Guiding principles for inclusive reference | American Libraries Magazine

Tree with extensive root structure Jamillah R. Gabriel et al. write: “Library users today are as diverse as their questions. We meet graduate and international students, faculty, alumni, and visitors from all walks of life, and each brings unique identities and experiences into our space. Traditional approaches to reference services, while helpful, can miss critical opportunities to dismantle structural inequities or to recognize trauma, cultural context, and the full spectrum of knowledge traditions. Without intentional change, libraries can unintentionally reproduce the very exclusions we seek to challenge.”

College & Research Libraries News, vol. 87, no. 7 (July/Aug.)

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Nick Potkalitsky writes: “A student who puts their phone in a pouch at 8 a.m. and picks it up at 3 p.m., having learned nothing about why that seven-hour gap is critical for their engagement with school, is being managed, not taught. This is the distinction I want to spend the next school year exploring: What habits of mind do we want young people to develop in relation to technology, and what would it take to cultivate them deliberately? That question activates a deeper concept: digital wellness.”

Educating AI, July 12
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Mackenzi Klemann writes: “Hoosiers suffering mental health crises are visiting public libraries for help—transforming the role of librarians who act simultaneously as researchers, archivists, and quasi–social workers. Mental Health America of Indiana is stepping in to train librarians in how to respond to these crises and direct patrons to reliable information on suicide prevention, addiction treatment, and mental health disorders. Todd Grooten, a licensed social worker and co-chair of the Indiana Library Federation’s mental health committee, welcomed the opportunity as library staff like himself increasingly encounter people in crisis seeking internet access and other resources from public libraries.”

Indiana Capital Chronicle, July 9
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Kelly Jensen writes: “If there were a single word to capture the state of library cuts across the US, it would be ‘rough.’ It’s rough not only for public libraries but also for school and academic libraries. This is not a comprehensive look at library cuts in 2026. It can’t be. Most of the time, these stories—especially ones about ‘smaller’ cuts to library materials budgets or to popular databases—don’t make the news. But this sampling is representative of what’s happening across libraries in the US right now.”

Well Sourced, July 11
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The Association of College and Research Libraries Instruction Section Teaching Methods Committee has added new committee-recommended sources to its Selected Resources for Teaching Methods and Instructional Design in Library Instruction and Selected Resources for Assessment in Library Instruction lists. The committee updates these lists with new resources and annotations annually. Resources included on this list are chosen for their innovative discussions of teaching methods, instructional design, and assessment tools or techniques in library instruction.

Association of College and Research Libraries Instruction Section, July 7
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Jose Ruiz-Vazquez writes: “Public libraries are dealing with budget cuts, book bans, and the usual existential questions about whether anyone needs physical collections when they can Google everything. And now artificial intelligence (AI) shows up, and everyone assumes libraries are about to get steamrolled by it too. But watch what’s happening at reference desks: Patrons ask how to determine whether an IRS email is real or a phishing attempt. Small business owners are trying to figure out which AI tool won’t steal their marketing copy. These aren’t edge cases. This is what reference work looks like now.”

Public Libraries Online, July 12
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Maria McCauley writes: “For 30 years, E-Rate has been one of America’s most visionary programs, opening the doors of digital opportunity to every community in our nation. But now E-Rate is under threat. Opponents argue that because E-Rate has succeeded, we no longer need it. But just as our streets and roads require ongoing investment, so too does our digital infrastructure. A digitally connected America—across rural, urban, and tribal lands alike—is a stronger America.” Learn more about proposed changes to E-Rate and how to contribute to advocacy to protect the program at a webinar July 16.

American Libraries column, July 14
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Sallyann Price writes: “Chicago was an apt host for the ALA’s 2026 Annual Conference and Exhibition, marking both ALA’s 150th anniversary and the nation’s 250th birthday. At the Opening General Session, journalist, author, and podcaster Rachel Maddow set the tone for a convening that was both celebratory and deeply reflective on what’s happening in the world. Shifting demographics, rapid advances in technology, and the rise of authoritarianism are all affecting how libraries serve their communities. Maddow wasn’t the only speaker to draw inspiration from the challenges of these times.”

American Libraries feature, July 14

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