An estimated 230 people attended the 6:30 a.m. celebration, joined by more than two dozen library leaders who read passages, made short speeches, and recited poems that recognized King’s legacy and advocated for peace and social justice. The event was sponsored by the American Library Association’s Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services, the Social Responsibilities … Continue reading “Every Person Matters”
This December, OIF is celebrating 50 years of fighting for intellectual freedom: half a century of championing libraries, finding allies within the literary community, and aiding librarians in times of high anxiety. It’s an evolving role to be cherished and safeguarded. Lighting the flame At the 1965 Midwinter Meeting preconference in Washington, D.C., the Intellectual … Continue reading 50 Years of Intellectual Freedom
“Libraries were suddenly in the middle of everything,” Gray says. Libraries have long offered their patrons inclusive, safe places to go, she says, but increasingly “they were doing it in crisis.” Nationally, librarians looked to ALA for leadership. When Gray received calls from people seeking advice on how to deal with trauma and discrimination, she … Continue reading Messages of Inclusion
The conference kicked off October 19 with a welcome from ABOS President Marianne Thompson, Covington Mayor Sherry Carran, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Director Kim Fender and Manager of Outreach Services Drew Pearson, Kenton County (Ky.) Public Library Director Dave Schroeder, and Covington Branch Manager Julia Allegrini, all of whom connected the area’s … Continue reading Bookmobiles and Building Community
As it was last year in Baltimore, Maryland, and in 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri, librarians are connecting their communities to vital information and resources. The library is a place where patrons learn more about the issues at stake from credible sources, find quality books, take advantage of community resources, utilize safe spaces, learn from others, and … Continue reading Libraries Respond to Recent Crises
Sarah Lightner, Ohio State University, talked about her project, “Development of Texts That Mediate and Facilitate Diversity in Adolescent Classrooms,” which addressed the problem of barriers to fruitful discussion on the topics of race, gender, and sexuality in secondary classrooms. Lightner said her “research is a critical literary analysis for the purpose of creating alternative, … Continue reading Diversity Research Update
In its role facilitating the merger, ALA’s Committee on Organization has put forth two changes to the OLOS Advisory Committee, changing its name to the “Equity and Inclusion Office Advisory Committee” and establishing its new mission (reprinted in full below). Unsurprisingly, the announcement of this merger caused concern among the members in attendance at the … Continue reading Moving Beyond the OLOS / Diversity Office Merger
Gray is no stranger to the issues of diversity and inclusion. Before joining the Association, she was diversity outreach librarian at University of Minnesota Libraries, where she helped bolster dialogue using training and curriculum, and facilitated staff development workshops. Gray is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and has a bachelor’s in … Continue reading 11 Questions with Jody Gray
