Focused on health and wellness, the San José State University School of Information has tapped into Loida Garcia-Febo’s expertise and passion for wellness in librarianship, bringing her on board as the iSchool’s first health and wellness advisor. Garcia-Febo is past-president of the American Library Association, among other noteworthy positions. In this new role at the iSchool, she will bring a variety of resources about mental health and wellness.

“The collaboration with the iSchool represents a concerted action to develop a suite of resources that will equip students, new librarians and the extended iSchool community with tools to live their best life,” says Garcia-Febo.

In her advisor role, Garcia-Febo will work closely with iSchool Director Anthony Chow to ensure all iSchool students, alumni, faculty, and staff have the support and resources they need for personal wellness while bettering their communities. Chow explains, “In the post-pandemic world, the LIS profession, libraries, and the thousands of librarians and LIS professionals who continue to serve people, are faced with a disrupted, and, at times, misaligned set of core competencies necessary to help others while protecting their own health and wellness.”  

Garcia-Febo has held several positions at the American Library Association and International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions, including ALA president and co-founder of IFLA New Professionals. In addition, in 2015, Garcia-Febo earned the Lifetime Achievement Award (LAA) from REFORMA.

According to her website, “Garcia-Febo is worldwide known for her passion about diversity, communities, sustainability, innovation and digital transformation, library workers, library advocacy, wellness for library workers, and new librarians about which she has taught in 44 countries.”