Ohio Dominican University - Michelle Alexander - "The New Jim Crow"

Please watch this amazingly passionate analysis of the state of race relations in the US.

Little to No Progress in Ethnic Minority Representation in ALA, and American Libraries Since 1985

Librarians are NOT representative of the current US Demographics

According to my calculations, the ALA had 88.5% White Librarians in 1985, and 87.97% in 2009-2010.

According to my calculations, the ALA had 1.8% Asian/Pacific Islander Librarians in 1985, and 2.7% in 2009-2010.

According to my calculations, the ALA had 1.8% Latino Librarians in 1985, and 3.08% in 2009-2010.

According to my calculations, the ALA had 6.1% African American Librarians in 1985, and 5.19% in 2009-2010.

In the US, the above image is linked to the image below.

Figures derived from Equity at Issue document from ALA 1985 and ALA office of diversity 2009-2010.

Presentations Using Slides: Best Practices 9/2014

The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace

The Short and Tragic Life of Robert Peace hit upon almost all the intellectual struggles I have with education as a scholar of color.  This doesn't mean every person of color will relate to this book, and it doesn't mean that White people can't relate to the book either.

It is really a book anyone should read, but the themes covered:

• Alienation from the dominant culture in an educational institution
• Bifurcating one's life to handle a life in two worlds
• What does success mean?

       are themes that many people of color in academia can relate to specifically.  

Robert Peace was a brilliant Science student, who earned a full scholarship to Yale University.  He graduated and seemed to have everything going for him.

This book tells the story of his family background, his upbringing, his education, his post-education decisions and his untimely death.  Rob's story is told from his White-upper middle class roommate's perspective.  

Rob peace went to Yale,dealt cannabis throughout his stay at Yale, graduated and then went back to life in Newark New Jersey, selling weed, teaching, working at the airport and inventing new strains of marijuana.  This book claims he invented the famous Sour Diesel strain of cannabis.  The conundrum this book addresses and is stuck on is:  How could a kid, who had so much going for him, fuck up so bad and get murdered?   

The writing is mediocre, but the story is something that is gripping and I believe happens much more than people speak about.  Alienation, and a turn away from the "gifts" that are  bestowed upon this "blessed" and "unusual" person.

[Writing in blue below are my personal observations.]

Sometimes, the supposed gifted ones, know people who are as smart, or smarter than them.  These people use their smarts to survive and to make money.  When one is lauded, and knows others who are smarter, who are rotting in jail, or dead, or addicted to drugs,  then the gifts that one is bestowed with don't mean as much to you as to those who are giving the gifts.  

Why couldn't he break away from his former neighborhood and the life there?

When I was an undergrad, I came to realize that the inner workings and business deals on the street level were not any different than those business deals and workings of "legitimate" businesses.  The legitimate business dealings, were far larger and impacted far more people than street level deals, or even big dealer deals, but they are fundamentally the same.  I realized that the drug trade was unfettered capitalism.   

Why didn't he plan something after college?

I couldn't plan anything in college either, not because I was unmotivated, but because I was so focused on getting my degree and having to accomplish this completely by myself--it was all I could do to graduate Cum Laude.  People who are in college as first generation students need more support and more advising than those who are not first generation.  First generation people don't have the support system that many other college students have.  

One can be academically successful and NOT hold the same values as their educational institutions.   The scene where Rob was confronted by the authorities at Yale for selling weed at school, and him not getting in trouble.  And his continued sales even after the confrontation with his administration.  Rob knew he was being used as a token, and knew they would not prosecute him, nor even punish him--it would look bad.  This is my take on it at least.  It also shows that Rob was not your stereotypical "successful" minority scholar, who doesn't smoke weed, believes in Jesus and doesn't own guns.  

Survivor guilt?  I am not claiming that Rob Peace had survivor guilt, but this is something that has bothered me forever.  How come I am alive, free, educated and employed?  While others, who are far smarter than me, far greater than me in many respects, are locked up in prison, dead, or drugged out?

This book bothered me in many ways:

• The author is White and doesn't really know Ethnic Minority culture in the US.
• The author imposes many people's desires for Rob, but doesn't know Rob's desires enough. 
• The author is a mediocre writer and bums me out on Yale's creative writing program.
• I was constantly wondering if the author was going to split his profits with Rob's mother.
• The author didn't show enough redeeming qualities about people from the hood.

I would recommend this book for all HS seniors and incoming freshmen of color because it may help them sort out what success means to them.  I would have a  discussion with them about what it means that the author is White though--what it means to the story and how the author's class impacts his understanding of Rob, his family, his neighborhood and his values.  

Available Hardcover – September 23, 2014  

• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: Scribner (September 23, 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 147673190X
• ISBN-13: 978-1476731902
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 1 inches

How to Survive Police Confrontation and Other Services for Library Patrons

Police Sniper in Ferguson.

Libraries should be developing programs to help people deal with the police.

There has been a huge increase in police shooting, beatings and other transgressions against citizens.

We, as librarians, should recognize the community's need for information on how to stay safe, avoid police confrontation, and how to act when confronted by police.

We can form partnerships with legal organizations to provide patrons with basic survival instructions for the world of today.

Lets do this!


#LibrariesAgainstPoliceBrutality

Tags, Tagging and Information Diffusion

I was was gazing at some train tags--some nice bombs in the train yard with my littler brother, who happens to be a graffiti artist.  He interpreted the tags and bombs I could not read.  He and I read me all kinds of information from throughout the country, from LA, to Chicago, to Seattle and other places.  Then a train yard cop came and chased us away.

Tags in Denmark

My brother Jaimie used to be well known throughout San Jo as Daze2000 back in the 80's, then went on to LOVE and other names throughout the years.  He's retired now.

For those unfamiliar with tagging--here is a sufficient definition from Wikipedia:

Some of the most common styles of graffiti have their own names. A "tag" is the most basic writing of an artist's name, it is simply a handstyle. A graffiti writer's tag is his or her personalized signature. Tagging is often the example given when opponents of graffiti refer to any acts of handstyle graffiti writing (it is by far the most common form of graffiti). Tags can contain subtle and sometimes cryptic messages, and may incorporate the artist's crew initials or other letters.Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tag_(graffiti)

Back in the day, I could be anywhere in San Jose and see my brother's tag.  I would immediately know it was him, and that he was getting up in a variety of places.  Tags can also be used for groups, or "crews" of artists, who tag their territory--similar to gang tags.  Gang tags convey a host of meanings to those who are aware of them.  They convey the name of the gang, that gangs history, and the implicit threat that this is "their" territory and they will protect it, etc..

Fab Five Freddy's tag travelling throughout NYC.

The above is a characterization of tagging as a folksonomy by artists and by gangsters.  The tags carry meaning, information and knowledge can be gleaned from them--for instance, the knowledge the one is in a particular gang's territory and more.

I would liken the above to information tagging on files on the internet and in computer systems in general.  There is a relationship between the two types of tagging that has yet to be explored.

Graffiti Tagging	Information Tagging
Imparts information to readers	Imparts information to users
Is portable, can travel	Is portable, can travel
Is a system of social classification	Is a system of social classification
Can be collaboratively created, or at least understood	Collaboratively created
Can be broad or narrow folksonomies	Can be broad or narrow folksonomies
Is a folksonomy	Is a folksonomy
Can satisfy information needs	Can satisfy information needs

Tagging information

Tagging became popular during the social software craze known as Web 2.0.  Pre-Yahoo Flickr was a major player when it came to bring tagging as a folksonomy on the web to the masses.

Graffiti tagging on buses or trains conveys travelling information--the tags are carried around town or around the country and people are shown the tag.  I would liken this to searching via tags in tag clouds or by other means--one will travel to the place where the information is located--it is in a way opposite of graffiti tagging, but closely related.


The above is meant to be a super brief sketch of an idea.  What do you think?  Do you agree?  Disagree?  Have something to add?


I would like to open up the study of the relationship between Hip Hop culture and Information Science.

Cannabis Resources for Librarians serving Medical Patients and Others

[Disclaimer--I am not a doctor, nor am I a lawyer--I am merely a librarian trying to help patrons who need this kind of information.]


Recently I have been thinking about Cannabis very much. It has been in the news, and has recently become "legal" in WA and CO. I began to think about the relationship between Libraries and Cannabis, particularly in states where it is now legal for recreation use. What got me thinking about this was a blog post by The Librarian in Black on Home Brewing information and how to sessions in the library.  I began to think of the information needs of medical cannabis patients and also for recreational users.

These information needs are gleaned from some informal field work I have undertaken--I have asked some patients, and some recreational users what kinds of information would be helpful to them and to a new patient or recreational user.  The information can be broken into the categories below.  The information presented is not meant to be exhaustive, nor authoritative, but helpful to those librarians and others who may need to help people who have cannabis information needs.  It is meant to be an example and a place to begin.  Due to the illegal nature of cannabis in many places--resources have been hard to come by and also solid scientific research is only just beginning.  

Responsibility

Responsible use from Leafly: http://www.leafly.com/knowledge-center/responsible-use/how-to-be-a-responsible-medical-marijuana-pat 

Strains

     Sativa 

The primary effects are on thoughts and feelings. Sativas tend to produce stimulating feelings, and many prefer it for daytime use. Some noted therapeutic effects from use of Sativas:

• Stimulating/energizing
• Increased sense of well-being, focus, creativity
• Reduces depression, elevates mood
• Relieves headaches/migraines/nausea
• Increases appetite

Some noted Side-Effects from use of Sativas

• Increased anxiety feelings
• Increased paranoia feelings

     Indica

The primary effects are on the body. Indicas tend to produce sedated feelings, and many prefer it for nighttime use.
Some noted Therapeutic Effects from use of Indicas:          

• Provides relaxation/reduces stress
• Relaxes muscles/spasms
• Reduces pain/inflammation/headaches/migraines
• Helps sleep
• Reduces anxiety
• Reduces nausea, stimulates appetite
• Reduces intra-ocular pressure
• Reduces seizure frequency/anti-convulsant
• Some noted side-effects from use of Indicas:
• Feelings of tiredness
• “Fuzzy” thinking

     Hybrids

Strains bred from crossing two or more varieties, with typically one dominant. For example, a sativa-dominant cross may be helpful in stimulating appetite and relaxing muscle spasms. Crosses are reported to work well to combat nausea and increase appetite.

Information from: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/using_medical_cannabis 

Cannabis Mediums

     Flowers

The buds, or flowers of the cannabis plant. 

     Concentrates 

"Hash and concentrates have the same goal of removing the plant matter and extracting the resin glands, which contain the THC.  The technique for the extraction of resin glands differs from one concentrate to the next."  

Source: 

http://www.coloradopotguide.com/colorado-marijuana-blog/2014/february/06/different-types-of-marijuana-concentrates-available-in-colorado/

     Edibles

Edible Cannabis in a variety of formats from cookies to soda pops.

     Tinctures, Topicals, etc...

"A tincture is typically an alcoholic extract of plant or animal material or solution of such or of a low volatility substance (such as iodine and mercurochrome). To qualify as an alcoholic tincture, the extract should have an ethanol percentage of at least 25–60% (50–120 US proof).^{[citation needed]} Sometimes an alcohol concentration as high as 90% (180 US proof) is used in such a tincture.^[1] In herbal medicine, alcoholic tinctures are made with various ethanol concentrations, 25% being the most common."

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tincture

Information from Safe Access Now about mediums:http://www.safeaccessnow.org/using_medical_cannabis

Delivery Methods

Leafly's complete list of delivery Methods: http://www.leafly.com/knowledge-center/cannabis-101/the-complete-list-of-cannabis-delivery-methods

     Smoking

A traditional method.

     Vaporizing

"Vaporization is a technique for avoiding irritating respiratory toxins in marijuana smoke by heating cannabis to a temperature where the psychoactive ingredients evaporate without causing combustion."

Source: http://www.canorml.org/health/vaporizers

     Eating, or drinking

Cannabis foods (including hash brownies and space cakes), more informally known as edibles, are food products made with cannabis in herbal or resin form as an ingredient. They are consumed as an alternate delivery means to experience the effects of cannabinoids without smoking orvaporizing cannabis or hashish. Instead, the cannabinoids are put into cake, cookie, brownie, or other foods, and are consumed for recreational or medicinal purposes.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_foods

Side Effects

These are some negative effects of Cannabis.  Due to the unscientific research conducted by most agencies about the negative impacts of cannabis, I am wary of listing any others.

     Lethargy

     Faster Heart rate

     Red eyes

     Dry mouth

Dispensaries

Leafly's Wonderful Dispensary Finder: http://www.leafly.com/finder

Weed Maps Dispensary Finder: https://weedmaps.com/

Cultivation Methods 

Amseterdam Marijuana Seed Banks Marijuana Growing Pages: http://www.amsterdammarijuanaseedbank.com/marijuana-grow-guides.html

MI Medical Marijuana Program's Grow Help Pages: http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/forum/35-general-growing-information/

Ed Rosenthal's Marijuana Growers Handbook: http://mjgrowers.com/home.htm

Jorge Cervantes Blog: http://www.marijuanagrowing.com/blog.php?

s=ccd1005cd7873f467b97d16f87641a46

Cannabis Resources for Librarians:

Information on Strains

Leafly: http://www.leafly.com/

Seed Finder : http://en.seedfinder.eu/research/


Safe Access Now's Research Pages: http://www.safeaccessnow.org/research 


 Seed Finders Research Pages: http://en.seedfinder.eu/research/

Business

WA State's Marijuana Business Daily: http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/category/news-by-state/washington-state/

National Cannabis Industry Association: https://thecannabisindustry.org/events/

Cannabis Business Alliance: http://cannabisalliance.org/

Legal

Canna Law Blog: http://www.cannalawblog.com/  

Canna Law Group: http://cannalawgroup.com/ 

Marijuana Policy Project: http://blog.mpp.org/category/general/ 

NORML: Legal Issues:  http://norml.org/legal  

Lets help libraries improve on this document and help serve patrons who need these resources.  Librarians should be sponsoring programs in libraries that convey information needed by medical cannabis patients and, in legalized states,  for consumers.