Elizabeth Martinez (born April 14, 1948)[1] is a librarian whose career has focused on bringing diversity, multiculturalism and equality to public libraries and information policy.
[1] In the 1970s at County of Los Angeles Public Library, Martinez developed the Asian, Pacific Islander, Black, Chicano, and Native American resource centers.
She also proposed a program to Bill Gates that resulted in a $200 million grant dedicated to bridging the information gap by connecting more than 4,000 public libraries in poor communities across the US to the Internet.
Some of the courses she has taught at SJSU include: Library Services for Racially and Ethnically Diverse Communities, Seminar on Contemporary Issues, and Professional Experience Internships.
[6] In 2013, REFORMA established the Elizabeth Martinez Lifetime Achievement Award to recognize librarians who have served over 20 years and whose leadership has made significant and lasting contributions to Spanish speaking communities.