OVERDUE: Weeding Out Oppression in Libraries Indigenous Systems of Knowledge with Dr. Sandy Littletree

Building Ubuntu Bridges in Storytelling, Art of Framing Freedom Road Voices, and Directing an Underground Railroad Narrative, Tour and Movie (BAD)

Making Ubuntu Spaces, Addressing Insecurities and Peopling Our Commons (MAP) [Guest post by Roland Barksdale on Librarians with Spines!

Break the Library Institutional Reliance on Unpaid BIPOC Labor! [Petition]

San Jose ISchool Hispanic/Latinx Free Symposium Panels...

  Hispanic/Latinx Free Symposium

OCTOBER 15, 2021

In celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 – October 15), the San José State University School of Information held a free symposium to discuss best practices in library services to meet the needs of the Hispanic/Latinx community with greater impact, cultural understanding, and sensitivity.

Entitled “Making Vital Connections: Understanding and Serving the Hispanic/Latinx Community,” this inaugural event featured keynote addresses and panel discussions.

I had the honor of sitting on a panel at San Jose Sate University's School Hispanic Heritage Symposium.  

I begin about 47 minutes in.

#Antiracist #libraries #LIS #Education #HispanicHeritage #SJSU

Please Read the Statement Against White Appropriation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color’s Labor by WOC+LIB

 

Source: https://www.wocandlib.org/features/2021/9/3/statement-against-white-appropriation-of-black-indigenous-and-people-of-colors-labor

Innovation is Crucial to Success: Antiracism is Crucial to Innovation

“It is our duty to fight for our freedom.

It is our duty to win.

We must love each other and support each other.

We have nothing to lose but our chains.”

Assata Shakur

American Hero and Revolutionary

Innovation is so much more than technology!  True innovation will only come when we break the incestuous cycle of white supremacist knowledge production.  We need new voices and those voices are standing right here.  Real innovation will come when people who created Hip-Hop, Jazz, Rock and Roll--when the people who created flavor in American cuisine and who pretty much generate American culture throughout the continent are involved in information production and knowledge creation.  Indigenous, Black, Brown, and other people of color will create a groundswell like never before once they are allowed to fully function within the academy.  We will change education's structures, its techniques, its goals, its meaning.  We are the harbingers of change and we are here now.  

Education is Stale

Education is stale, the ideas are backward and the time for change is now.  New blood, new ideas and finally--some progress in society--not just progress in making tools.  Western people are the best tool makers, but have little to no idea about how to live with one another and how to create good human relations--which lead to real security.  Not the false security that guns everywhere provide, but the real security of knowing that your neighbor’s fate and experience directly relate to your own. 

The truth is that Education needs us!  We bring flavor, new insights, conceptual relationships that white people don’t even know exist--we bring progress.  The academy needs to aggressively recruit people who have backgrounds from ‘marginalized’ communities and then allow these scholars to create radical change within our academic institutions.  This change is not something we are asking for--this change is something we bring and are announcing.  The backlash is on and we stand ready and strong--stronger than we have ever been.  We are at war--it is a cultural war.  We are bound to win, we must win--”we have a duty to win.”  

Ideas to speed up change:

• Create an action research center at your school that focuses on anti-oppression integration in education.  

• Block hire a BIPOC cohort into your school or organization.  

• Create support systems for BIPOC and other oppressed groups.

• Create support systems for antiracist activators and activists at your school--protect them and promote them!

• Create an EDI/Antiracist Handbook for your department--you have the expertise.  Research, learn, share and promote antiracist and anti oppression curriculum, pedagogies and systems.

• Use antiracism as a model for building other anti-oppression tactics for the liberation of all oppressed groups.

• Create and sustain affinity spaces for oppressed groups at your organization.

• Create partnerships with schools and other vocational training organizations to form a pipeline of BIPOC employment recruits.

• Empower BIPOC leaders to lead.

Until we have a system that has been created with BIPOC and other oppressed groups involved, we will never have equity, inclusion, diversity nor anti-oppression as part of our organizations.  We need NEW systems that have been co-created by BIPOC and that are inclusive and are not oppressive.  What are you doing today to create this needed change? This will necessitate the destruction of old structures.  There are many racists who are deeply invested in these shitstems--they must be defeated and these racist structures destroyed.  We will replace them with inclusive systems and structures that will create real progress for society.  

Librarians with Spines: LIS Publishing for BIPOC and other Oppressed Groups

 

When white Librarians Reject BIPOC Librarian Input: Library Community Feedback Wanted: ALA Code of Ethics, 9th Principle (for revision)

The ALA recently solicited comments on a revision to the ALA Code of Ethics's 9th principle.

 I added some comments to this document.

The comments were full of vile racist comments and they rejected my input.

This kind of treatment happens to BIPOC all the time when asked to participate in library work in general.  

The white gatekeepers make sure we can't create change.

Here is another example of how my suggestions were rejected.

Here I added, "anti-oppression actions..." 

If the ALA really wants input from BIPOC librarians--they should be much more respectful and not allow racist trolling on their documents.

I Was Awarded the OLA EDI Anti-Racism Recognition Award for 2021

[Email from the Oregon Library Association Awards Chair.  Big congratulations and shout out to Marci Ramiro-Jenkins!]

 Hello Oregon Library Community!

As chair of the Oregon Library Association's Awards Committee, I am delighted to widely announce the recipients of the following awardswhich were announced at the OLA Conference on Friday, April 23. 

Presidents’ Award (conferred by President Kate Lasky and Past-President Elaine Hirsch): Marci Ramiro-Jenkins

  

Oregon Library Employee of the year: Lauren Calbreath

Oregon Library Supporter of the year: Barbara Wright

EDI Achievement Award (Inaugural award!): Max Macias

Oregon Librarian of the year: Librarians and Staff of the State Library of Oregon

Children Services Division's Evelyn Sibley Lampman Award: Tehlor Kay Mejia

Public Library Division's Pearl Award: Lanel Jackson

Congratulations on this well deserved recognition!

OLA Awards Committee:

Elsa Loftis, Portland State University, Chair

Leah Griffith, Newberg Public Library, Retired, Past-Chair 

Esther Moberg, Seaside Public Library

Sonja Somerville, Salem Public Library

Karen Muller, Hillsboro Public Library

Susan Stone, Portland Public Schools

Emily O’Neal, Deschutes Public Library

You can watch the EDI Antiracism recognition award (It starts there) or the entire awards here:

Stop AAPI Hate!

 

Oregon Library Association's Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Antiracism Toolkit is Now Available

 [Please share widely!]

Hi Everyone, 

I hope you and yours are safe and healthy.

It is with great excitement and honor that the Oregon Library Association's Committee on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Antiracism present the OLA EDI Antiracism Toolkit!

You can download a copy at the Oregon Library Association Web Site, or the State Library of Oregon website.

A paper copy of this toolkit will be distributed to every library in Oregon.  They will also receive a digital copy to print and share with staff. 

We tried to make this toolkit as practical as possible! 

A  antiracism readiness checklist survey is part of the toolkit.  We are asking library staff  in Oregon to fill out the survey/checklist so that we may get some informaiton on Oregon libraries (see pre-conference information below).  We are asking that the survey be filled out by Friday, March 19, 11:59pm to give us time to prep for our pre-conference session on 4/8/2021.

I am proud to be part of this team!

Oregon Library Association Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Antiracism Committee:

Marci Jenkins/Alma Plasencia --Co-chairs

Kristen Curé

Martìn Blasco

Emily Ford

Max Macias

Melissa Anderson

Scott Rick

(Other authors of content listed in the toolkit)

Please note that there is also a recording of a training that we did for the Oregon Library Association's PLD.  The training was geared toward library directors.  It stressed how libraries could use the toolkit.  Many of the authors of the toolkit shared why they wrote what they wrote, how it relates to antiracism, how libraries can incorporate the toolkit into their organizations and anything else they had to say to library directors in Oregon.  

We hope this toolkit not only benefits libraries move toward antiracism in Oregon, but also throughout the country.   It is practical, useful and can be used as a model for expanding antiracism into other organizations and structures.  

The OLA EDI and Antiracism Committee will also be conducting a free Oregon Library Association pre-conference session in April.  Register here.

Thursday, April 8 | 1:00- 4:30 pm 
EDI Anti-Racism Toolkit; what we have done, where we are now and where we are going?
The EDI Antiracism Committee will present the OLA EDI Antiracism Toolkit metrics . This interactive data presentation will display the areas where Oregon libraries are thriving and the areas where we need help moving forward when it comes to EDI and Antiracism work. We will examine together the concerns, red flags, and talk about future initiatives concerning this theme. We will discuss awareness and engagement with the existing OLA EDI Antiracism work and library employees’ advocacy.
We are presenting as a committee, there are 8 librarian in our group. Marci Ramiro-Jenkins, Librarian/ EDI Antiracism Special Committee Chair McMinnville Public Library. 

Respectfully, 

Max Macias on behalf of the Oregon Library Association's Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Antiracism Committee

Whiteness in US Libraries/Library Schools Abides...

We can do so much better than this!

What are you going to do about the dominance of whiteness in libraries?

I mean right now--there is no time to waste--what will you do? 

Source

 

San Jose State School of Information Diversity Series: Moving Beyond Diversity to Anti-Oppression

 I was honored to be be selected to speak at San Jose State's Information School last month.

San Jo is my hometown and it was super cool to be able to speak at SJSU!

I hope you enjoy this.

Comments encouraged!

Special thanks to Dr. Michele Villagran and San Jose State!

Racial Equity in Data Integration

Scientists, Mathematicians, Computer types and other data driven colleagues, please join us for a special antiracist session about how we can center racial equity throughout data integration in our work at PCC. 

Our guest speaker is Angela Bluhm! Event Date and Time: November 10th, 2020: 1pm PST Session description: Since 2019, AISP (Actionable Intelligence for Social Policy) at the University of Pennsylvania has led a diverse workgroup of civic data stakeholders to co-create strategies and identify best practices to center racial equity in data integration efforts. Angela Bluhm is an Analyst for the Educator Advancement Council in the Oregon Department of Education. Angela worked with the AISP while serving as Research, Data, and Communications Coordinator for the Oregon Longitudinal Data Collaborative in the Chief Education Office and later in the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC). Angela will discuss the work of the AISP, the Toolkit for Centering Racial Equity Throughout Data Integration, and ongoing work with Data and Equity. 

Recording link: https://lnkd.in/gQ9YPUm

 Link to toolkit: https://www.aisp.upenn.edu/centering-equity/

Risk Benefit Matrix Exercise

Link to folder of resources

Antiracist Library or Racist Library--There is no Middle Ground

Antiracist libraries acknowledge the fallacy of being neutral in the face of racism.  Libraries are racist or antiracist.  Just like individuals—libraries cannot just say they are ‘not racist.’  Being an antiracist library means that they are actively working to dismantle racism and white supremacy in their libraries and communities.  Being antiracist also means they are working to dismantle the oppression of marginalized people.

Allowing bigots to perpetuate fear in the community is antithetical to the antiracist library.  The antiracist library is an enemy to bigotry.  The antiracist library is constantly reflecting on ‘neutral’ stances when it comes to ALL library policies.  Collection development, meeting room policies, website design, user satisfaction analysis, usage metrics and all other library policies need to be antiracist, or they are racist.  There is no in between.

So, when the library community says, “Libraries are for all!”  We are really saying that they are also open for racists and other bigots.  Bigots are NOT welcome in the antiracist library—ever.  

Allowing racists, homophobes, and other bigots to meet at the library, or to even distribute ‘information’ by leaving material in the library creates a hostile environment for patrons and workers.  

Antiracist libraries say, “Racists and other bigots are not welcome.”  This makes clear that the library is not neutral—it is antiracist and it reinforces that the library sides with library workers and patrons who are marginalized by racism and other forms of bigotry.  

Library patrons and worker rights to safety and not having to be terrorized by bigots are more important than the claims that hate speech and intimidation are forms of free speech.  Antiracist libraries recognize this and are clear about it with their communities.  

Patrons

Libraries must decide if they are racist or antiracist.  This disjunction is one of the most important questions of our time and impact ALL areas of the library world.  If a library chooses to be antiracist, then it must live up to this ideal make it known that the library is the enemy of bigotry.  It is your choice to make.  Please choose wisely my Oregon library friends.  

Joint Council of Librarians of Color

Librarians with Spines Author Showcase #3

 

Information and registration is here:

https://www.librarianswithspines.com/blog

Recording:Librarians With Spines Author Showcase One: Ann Matushima Chiu and Cathy Camper

A conversation with Ann Matsushima Chiu and Cathy Camper on 6/27/2020 from 1-2 pm on Zoom! Both Ann and Cathy Camper were chapter authors in Librarians with Spines Vol. 1. Interviewers: Autumn Anglin, Yago Cura, Max Macias.   

Here is the recording of the Showcase:

The Cost of Equity Part One...

When 'equity' preconferences, workshops and other trainings are inequitable it defeats the purpose. 

I don't mean to call out LJ specifically--this is just an example of the absurdity of the cost of DEI training.

If your organization can afford to pay for you--then it is no problem.  But what about those who can't afford it?

Ask yourself how does this relate to inclusion and if this is the model libraries want to pursue.

We want affordable, practical, impactful equity training now!

What role does your State Library play in making equity training affordable for libraries in your state?

What role does your state library association play in making equity training available in all areas of your state?

Does your library make equity training available to you as a library worker?

If yes--that is awesome!

If not, what does this mean?

Equity work is library work and it should be made available to all library boards, staff, librarians and communities.

We have much work to do and we can do it together!

✊🏼❤️✊🏼

Librarians With Spines Vol. 2 is the Perfect Holiday Librarian Gift

Hinchas Press

If you have a friend who is a librarian, LIS student or library worker, Librarians with Spines is the perfect gift!


You can get it via Amazon, Latin American Book Source, or Hinchas Press.


Some of the Hinchas Press Lineup:

Thank you for your support!

✊🏼