Lowrider Librarian

    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

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

 

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.

[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  awards which 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: El...

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  

 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!

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!...

 [ Please share widely!] Librarians with Spines and Hinchas Press recognizes that the BIPOC and other oppressed library workers might be feeling stressed about the election, quarantine, the economy or other aspects that are the result of the times we are experiencing.  We wish to offer support, empathy and strength to library workers and others who may feel the need for such support by providing a space for YOU!   If you are not a bigot,  you are hereby invited to our Election Day and Post Election Day support sessions. So, please join Librarians with Spines and Hinchas Press for a special Election Day Support session from 3-5 pm PST. You can just come and talk, lurk, cry, give support, laugh, sing, or anything else you might want to do that is supportive and positive. Session 1  Here are the meeting details: When Tue Nov 3, 2020 3pm – 5pm  Pacific Time - Los Angeles Joining info Join Zoom Meeting portlandcc.zoom.us/j/ 99553357818...   (ID: 9...

[Please share widely!]  Please join us for another outstanding Librarians with Spines author showcase! This time we are doing something completely different! Librarians with spines editors, Max Macias and Yago Cura, along with designer extraordinaire Autumn Anglin will be interviewed by the Auraria Technical Services Division reading group!   The reading group has been reading Librarians with Spines Vol. 1 and will be sure to have some great questions for Autumn, Max and Yago.   The event takes place on Thursday, October 29th 2020 at 12pm PST.   Potential topics covered: Book publishing Editing Writing LIS And more  Audience: LIS students Library workers Librarians BIPOC LIS students/Librarians/library workers/information professionals People interested in publishing Information professionals in general Others

Coming in November!

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 commu...

[This is an unusually long blog post—sorry.] BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) are in an abusive relationship with the colonial culture. We are constantly told to assimilate, act 'professional,' be perfect, be natural and authentic...I could go on, won't.   The point is, the abuser—colonial culture knows that we, BIPOC, can never really assimilate, act ‘professional’, be perfect, be natural and authentic—and we might as well add smile 24 hours a day.   The aforementioned ‘professional’ refers to colonial culturally indoctrinated people demanding BIPOC act, read, write and be white to be ‘professional.’   All the while knowing that we cannot—because the colonial culture will not accept us as such--no matter how we behave.   BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) are put into a double bind constantly in the US.  This happens from the time we enter elementary school at age 5 into our professional c...