Hateful conduct in libraries: A new ALA resource

During the 2019 ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle, the ALA Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services and the Office for Intellectual Freedom launched a new resource, “Hateful Conduct in Libraries: Supporting Library Workers and Patrons,” in response to a spike in reported hate crimes in libraries across the US, which the two offices began tracking in 2016. The resource outlines best practices on how to create environments that discourage hate speech and hateful conduct in the library, what steps library workers should take after an incident, and how libraries can better meet community needs.

Office for Diversity, Literacy, and Outreach Services, Feb. 14

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Tracy Shapley Towley writes: “I spent the first 40 years of my life as a wannabe crafter. Crafting looked cool, craft books looked cool, but for some reason I did not think it was for me. Then I turned 40 and this switch magically flipped in my brain. It started with lots of in-person classes. And then the pandemic hit. In-person classes were canceled right when I had an enormity of time on my hands. And that’s when I discovered the joy of craft books.”

Book Riot, November 25
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The Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table of ALA and the Will and Ann Eisner Family Foundation are pleased to accept applications for the 2023 Will Eisner Graphic Novel Grants for Libraries. Two $3,000 grants will provide support to libraries to expand their graphic novel collection, services, and programs, and a third will support initiation of a new graphic novel service or program. Grants also include a $1,000 travel stipend for a library representative to attend the 2023 ALA Annual Conference in Chicago.
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The American Library Association has selected 46 members of its 2023 class of Emerging Leaders. The Emerging Leaders program is designed to enable library staff and information workers to participate in project planning work groups, network with peers, gain an inside look into ALA structure, and have an opportunity to serve the profession in a leadership capacity early in their careers. Emerging Leaders will participate in a virtual daylong session during LibLearnX, six months of online learning and networking, and a poster session highlighting the results of their project planning work during the ALA 2023 Annual Conference in Chicago.

ALA, November 18
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Diana Panuncial writes: “When Jessica Fitzpatrick, librarian at Mayde Creek High School in Houston, first walked onto the school’s football field, she could sense the student-athletes’ confusion. “They were very hesitant,” she recalls. “The librarian doesn’t come to football practice.” Fitzpatrick had noticed that one student group seldom visited the library: athletes. She reached out to football coach J. Jensen and collaborated with him to create a book study program for his players, designed to help boost literacy, ignite a love of reading, and provide a space to decompress.”

American Libraries column, November/December
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Rachel Mipro writes: “The [St. Mary’s] city council is debating whether to renew [Pottawatomie Wabaunsee Regional Library’s] lease with the city following the library’s refusal to accept a lease clause asking it to remove all material that could be viewed as socially, racially or sexually divisive, including all LGBTQ content. Discussion of the library removal started this summer after a local parent was upset by the contents of Melissa, a book about a transgender child written by Alex Gino.” After an outcry of public support for the library, the city commission deferred its decision on lease renewal until December 6.

Kansas Reflector, November 14, 16
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Vox staff write: “Every year, the National Book Foundation nominates 25 books to be eligible to win a National Book Award. The nominations highlight fiction, nonfiction, poetry, translated literature, and young adult books. For the past 9 years, the Vox staff has read them all, and we’ve shared our thoughts on what’s worthy. The winners were announced on Wednesday, November 16. Our musings on the 2022 nominees and winners are below.”

Vox, November 17
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Morgan Adle writes: “U.S. News & World Report publishes rankings of graduate schools and programs, including the Best Library and Information Studies Programs. Graduate programs often highlight their ranking on their websites or in their promotional materials, and prospective students frequently rely on them when choosing programs to apply to. But what do the rankings really mean and how are they calculated?” While six graduate degree programs, including business and medicine, are ranked using “statistical data and expert assessment data,” other programs including library and information science are ranked using peer assessment only.

Hack Library School, November 16

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