for Latinos. For his accomplishments and community service, he has won numerous awards.

Ayala feels really proud to have co-founded the non-profit organization, REFORMA (the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Spanish Speakers). He retired as Dean of the Library on February 16, 2006, but still visits the campus and its library from time to time.

“He was a good leader who was supportive of everyone and recognized peoples’ talents and utilized them.”
— Jackie Evans, Administrative Assistant to Library Dean

Date of Birth:

August 23, 1943

Dates at Fullerton College:

1990-2006

Education:

1970: BA Modern History — CSULB
1971: MLS (Master of Library Science) — Immaculate Heart College
1982: MPA (Master in Public Administration) — CSULB

Professional Experience:

1963-1970: Long Beach Public Library — Bookmobile Driver
1966-1968: Airman First Class, Aerial Port Squadron, Military Airlift Command, USAF
1971-1972: Los Angeles County Library, Bilingual Reference & Outreach Librarian
1972-1990: Director of Pacific Coast Campus Library, Long Beach City College
1990-2006: Dean of Library & Learning Resource Center, Study Abroad Administrator, Fullerton College
2006-2007: Interim Director of Library/Learning Resources, Compton College

Professional Associations:

1971: Founding member of REFORMA
1974-1976: President, REFORMA
1976: Nominated and ran for President, CLA (California Library Association)
1976-1990: Member of Faculty Senate, Long Beach City College
1985-1987: President, Faculty Senate, Long Beach City College
1980-1987: Chairman, Latino Faculty/Staff Assn., Long Beach City College
1992-2000: Chairman, NOCCCD (North Orange County Community College District) Latino Faculty/Staff Assn.
1971-present: ALA (American Library Assn.) member

Publications:

1972: “Special Issue on Chicano Library Service.” California Librarian Magazine. (Considered a monograph)
1998: “Library Services to Latinos.” Latino Library Service in Community Colleges. Salvador Güereña, ed. (monograph)
2012: Co-editor with Salvador Güereña. Pathways to Progress: Issues & Advances in Latino Librarianship.
Chapter author: “Historical Perspectives on the Recruitment of Latinos to Library Service: The Committee to Recruit Mexican American Librarians — A Legacy for Latino Leadership”

Information compiled by Carlota Haider
“About the Editors and Contributors”, Pathways to Progress: Issues & Advances in Latino Librarianship.
http://library.fullcoll.edu/news/2006_Spr_news.html
Personal Interview with Jackie Evans, Administrative Assistant to Dean of the Library
*Picture, Jane Ishibashi, Circulation, FC Library

FULLERTON COLLEGE CENTENNIAL