Latest Library Links
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Lindsey Simon writes: “Librarians work all over the world, from big cities and suburbs to the furthest reaches of the planet. Case in point: Edgardo Civallero is a librarian stationed in the Galápagos, an archipelago off the coast of Ecuador known for influencing Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. Civallero is part of the the Charles Darwin Foundation, a scientific organization dedicated to preserving the islands’ biodiversity. The foundation’s research station features a library and archive that Civallero is tasked with coordinating.”
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Iowa City Public Library is working toward committing 30% of library resources to BIPOC communities by FY 2022 and looking for alternatives to police intervention for library policy violations. ICPL released its strategic plan for 2021–2023 on September 23, which outlined these objectives. Director Elsworth Carman said the objective to commit a certain percentage of resources for and with BIPOC populations was a response to the Black Lives Matter movement and an acknowledgement that public libraries can do more to represent their communities.
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As curator of the archives of the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Ward Eldredge deliberated what would need to be done if the nearby Castle Fire continued its approach toward the parks’ headquarters. The archives contain the 130-year history of Sequoia, the country’s second-oldest national park. All of it was at risk. As park rangers and other local residents evacuated their homes the afternoon of September 14, Eldredge called Emily Lin, the University of California Merced librarian whom he knew from work digitizing collections from the parks’ archives, and UC Merced staff soon set out on the 150-mile drive to the parks’ headquarters.
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In 1990, R.E.M. posed for ALA’s READ campaign to promote the pleasure and importance of reading. This iconic image, taken more than 30 years ago, will now be available in puzzle form to R.E.M. fans and a new generation of readers. All R.E.M. proceeds from the sale of the puzzle will benefit the ALA and Books for Keeps, an Athens, Georgia-based grassroots effort to get books into the hands of children who might not otherwise have books at home. The puzzle retails for $30 and will be available exclusively in the band’s online store at REMHQ.com.
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As these continue to be challenging and uncertain times, the Friends of ALSC will be funding the renewal of 50 ALSC and ALA memberships to members who have recently been furloughed, laid off, or otherwise unemployed. COVID-19 disproportionately and negatively impacts communities of color, therefore, these memberships will prioritize individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, People of Color. Prioritizing ALSC’s BIPOC members will further support ALSC’s strategic objective of increasing the intentional retention of a diverse membership, while reducing barriers to participation. Submit your application by November 13.
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School librarian Deah Hester writes: “My school district in central Texas began the school year in late August with three weeks of online learning only. On September 9, we allowed families to choose between online learning or face-to-face learning, and we have now been open for three weeks with about 50% of our students on campus. In that time, we’ve faced many challenges and decisions that I wish we had been able to more fully consider before we opened our doors. If your school hasn’t yet welcomed students back in person, here’s some things to consider.”
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Monica Chin writes: “Just two-thirds of rural Americans have broadband access, per Pew Research Center, compared to three-quarters of urban residents and 79% of suburban residents. But it’s hard to measure how widespread the service actually is because the FCC’s broadband maps are notoriously terrible and classify a ZIP code as ‘served’ if just one home has access.”
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Two campuses are halting diversity efforts in relation to the White House’s recent executive order against “divisive concepts” in federally funded programs. In a campus memo, University of Iowa interim associate vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion Liz Tovar recommended pausing programs for two weeks “given the seriousness of the penalties for noncompliance with the order, which include the loss of federal funding.” John A. Logan College in Illinois also suspended diversity events, including a Hispanic Heritage Month talk planned for next week.
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Library educator and consultant Jill Hurst-Wahl writes: “Looking through notes I’d taken in an old work journal—and then looking at blog posts I’ve written—I can see this ongoing focus on diversifying library science students and library staff. This is something the profession has talked about for a long time and has engaged in focused activities. Sadly, the overall diversity of our LIS programs and library staff is not what we want it to be. Why?”
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Michael Crider writes: “Broken electronics are awful, not just because of the material loss, but because they’re very hard to repurpose or repair once something primary has failed. We won’t lie: Sometimes your options for safe disposal of hardware and for securing your personal data are limited. But we’ve created a rough guide on what to do next when your gadget breaks.”
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Random House is launching Joy Revolution, a new publishing imprint dedicated to young adult romance novels for, by, and about people of color. The imprint will be headed by bestselling husband-and-wife authors David Yoon (right) and Nicola Yoon. According to a Nielsen BookScan report from 2014–2015, people of color make up about one-fifth of romance readers. Joy Revolution will publish its first books in 2022.
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Library historian Wayne A. Wiegand writes: “Fifty years ago this week, Carrie C. Robinson—a Black school librarian whose long career revealed much about the Jim Crow South, the challenges of integration, and librarianship in the civil rights era—settled a landmark case for racial justice in the profession. After being passed over for a promotion, she had sued her employer, Alabama’s Department of Education. That case, as well as the trajectory of Robinson’s career, sheds light on a critical period in American history, one with lingering effects on diversity and representation in the library field.”
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