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

Libraries are NOT for Everyone!

 

Racists or other bigots are NOT welcome in a library that values their community.

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

 

I'm the Other Kind

 

"I'm back out on that road again 
Turn this beast into the wind 
There are those that break and bend 
I'm the other kind, I'm the other kind"
Steve Earle