Luis Herrera

City Librarian Emeritus at San Francisco Public Library

Luis Herrera retired earlier this year as the city librarian of the San Francisco Public Library, after a 40-plus year career in librarianship. Previously, Herrera served as the director of information services at the Pasadena Public Library and deputy director of the Long Beach and San Diego library systems in California. He has served as president of the Public Library Association; the California Library Association; and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library Services to the Spanish Speaking.

In January 2012, Herrera was named the Librarian of the Year by Library Journal. One of his highest honors was his nomination by President Barack Obama to serve on the Board of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. He is past chair of Cal Humanities, and a founding board member of the Digital Public Library of America.

Herrera envisions libraries as innovative and dynamic learning organizations and continues his activism and advocacy in the profession. He currently chairs ALA’s Advisory Committee for the Center for the Future of Libraries.

More recently, Herrera has been active as trustee of the Latino Community Foundation and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.