The opening ceremony started on an upbeat note with a live rendition of Kool & The Gang’s Celebration that got folks out of their seats. A stellar speech by Shola Richards followed. A self-professed “kindness extremist” who promotes civility in the workplace, Richards spoke about the African concept of Ubuntu, which means “I am because we are.” Before acting, he says, ask yourself: “Is it kind, is it true, is it necessary?” Richards also spoke about the need to prioritize mental health and advised us to take breaks and vacations and #getatherapist. “The only people who will remember that you didn’t take vacation twenty years from now will be your spouse and kids,” he quipped.

Afterwards, we poured out of the main hall to the individual sessions. Below are a few of my personal favorites, including pithy quotes from each that stuck with me.

• “Making National History Local: Using Digital Primary Sources to Bring History Home” presented by Library of Congress (LOC) educator Danna Bell, looked at LOC online resources for public librarians helping with local history research. Many collections, from Chronicling America digitized newspapers to Sanborn fire insurance maps and panoramic photos, are available for all 50 states. Bell also reminded us that LOC is the home of copyright– check out their digital resources on that topic, and feel free to ask a librarian
• “Your State Library: A Resource for All” included representatives from three state libraries (Ohio, South Carolina, and Washington) discussing resources they provide for public libraries. They administer the Talking Books program, circulate STEM kits, and can provide advice for working with government officials and creating policy. They also covered what they do NOT provide- advocacy work. State libraries offer grants: Some are non-competitive – just apply!
• Libraries remain a critical bridge across the digital divide, but some people are still being left behind. “Digital Navigators: Digital Inclusion in Action” explored how we can better support digital equity in our communities. To get help, people need to feel safe, to be seen, and to feel that help is abundant (not scarce), according to the panel, which included Lo Smith, Luis Delos Santos, and Benjamin Reid. Consider joining the National Digital Equity Alliance (NDEA) to learn more about becoming a digital navigator and/or training librarians in this role.
• It was standing room only for the presentation “Stronger Together: Trauma Informed Methods to Support Library Staff.” Libraries need to address organizational healing first and foremost (the “put your own mask on first” analogy), Linde Furman and Emerson DeMeester-Lane explained. Furman added: “We need to acknowledge the problem in order to engage in meaningful solutions.”
• “How to Say the Hard Things: Lessons Learned in Years of Crisis” with Brandi Cummings, focused on addressing difficult issues with the public, like enforcing rules and discussing book challenges. Staff communications were also addressed. Cummings explained the three Cs of crisis communications: clarify, connect, and conflict. Key words: “You don’t need to apologize to acknowledge.
• At the author lunch with Rainbow Rowell, she revealed that her award-winning book Eleanor & Park, was rejected by several publishers when she first attempted to publish it as an adult novel. After John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars skyrocketed in popularity, a publisher offered to release Eleanor & Park as a YA novel, and the rest is history. Her latest book, Slow Dance, to be released in July, is likely to appeal to “new adults,” those who fit somewhere between YA and adult in their fiction reading tastes.

The exhibit hall had many treats in store. I met a therapy dog named Ohio, known for flopping over on his back for patting. Although ordered not to give kisses (due to post-pandemic health regulations), he snuck some in when his trainer was distracted. There was even a live rabbit, courtesy of a house rabbit rescue group, promoting My Heart Sings a Sad Song, a children’s book about grief. I took advantage of volunteers conducting mock interviews to find out how I can improve my public speaking. (It turns out I say “uhm” a lot!)

Last and best of all, scholarship attendees were treated to a Q & A with beloved librarian and spreader of #libraryjoy, Mychal Threets! Threets is currently “resident librarian” for PBS, partnering with animated aardvark Arthur Read to promote literacy. “The library to me is always about belonging,” he told us, adding, “There is no justice or inclusivity without belonging.” Threets answered questions about resources for unhoused people, the Library Afro Revolution, mental health, and his two cats, Machine Gun Kitty and Kissin’ Kat Barlow. He joined comedian Dulce Sloan at the closing event, sending attendees home with a dose of laughter and warmth.

Mental health was a theme that ran throughout the conference. There is emotional labor involved in librarianship, as with other “helping” professions. That’s even more reason to find inspiration and solidarity at a conference like PLA 2024- to remember why we do this work and how much it matters- while learning to be even better at our jobs. Consider attending the 2026 PLA conference in Minnesota. Funding opportunities may be available from Friends of the Library groups, foundations, county government- or the PLA itself. Check out #PLA2024 on social media for fun photos from the events!

The post Highlights from PLA2024 first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Martinsville Library Staff 1963. Beth Mainiero Center. Photo courtesy Mainiero.

This was the case with Martinsville Memorial Library in Virginia, according to Elizabeth Long Mainiero, who was the director of the library at the time. Martinsville is in the southern part of Virginia near the Blue Ridge Mountains, 50 miles South of Roanoke and 50 miles north of Greensboro, North Carolina. Shortly after moving there from Ohio in 1963 with her husband and two children, Mainiero was appointed as the town’s first professional librarian by City Manager Julian Hirst.

As Director of Martinsville Memorial Library, her first task was to plan how the new library would be arranged. The collection was temporarily located in a house near where a new library was being constructed. The books would need to be moved in and organized, and the library formally re-opened to the public. After this, Mainiero planned to enhance public services.

The local Boy Scouts offered to help move the collection into the new building, but the large boxes of books were too heavy for them to manage alone. Therefore, the City Manager arranged for laborers from the local prison to assist. While a guard stood by with a rifle, Boy Scouts handed books to the prisoners in call number order from the temporary location. Prisoners packed the books in order on book trucks, then pushed the book trucks across the street and into the new library, where the Boy Scouts unpacked them and arranged them on the shelves.

Beth Mainiero moving books. Photo courtesy Mainiero.

Books in place, Mainiero was now ready to enlist the community’s help with a grand opening. She visited each of the six elementary schools in town and asked each principal if they would prompt their teachers to encourage children and parents to come to the opening. She requested that PTA leaders from each school pour tea and coffee during the event. “I did not know that my predecessor library head would not have gone to the ‘Negro’ elementary school,” she explained, adding that was the term used at the time. She had not even realized that the schools were segregated. The principal at the school for Black students asked in a heavy Southern accent: “Are you sure you want me to ask the PTA to help and people to come?” She confirmed that, of course, she was sure. “I didn’t realize what he was really asking. After all, I was brought up in New Jersey. In retrospect, I know that he was really asking if white people in town would be upset if ‘colored’
people… attended and helped with the opening.” Women and children from that principal’s school did come to the library opening and helped with the event. “I thought nothing of it, but when the affair was over some white society women were helping clean up afterwards in the kitchen. One said to another: ‘I didn’t know we could do it.’ I asked her what she meant. She said, ‘Have a social event with them.’”

Apparently, an integrated social event in a public facility was unprecedented in the segregated community. “Eventually I realized that I had inadvertently peacefully integrated Martinsville (or at least the library) in the early 1960s!” By 1964, the library had flourished so noticeably that Mainiero was presented with an award from the Book of the Month Club for the most improved library in the United States that year. The Governor of Virginia came to the award ceremony.

Today, the former Martinsville Memorial Library has been absorbed into the Blue Ridge Regional Library, which has several branches and a bookmobile. Mainiero, who moved on to library leadership positions in Maryland and Connecticut, has been retired for many years now and is writing her memoirs. After reading Desegregation in Northern Virginia Libraries (The History Press, 2023), Mainiero reached out to my coauthor Chris Barbuschak and I to tell us her story. She agreed to let me share it here, to add another piece to the puzzle of how libraries around the state of Virginia were integrated.

Authors note: Although there is a humorous element to this story, the fact that library access was withheld from Black Americans for generations is an epic injustice. Frederick Douglass said in his 1894 speech at the opening of the Manassas Industrial School: “To deny education to any people is one of the greatest crimes against human nature.” It is my hope that knowing more about this history can help us recognize patterns occurring today and mobilize us towards a better future.

The post Integrating Martinsville Memorial Library, Virginia, 1963 first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Harper was taken aback to see WW2 veteran and scholar Henry M. Brooks slumped despondently on the steps of the library. “Why are you sitting in the rain?” Harper asked. “Why don’t you go inside?”

“Mr. Harper, they won’t let me go inside,” Brooks answered. Harper was white; Brooks was Black. Harper was Chair of the Handley Board of Trustees. Brooks, having served his country in WW2 in eight battles including the Battle of the Bulge, was now studying for a graduate degree from the University of Virginia. But he had been evicted from the library when staff discovered that he was checking out books for himself and not for a white family. Because Black residents were not allowed to borrow books from Handley Library Because Black residents were not allowed to borrow books from Handley Library, Brooks often had to travel two hours to Washington, DC to study.

Handley Library, interior view of the rotunda in 2023. Photo by the author.

Harper encouraged Brooks to gather others to address the City Council and request that the library serve all residents. Brooks found eleven people willing to go, but several were fired from their jobs when employers discovered their plans. In the end, four Black residents bravely appeared to speak before the City Council: William Brown, Anna Quiett Tokes, and Garfield Prather, in addition to Brooks himself.

The Council proposed that a few hours be set aside for Black residents to use the library: either two hours before closing on Friday evening or half days on Saturdays.  The citizens replied this was unsatisfactory- people were often working during these hours. Harper spoke up, saying Black residents should have the same access to the library as everyone else, and if this did not happen, he would resign as Chair of the Board. The Council relented and Handley Library officially opened to all in December of 1953.

However, as was often the case when a formerly white-only library desegregated, Black citizens did not promptly flock to the library, probably because they did not feel comfortable or welcome after having been excluded for so long. Harper continued to chair the library’s board until 1960. Brooks went on to complete a doctoral degree.

“…In advance of any radical agitation.”

Richmond, Virginia, 1947

This building at 00 Clay Street was the site of the Bowser Library, serving Black residents of Richmond from 1931-1965. Courtesy of the Library of Virginia

In Virginia’s capital, Richmond Public Library (RPL) opened to the white public at Ginter House mansion on W. Franklin Street in 1924. In 1925, RPL opened a segregated branch for Black residents. The Rosa D. Bowser Branch was named after the first Black teacher hired in Richmond, who established the first Black teacher’s organization in Virginia. Like most branches for Black citizens, it was not at all equal in services or resources to the branch for white residents. It consisted of two rooms above the Phyllis Wheatley YWCA, which had been offered rent-free. Later the Bowser branch moved to its own building at 00 Clay Street where it operated from 1931 until 1965.

The Dooley Library, also known as Central Library, opened in 1930 at Franklin and First Streets. In September 1936, Black residents of Richmond filed a petition in U.S. District Court to obtain equal use of the Dooley Library.  Their petition was denied.

In 1947, the Leigh Street YMCA Business and Professional Men’s Council, a Black civic group, took up the cause, petitioning RPL’s board to allow all residents to use Central Library. The letter, dated March 25, 1947, signed by the group’s president, C.S. McCall, was addressed to City Librarian Thomas Parker Ayer. It points out amenities of Central Library are maintained “for the edification, comfort and convenience of the people of Richmond, with the exception of persons not of the white race.” Adding: “no comparable establishment is maintained… for the colored citizens and taxpayers.” The petition ends: “we call upon the City Library Board and the City Librarian to cease the aforesaid unconstitutional discrimination.”

The firmly but politely worded petition evidentially alarmed board members, as the records of a following meeting call for “friendly resolution of this problem in advance of any radical agitation.”

While the Men’s Council indicated Central Library was white-only, and the 1936 denial of the petition for access supports this, the board seemed unaware there was a problem. Board minutes dated April 14, 1947, state that “use of the Central Library by Negroes is not specifically prohibited except by inference.” But the minutes go on to dictate that Black residents must register for library cards at the Bowser Branch and have borrowing records in good standing before using Central Library. Even more restrictive, the minutes dictate “resources of the Negro branch must also prove to be inadequate for the borrower’s reasonable need.” They also note that all but one of six offsite lending stations were in white-only public schools and “… there can be little if any change made in the spaces and arrangement of the public lavatories.” In other words, segregation of schools and bathrooms continued to limit Black residents’ full use of the library system.

However, the following board meeting minutes of May 27, 1947, proclaim “after June 1, 1947, any adult now recorded at the Bowser Branch as a borrower in good standing may obtain a Central Library card.” This seems to indicate that the burden of proving the Bowser collection inadequate to their research needs had been eliminated from the restrictions facing Black patrons. However, Black children under 16 were still excluded from Central Library, due to the building having only one children’s restroom.

According to October 13, 1947, board minutes, 95 Black patrons registered to use Central Library between June 1 and September 30. The newcomers are described as “quiet, courteous, appreciative, and intelligent. They tend to sit together at tables. Only once has there been a doubling up of white and negro at the same table and then there was no noticeable reaction.”

Meridian Library Patron’s Petition for Dissolution WL collection PLO(1) Moms for Liberty Challenges and Trends of Autistic Librarians Article Final(1) Challenges and Trends of Autistic Librarians Article Final

References and Acknowledgements

 Barbuschak, Chris & LaPierre, Suzanne S. Desegregation in Northern Virginia Libraries, The History Press, 2023.

Kollatz, Harry, Jr. “Circulation Chronicles: A History of Richmond’s Public Libraries.” Richmond Magazine. September 17, 2021. https://richmondmagazine.com/news/richmond-history/circulation-chronicles/

Richmond Public Library. RPL History. https://rvalibrary.org/about/history/

Ritchie, Patricia T., et al. Handley Regional Library: The First One Hundred Years. 100th Anniversary Book Committee, Winchester, VA, 2012.

The Richmond Public Library Board minutes and letters referred to in this article are from the Richmond Public Library History Collection. Thanks to Ben Himmelfarb, Library/Community Services Manager at Richmond Public Library for assistance accessing these documents.

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Are you sure? Many libraries, especially those in the Southern United States, have a buried history of racial segregation that isn’t found in books or websites and is often unknown to current staff and community members. Through archival research and oral histories, you can help uncover clues about your library’s past.

In April of 2021, the Fairfax County Public Library board of trustees requested an investigation into whether our library system- and those around it- had ever been segregated. The question was referred to librarians at the Virginia Room, our library’s center for history and genealogy research. When we began studying the segregation history of libraries in Northern Virginia, the case of Samuel Tucker in Alexandria was the only one that was well known. Tucker was an attorney who masterminded a 1939 sit-in to protest the library’s whites-only policy. We had no specific knowledge of other public library systems in the vicinity having been segregated. But as we dug deeper, we discovered a hidden history of exclusion, segregation, and unequal treatment in many of our local public libraries.

It’s important to know about our past and honor those who helped achieve more equity in libraries. Getting started can be the hardest part. Based on our experience, these are some places you can begin to investigate your own library’s history.

Where to Look

• • Surviving in-house records in your library’s archives or files. These might include library board minutes, circulation statistics, newsletters, manuscripts, and other ephemera, especially that from the Jim Crow era. For example, our archives included monthly record forms from the 1940s divided into statistics of Black and white customers. The sections for Black customers had been crossed out by many librarians–indicating their branches did not serve Black customers. Library board meeting minutes from that time revealed the scarcity of bookmobile stations for Black residents and the decision to keep separate bookmobile materials for Black and white customers.
  • Surviving records at your state library, including state library reports and minutes. The situation at the state library might not align with that at the town or county level. For example, while the Library of Virginia complied with the Virginia state mandate that public libraries receiving state aid must serve all residents (which was the law at least as early as 1946), many local libraries in Virginia nevertheless continued to exclude Black residents while accepting taxpayer funding, even into the 1960s.
  • Newspaper articles, including both Black and white newspapers published during the Jim Crow years. In addition to coverage of library protests and lawsuits, you’ll find very different attitudes towards events expressed in editorials, depending on the publication’s intended audience or slant. Opinion pieces are indicative of how many residents may have reacted to integration at that time and place.
  • Previously published books, especially those focused on your region. A good overview can be found in the book “The Desegregation of Public Libraries in the Jim Crow South: Civil Rights and Local Activism,” by Shirley A. and Wayne A. Wiegand, LSU Press. Microhistories include “Public in Name Only: The 1939 Alexandria Library Sit-In Demonstration,” by Brenda Mitchell-Powell, University of Massachusetts Press.
  • Thesis work. Bernice Lloyd Bell’s 1962 thesis “Integration in Public Library Service in Thirteen Southern States, 1954-1962” is a good starting point for researchers. She surveyed 290 Southern libraries to determine their level of services to Black residents and provides dates for when those libraries were desegregated.Memoirs of people who lived during that time. In his memoir “Life After Life,” Danville native Evans Hopkins shares his experience as a child using the tiny two-room library reserved for Black residents of Danville, Virginia. He also writes about the shock he felt when he was finally allowed to use the main public library after it was integrated- only to find that all the tables and chairs had been removed to keep Black and white customers from sitting together.
  • Oral histories. Speaking with older members of the community, relatives and co- workers of key players, and colleagues at other institutions can fill in many blanks in the story and add personal insight. Sources include Friends of the Library groups, African American history and genealogy groups, local history clubs, and current and retired library staff.Your colleagues at other institutions can be very helpful. They may already know a lot about their organization’s history, or at least be able to point you to the best sources. They may know people who would be good candidates for oral history guidance. There’s no point in reinventing the wheel, so be sure to find out about research they’ve already done or have in progress.
  • Local archives. Make appointments (if necessary) to view manuscript collections at other local libraries, museums, and archives. Do fliers about library grand openings or old library card applications state that the library is open to all residents? Do photographs from events show integrated groups in attendance?
  • Current landmarks. Do some foot work by visiting existing sites and landmarks that you know of already or uncover in your research. Sometimes just showing up and exploring sites in person can add depth and texture to the story. Take your own photographs, explore the area, meet locals, and see how history is preserved and interpreted (or not) in the current landscape.
  • Online groups, such as Facebook local history groups, are great sources of people willing to share memories of their hometowns from decades past. Of course, you will want to cross-reference tips received with other documents and sources to verify information.
  • Census records and Ancestry databases are helpful in finding more information about key players and verifying details about their lives.

  Telling the Story
  Once you’ve pulled your research together, there are many ways you can share your institution’s history. Provide a written report and/or oral presentation to your staff, board, and/or community at large. Consider making a short video of your research. Timelines, biographical sketches of local activists, photo journals of current sites and landmarks, can all help tell the story. These might be shared via displays, exhibits, or programs.

  Partner with local organizations such as museums and historic sites that may want to share – and
  contribute to- your research. Recognition is essential to honoring the achievements of the citizens-turned-activists who worked to desegregate public libraries. Their accomplishments often inspired further desegregation efforts in schools, movie theaters, restaurants, and other institutions.

  Researching injustices of the past leads to the question of who is still being excluded from library services today. People with disabilities, those from other language backgrounds, and people living in poverty all experience greater barriers when it comes to obtaining library services. Understanding more about past inequities and the efforts required to overcome them can help in planning for a more inclusive future.

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Vintage copies of Revolting Librarians and Revolting Librarians Redux. Photo by the author.

The book includes freewheeling essays by library staff from around the United States and Canada on progressive topics ranging from outreach to migrant worker communities to combating pay inequity. It’s fascinating to read in 2022 what radical librarianship looked like in 1972- when this book was self-published in typewriter font and sold for $2 a copy by mail order. A lot has changed, but even more has stayed the same.

Librarians 50 years ago called out the disconnect between library workers on the frontlines and those who call the shots (top-down administration), die-hard shushing stereotypes, and systemic inequities that thwart access for many users. Others complained of irrelevant library school curricula and the difficulty of introducing new ideas into bureaucracies. Many of these issues linger.

In “Doing it: Migrant Workers Library,” Martha Powers Williams writes as one of two librarians in New Jersey who spent their own time providing weekly outreach at a migrant workers’ marketplace. She describes how important it was to reach people who wouldn’t otherwise make it to the library and laments that this couldn’t be part of their regular jobs. This hasn’t changed much. Outreach beyond library walls to underserved communities, despite some laudable examples, remains sparse- and pandemic staff shortages haven’t helped.

Likewise, many of the issues raised in “Trails of a Paraprofessional” by Judy Hadley, still ring true. Paraprofessionals often feel unseen and undervalued and note that they do much of the same work as librarians without the title or compensation. Simultaneously, several of the essayists question the value of the MLS degree, as summarized in “Library School Lunacy” by Harleigh Kyson.

Improvements have occurred in the field, however: better understanding of the need for specialized teen service librarians and quality children’s services in general, progress in inclusivity when it comes to Library of Congress subject headings, and expanded publication and acquisition of works by diverse authors. “Homophobia in Library School” isn’t at the level as it was when Bianca Guttag wrote her essay by that title for the 1972 volume, fortunately.

Technology is the aspect of the field that has changed the most, unsurprisingly. The 70s era essays include some mention of computers, but when referring to the catalog, most are referencing drawers of hand-typed cards. Some of the writers complain of the tedium of typing and filing tasks- since replaced by digital vexations. However, most of the contributors skirt the issue of technology, or mention it in passing- perhaps anticipating rapid change would soon render analysis of those aspects of the field obsolete.

Revolting Librarians has historical value as a primary source of 70s era radical librarianship. Readers may grin at the quaint struggles with card catalogs and typewriters while relating with age-old frustrations such as the inadequacy of the library to serve as a Band-Aid for systemic inequities. Due to outdated slang and references to obsolete technology, this book will probably never be reprinted. It also has not been digitized.

It’s easier to get a hold of the 2003 sequel, Revolting Librarians Redux: Radical Librarians Speak Out, edited by K.R. Roberto and Jessamyn West. Ten of the 56 contributors are essayists from the original volume who are “still revolting after all these years.” While the sequel is not the same time travel experience as the original, it’s peppered with poetry, cartoons, and drawings like the first volume. This sets it apart visually as well content-wise from stodgier professional publications.

In the 1972 book, Art Plotkin wrote “The Liberation of Sweet Library Lips” about his campaign to fill libraries with “No Silence” signs in defiance of shushing stereotypes. For the sequel he writes: “Silences being imposed on libraries lately have less to do with sound than with content and privacy rights, and are much scarier.”[1]

Indeed, many challenges aren’t new, they have just shape shifted. And progress has occurred, however slow and incremental it may seem. Vintage library lit reveals how forward-thinking librarians contributed to making that happen.

References

[1] Roberto and West, eds. Revolting Librarians Redux, p. 19.

Further Reading

West, Celeste and Katz, Elizabeth, editors. Revolting Librarians, San Francisco, CA: Bootlegger Press, 1972.

Roberto, K.R. and West, Jessamyn, editors. Revolting Librarians Redux: Radical Librarians Speak Out. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Company Publishers, 2003.

*Opinions expressed by the author are her own and not meant to reflect those of her employer or any other individual or entity.

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One such librarian was Mrs. Bertha Winborne Edwards, (1920-2009), librarian of the Portsmouth Colored Community Library in Virginia for its entire existence, from 1945 – 1963. Critical to the success of the library, she lobbied for funding, built up the library’s reference collection and ILL service, and forged connections within the community. She diligently collected and preserved clippings and documents detailing the Black history of Portsmouth.

The Portsmouth Colored Community Library was seeded in the 1920s by Black citizens led by St. James Episcopal Church Pastor M. B. Birchette. The small community library bounced around to a few different locations until procurement of city funds allowed for a permanent building in 1945. The small library was essential to the Black community because the Portsmouth Public Library was whites-only until 1960, and the city’s libraries weren’t fully integrated until 1963.

Edwards welcomed people of all races to the Portsmouth Colored Community Library. White residents of nearby housing projects used it, and white travelers sometimes stopped in to ask for directions. Edwards was collegial with librarians at Portsmouth Public Library during segregation. A white librarian there sometimes ordered duplicate copies of reference books, giving one to Edwards for use at the smaller library. In return, Edwards shared the extensive collection of Portsmouth Black history records she had amassed and preserved.[1]

Edwards successfully argued to city officials that because Black people made up one third of the city’s population, her library should receive one third of the funding supplied to the Whites-only library.[2] When she became part of the staff at the integrated library in 1963, she was given the title Reference Librarian. Dean Burgess, a retired Director of the library and former colleague of Edwards, said she ought to have been made Director or Assistant Director.

In 1960, Virginia began to require professional licenses for librarians. The state retroactively conferred licenses on all staff currently serving as library directors-all except for Edwards, apparently due to her race. This factor precluded her from obtaining the position of Director or Assistant Director when the Portsmouth Public Library opened as an integrated facility.[3]

Edwards gained her library science education from the remnants of the Hampton Library School in Virginia. Established in 1925 at Hampton Institute (now Hampton University), it was the first and only library school for Black students to issue a bachelor’s degree in library science. It was accredited by the ALA. When established, it was one of only two accredited library schools in the South.[4] Sadly, the Hampton Library School closed in 1939 due to insufficient funding. Although Edwards enrolled at the university shortly after the degree program disbanded, she sought out remaining library science professors and classes to learn the profession.

The Portsmouth Public Library was compelled to serve all races beginning in 1960, due to a lawsuit initiated by two local Black dentists-Dr. Hugo A. Owens and Dr. James W. Holley. However, it wasn’t until 1963, when the main library moved into a larger building, a repurposed post office, that the library Edwards had managed so devotedly closed and the city’s library services were fully integrated. Edwards and her assistant moved to the Portsmouth Public Library as part of an integrated staff.

The 900 square foot Portsmouth Colored Community Library still stands today as a Black history museum, on 904 Elm Avenue in Portsmouth, Virginia.  The museum includes signage and exhibits about Edwards. The Portsmouth Public Library, where Edwards finished her career, still serves as Portsmouth’s main library on 601 Court Street. The library’s current Director, Mr. Todd Elliott, began working at the library in high school while Edwards was still on staff. He describes her as “an incredible librarian and historian!”[5]

Edwards retired in 1980, having devoted 35 years of service to Portsmouth public libraries. She authored nine books about Black history. Those who worked with her said she was the kind of the person who changed lives. “We are better people because of Mrs. Bertha Edwards,” said colleague Mae Breckenridge Hayward.[6]

References

[1] PCTV Channel 48, Remarkable Portsmouth: Episode 1, Bertha Winborne Edwards, 2020.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Smith, S. L. “The Passing of the Hampton Library School.” The Journal of Negro Education. V. 9, no. 1 (1940): 51-58.

[5] Elliott, T., personal communication with the author, September 2021.

[6] PCTV Channel 48, Remarkable Portsmouth.

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In my home state of Virginia, a mandate that libraries receiving state aid serve all residents passed into law as part of the 1946 Acts of Assembly. However, many interpreted this to mean not that library buildings must be integrated, but that some form of library service be provided to all. That could mean a bookmobile or a separate segregated library for Black residents. Some libraries failed to provide even that. What follows, approximately in chronological order, is an introduction to some of the courageous activists who stood up for the rights of all people to access their public libraries.

In 1939, in the City of Alexandria (VA), attorney Samuel Wilbert Tucker (1913-1990) organized a sit-in to protest the whites-only policy at Alexandria Library. The library was just a block and a half from his home, but Tucker was unable to use it because of his race. Sit-in participants included William “Buddy” Evans, age 19, Edward Gaddis, 21, Morris M. Murray, 22, Clarence “Buck” Strange, 20, and Otto Lee Tucker, 22. Robert “Bobby” Strange, 14, served as the look-out, alerting Tucker when police had been called so Tucker could notify the press. Tucker’s actions prompted Alexandria to build a separate library for Black residents within a year, but full integration did not occur until 1959-1962, in stages. Now recognized as a man ahead of this time, Tucker has been honored by Alexandria Library with events commemorating his historic protest. 

In 1952, Newport News (VA) announced the desegregation of the main branch of its public library after years of pressure from attorney W. Hale Thompson (1914-1966), who graduated from high school in that city and returned to make his home there after law school. In 1949, his efforts had resulted in the establishment of a small branch for Black residents above a community center. Thompson went on to push for full integration, filing a lawsuit against the city and library board in 1950. The library finally opened to all adults on July 19, 1952. 

Samuel Cardoza Murray (1915–1998) and Josie Cook Murray (1920-2010) were a couple who owned an upholstery shop in Loudoun County (VA). In 1956, they were commissioned by Mabel Frances Moore, Mamie Eisenhower’s sister, to create Austrian-style drapes for her home. The Murrays went to the Purcellville Public Library- the only public library in Loudoun County at the time- to research this type of drapery but were unable to check out a book due to their race. Mr. Murray sued, compelling the library to desegregate in 1957. President and First Lady Eisenhower were so impressed with the resulting draperies that they asked the Murrays to create furnishings for their house in Gettysburg, PA. Now open to the public as Eisenhower National Historic Site, the home features Austrian-style draperies in multiple rooms.

Reverend Wyatt Tee Walker (1929-2018) was refused service on the whites-only main level of the Petersburg (VA) Public Library in 1959. He was told to go to the basement, which had a separate entrance for Black residents. Walker tipped off reporters, initiating protests. He was arrested for “trespassing” on the whites-only floor of the library on March 7, 1960. Refusing to post bond, he was among 5 of the 11 arrested who slept on a jail floor for two nights to draw attention to the injustice. Walker later became Chief of Staff for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

C. J. Malloy, 20, a student at Virginia State College, was among approximately 140 local high school and college students participating in the Petersburg protests. He read a group statement at a city council meeting March 1, 1960, including these words: “Segregation as a part of the fabric of American life is dead. We stand on the threshold of America becoming her ideal.” Students arrested for “trespassing” in the library on March 7, 1960, included Horace Brooks, 17, Edwin Jordan, 19, Foster Miles Jr., 20, and Lillian E. Pride, 20. 

Theresa Ann Walker (b. 1928) accompanied her own children and the child of another protester to the children’s area of the whites-only part of the library during one of the protests in Petersburg. When a city manager warned Ms. Walker that she could be arrested if she did not leave, she responded, “I know that and I have come prepared.” He then declined to have her arrested, saying he did not want to distress the children. Married to Rev. Walker, she was also one of the Freedom Riders. She still lives in Virginia.

17-year-old Robert A. Williams organized a group of students at his high school to protest the whites-only policy of Danville (VA) Public Library, which was also known as Confederate Memorial Library. Resulting protests and legal action compelled the library to integrate in 1960. However, when it reopened as an integrated facility, tables and chairs had been removed to impose standing-only service, and a fee and long application form were required to open an account, as well as credit and character references.

In Portsmouth (VA), the library system was integrated thanks to the efforts of two dentists, Dr. Hugo A. Owens, Sr. (1916-2008) and Dr. James W. Holley, III (1926-2012). Their letter-writing campaign and eventual lawsuit resulted in a judge’s order to desegregate the library in 1960. However, the two small, previously segregated, libraries didn’t move into a larger building with an integrated staff and board until 1963. Holley later became the first Black Mayor of Portsmouth. 

William McKinley Carter (1897-1977), an officer of Friends of the Library, Vienna, was instrumental in procuring a branch of Fairfax County Public Library (VA) to serve all in the Town of Vienna, where the existing library had a whites-only policy. Patrick Henry Community Library opened in 1962 as an integrated facility, and the segregated library closed shortly afterwards. His wife Lillian Carter (1897-1968) and son Maurice Carter (1924-2010) were also active in the movement to integrate library services. 

The example of these citizens reminds us that “public” libraries were not always open to all. The right of all citizens to use their public libraries is one for which many black citizens suffered arrest and harassment and endured time-consuming expensive lawsuits to obtain. Even in northern states where public facilitates were not formally segregated, segregated housing and discriminatory zoning often rendered public libraries inaccessible to Black residents.

We still have work to do to ensure that all citizens feel included and welcome at public libraries. While many feel libraries to be a “home away from home,” others have painful memories associated with them. Raising awareness about our segregated past can facilitate efforts to keep moving towards a more inclusive and equitable future. 

References

Barbuschak, Chris, and Suzanne S. LaPierre. Unequal Access: The Desegregation of Public Libraries in Northern Virginia. Fairfax County Public Library, Fairfax, VA, 2021. https://research.fairfaxcounty.gov/ld.php?content_id=63134201

Scheel, Eugene. “Couple Wrote First Chapter of County’s Civil Rights Movement.” The Washington Post. April 8, 2001. www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/2001/04/08/couple-wrote-the-first-chapter-of-countys-civil-rights-movement/25ff52a1-d23b-4ba6-aa97-2ca50b9e70e2/

Tobias, Carl. “Untenable, Unchristian, and Unconstitutional.” University of Richmond School of Law Scholarship Repository. 58 Mo. L. Rev. 855, 1993.

Wiegand, Wayne and Shirley. The Desegregation of Public Libraries in the Jim Crow South: Civil Rights and Local Activism. Louisiana State University Press, Baton Rouge, LA, 2018.

The post Giving Thanks for the Activists Who Integrated Public Libraries first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

During the pandemic, new library podcasts emerged as means of reaching out to communities from afar, while long-running podcasts and new ones alike were challenged by producing under constrained conditions. This article explores those issues as well as unique podcast episodes addressing pandemic concerns, and tips for launching a podcast.

Emerging Technology Librarian Nate Gass has co-hosted the Cook Memorial Public Library Podcast since 2016. Asked how the pandemic has impacted his podcast of book finds, author interviews, and local history stories, he noted that it was thrown into disarray at first. “We had to decide if we were even going to continue doing it as other stressors of adapting to virtual library services took higher priority. But as we settled into the virtual groove it was actually pretty easy to continue doing the podcast. We did lower expectations of frequency a bit and now just shoot for one episode a month.” Listenership has increased slightly.

New podcasts also faced production challenges. Josie Brockmann, Adult Services Librarian coordinating Book Chatter for Longmont Public Library in Colorado, agrees that social distancing made recording and editing more arduous. To produce, several librarians see one another via conferencing platform while recording themselves using USB microphones. “The various recordings are sent to me and I synchronize and cleanup using Audacity.” Brockmann and colleagues look forward to a time they can have discussions in the same room: “It will require a lot less editing on my part!”

For those starting a new podcast, Brockmann advises patience: “It does take time for patrons to learn about a podcast and start to listen.” Book Chatter was designed with the idea that readers would send in questions and comments to be included in book discussions lead by librarians. Public participation got off to a slow start, but Brockmann reports downloads are steadily increasing with each episode.

The pandemic has spawned some unique podcast themes. Early on, Gass interviewed Skip Dye from Penguin Random House about how book publishing was adapting for the episode Publishing During a Pandemic. Library Land Loves offered episodes such as How to Get Sh*t Done when the Kids are at Home and Creating Engaging Virtual Presentations. ALA’s Call Number recently released Supporting Seniors During the Pandemic.

What advice do veteran podcasters have for those starting out? Editing is important, as is crafting the interview, Gass explains: “I can say in my experience practically anything can be made interesting if the host prepares beforehand and knows the right questions to ask… the other thing that keeps a podcast interesting isn’t so much the topic or even the guest, but how everything is presented to the listener. This is where editing is so crucial. If you are ruthless in your editing but also pay attention to the natural flow of the conversation, you can really craft something that is hard to stop listening to.”

As a listener, those comments resonate. My preference is for tightly-edited podcasts that get to the point and stay on-topic. However, some that record free-wheeling conversations are also popular. The choices are varied and abundant, as apparent from the list below.

New Since the Pandemic

Book Stabber by the creators of the library comic strip Unshelved promises some fun arguing over loving or hating certain books.

Book Chatter Podcast This “book club for busy people” is modeled after traditional book groups.

Scranton Talks Youth librarians from E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, Connecticut talk with community members about passions such as gaming, genealogy, Harry Potter, and raising backyard chickens.

Saskatoon Public Library Podcast of Stories from Saskatchewan, has featured episodes on pandemic-related themes: ennui, comfort, remedies, and awakenings.

Two Librarians Walk into a Shelf Rumor has it this eclectic podcast from Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Alabama has developed something of a cult following.

Reader’s Advisory

Book Club for Masochists Brave librarians volunteer to read niche genre and difficult tomes so you don’t have to. If you hate the horror genre or know nothing about physics, but still want to dazzle your public with quality RA, they’ve got you covered.

Drunk Librarians Podcast Librarians A and B maintain anonymity while getting trashed and talking books. Some profanity may occur.

The Librarian is In and Library Talks The New York Public Library crafts two clever and humorous podcasts about books and culture.

Overdue Finds from Edmonton Public Library in Canada dishes on books, movies, music, pop culture.

Professional Development

Call Number ALA’s podcast features librarians, authors, and scholars discussing important issues- from library COVID-19 protocols to talking about race.

FYI Podcast Interviews illuminate topics significant to public libraries, such as career-related imposter syndrome and the problem of e-book embargos.

Cyberpunk Librarian features ideas and trends for librarians interested in high tech for the low budget.

Library Land Loves covers career-related topics from managing virtual teams to negotiating job offers, along with some pop culture fun.

The Library Pros Technology librarians discuss new and developing technology applicable to the library world- with refreshingly international scope.

Local History

Cook Memorial Public Library Podcast covers a range of topics; however, some of the most popular explore the history of Libertyville, Illinois, resulting in a podcast that doubles as an audio archive of local history.

The samples above, selected for relevance to public libraries, are part of an even wider spectrum of library podcasts, offering something for every interest. Charge earbuds!

The post What’s New in Library Podcasts? first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Today there is no problem more critical to tackle yet more seemingly overwhelming than the spread of misinformation and disinformation. The attack on the U.S. Capitol was a heart wrenching reminder of that. Millions watched on live television as an enraged crowd resorted to violence over claims of a “stolen” election that were verifiably untrue. While many libraries have launched initiatives to address the dangerous spread of misinformation, others with limited staff and funding aren’t in position to add more programs and services, especially during a pandemic. 

However, even the smallest libraries provide services that support media literacy every day, sometimes in subtle but significant ways. Public access to a broad range of professionally curated books, materials and databases, along with staff trained in identifying reliable sources of information, are essential resources. In addition to those core services, there are a few lesser known ways public libraries support media literacy on a daily basis, one bite at a time.

Browsing as Freedom of Choice

According to Pew Research Center’s report The Information Needs of Citizens: Where Libraries Fit In, trust in information obtained from public libraries is rated higher than trust in information received from health care professionals, family and friends, government sources, or local news. 78% of those surveyed reported either “a lot of trust” or “some trust” in information acquired via public libraries. 

What makes trust in libraries higher than trust in other authoritative sources? My opinion is that freedom of choice is a crucial part of this relationship. Unlike health care facilities or government agencies, libraries are places where people typically browse and make choices for themselves. Browsing– either physically in the building or via the online catalog- and selecting their own resources from a broad collection, is likely to give people more ownership, and thus confidence, in their choices. 

Libraries encourage this by ensuring physical and online browsing spaces are comfortable (whether in terms of good lighting in physical spaces or readable fonts in virtual ones) and engaging (colorful, with interesting displays and interactive elements). The ability to browse and make choices for oneself enhances trust, and trust is critical to development of media literacy skills. Studies such as that by the Media Insight Project show that people are much more willing to believe content shared by those they trust, regardless of the original source of that content.

Children’s Storytimes

Children’s storytimes are a beloved mainstay of any public library, whether those programs are virtual or in-person. Having worked in youth services for ten years before moving into adult services, I’ve conducted dozens of storytimes. Even with the youngest preschoolers, even before “Once upon a time…” we typically start with cover and title page of the book. We read aloud the title, and then point out and read aloud the names of the author and illustrator. In doing so, we’re demonstrating that this book is the creation of an individual person… it didn’t spontaneously grow on a shelf or fall off a tree! 

Realizing that each book is authored by a specific person empowers children to see themselves as potential authors and illustrators. Knowing the writer behind the work also empowers readers, even young children, to find out more about the author’s background, seek out other work by this author, and decide whether this person is a good source of information (for nonfiction) or enjoyment (for fiction). This is part of media literacy: considering sources. 

Looking for books by favorite authors is a step beyond judging books by their covers. Children like to browse and select their own reading choices as much as adults. Studies such as Scholastic’s Kids & Family Reading Report show that freedom of choice in reading material increases enjoyment and time spent reading by children. Which brings us to…

Fiction Counts!

Fiction and other forms of reading for pleasure support media literacy, too. Reading entire books as opposed to social media posts and memes trains our minds to delve deeper, to understand complexity and nuance. Fiction reading has been demonstrated to improve empathy skills (a recent Discover Magazine article links to a few studies). The ability to psychologically put ourselves in another’s shoes is important to being able to understand others’ motives, and therefore how and why local and world events occur. 

Understanding the perspectives of others can help to defuse anger, a much-needed salve in a polarized society. We aren’t in a position to logically evaluate information when anger is in control. Unfortunately, propaganda works to inflame emotion precisely for that reason. Conversely, empathy enhances the ability to to engage in more productive dialog, an avenue to solving problems rather than merely reacting to them.

Sharing the joy of reading promotes a sense of community, which circles back to trust, a critical component to media literacy. Addressing the cognitive aspects of media literacy without the dimension of emotions, beliefs, and allegiances is a mistake, Peter Johan Lor writes in Democracy, information, and libraries in a time of post-truth discourse: “…libraries should exert the soft power they have as trusted, non-partisan community resources, and they should nurture this trust” (p. 317). 

When all libraries are fully open again – complete with programs and group activities that have been on hold- we are likely to be met by people happy to return to normal. We’ll also be dealing with people who have been under a lot of stress, some of whom are angry about pandemic-related restrictions. We might have to deal with rebuilding some trust. Luckily, the library is a good place for that. One bite at a time.

“In the library I felt better, words you could trust and look at till you understood them, they couldn’t change half way through a sentence like people, so it was easier to spot a lie.” – Jeanette Winterson, Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit

Opinions of the author are her own and not meant to reflect those of her employer or any other individual or organization.

The post Eating the Elephant: Libraries Tackle Huge Issues in Small Bites first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Professional ethics, as outlined by the American Library Association Code of Ethics, include a duty to “advocate conditions of employment that safeguard the rights and welfare of all employees of our institutions.” The purpose of this article is to highlight some issues to be considered when it comes to that pledge. 

Shift Work Impacts Physical and Mental Health

Librarians, especially public librarians, typically do shift work, covering some evenings and weekends, often on a rotating schedule. Even more disruptive to regular eating and sleeping patterns, those shifts tend to be irregular from day to day and week to week. Studies on the effects of shift work have found negative impacts on mental health as well as physical health. The two are often intertwined, such as when disrupted sleep cycles contribute to stress. 

According to research published in European Journal of Neuroscience: “Shift work, defined as work occurring outside typical daytime working hours, is associated with an increased risk of various non‐communicable diseases, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Disruption of the internal circadian timing system and concomitant sleep disturbances is thought to play a critical role in the development of these health problems.” In addition, irregular shifts create difficulty managing care for dependents, which can further increase stress and economic burdens.

The Psychological Impact of Emotional Labor

Even for those fortunate enough to have stable schedules, studies show that jobs requiring a high degree of “emotional labor,” including librarianship, can lead to job-related stress and burnout. Common to the “helping” professions, emotional labor is defined by Oxford Languages as: “the management of one’s emotions in order to present oneself and interact with other people in a certain way while doing a job.” 

A typical day in the public library includes many situations that rise to personal emergency level for customers – a student’s report is due tomorrow, someone with limited computer skills must fill out an online job application, a child is lost, someone needs information about a serious illness. Customers’ problems often become librarians’ problems. Occasionally customers become angry over fines or rules and take their distress out on staff. Good customer service means handling such situations gracefully. A study published in Library & Information Science Research found that the emotional labor reported by all types of librarians was associated with emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and job dissatisfaction, all of which can also impact professional efficacy. 

Harassment and Unwanted Attention 

As Gretchen Corsillo writes in Ending Sexual Harassment at the Public Library, this is an all-too-common occurrence. In many library systems, customer service guidelines specify that information staff should walk a customer to the stacks, find the desired item, remove the item from the shelf and put it in the customer’s hand. The goal of this personal service- as opposed to “it’s over there in 703.5” (pointing), is to ensure the customer isn’t left to wander confusing stacks alone, potentially not finding the item yet too uncomfortable ask for more help. It also enables a deeper reference interview to occur while walking together. Once in a while though, this can be misinterpreted as “this person must be interested in me” or even “s/he is intentionally leading me to a more private space. Here’s my chance!” 

At public service desks, there is little an employee can do to hide from unwanted attention from individuals who have misinterpreted professional care as personal interest… or worse, those who simply enjoy harassing service employees. Library pages, whose shelving work requires them to circulate around public areas, also become targets. The emotional distress of handling unwanted advances or outright harassment can be hazardous to the psychological well-being of employees. In the worst cases, it can even lead to stalking and become a risk to physical safety.

As Katie MacBride writes in #TimesUp on Harassing Your Public Librarian, while many service professions deal with this behavior, libraries are unique in that customers can stay as long as they want: “What if anyone could walk into your workplace, ask you as many questions as they wanted on virtually any subject, from the moment the doors open in the morning until they close at night?” 

Covid-19 and Exposure to Diseases

Librarians are among those who have died of COVID-19 after being exposed as front-line workers. Yet, librarians may not be high on the list to receive vaccines. Librarians were included in the same category with teachers as essential workers to be prioritized for vaccination in the July 2020 CDC AIPC Work Group report. However, the December 2020 CDC AIPC interim guidance does not specifically mention librarians among those prioritized in either Phase 1b or Phase 1c of vaccine distribution.

The very nature of public libraries–open to anyone and full of shared resources–puts their employees at greater risk. Unlike schools, where students are limited to a traceable group, public libraries are accessed by an unlimited variety of visitors. They are full of touchable shared surfaces and materials. While risking their own exposure, library employees are often under the additional stress of having to enforce new rules specific to the pandemic, sometimes to a resistant public.

Recent discussions over COVID-19 risks in libraries have provided an opening for discussing wider health implications of library work. Staff members who are healthier physically and mentally are better able to provide quality public service. Therefore, safer working conditions and fair compensation for employees benefit all.

References
Brown, J.P., Martin, D., Nagaria, Z. et al. Mental Health Consequences of Shift Work: An Updated Review. Curr Psychiatry Rep. 2020; 22, 7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-020-1131-z

Corsillo, GK. Ending Sexual Harassment at the Public Library. Public Libraries Online. March 30, 2018.

Kervezee, L, Kosmadopoulos, A, Boivin, DB. Metabolic and cardiovascular consequences of shift work: The role of circadian disruption and sleep disturbances. European Journal of Neuroscience. 2020; 51: 396– 412. https://doi.org/10.1111/ejn.14216

Mattesona, M, Miller, S. A study of emotional labor in librarianship. Library & Information Science Research. 2013; Volume 35, Issue 1, 54-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2012.07.005

Macbride, K. “#TimesUp on Harassing Your Public Librarian,” Shondaland, January 31, 2018. https://www.shondaland.com/act/a15876574/timesup-on-harassing-your-public-librarian/

Peet, L. IMLS. CDC: On Staff Safety, Handling Paper in COVID-19 Pandemic. Library Journal. April 8, 2020.

The post Health Hazards of Librarianship: Not Just Paper Cuts first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The ethics theme was divided into two parts: Issues involving intellectual freedom and the spread of misinformation; and issues regarding principles of equality, social responsibility, and inclusion. Specified regarding inclusion were people experiencing homelessness, those experiencing loneliness, people with functional diversity, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

The main lesson I absorbed from this experience is that library professionals around the world share many of the same concerns as U.S. librarians. Combating rampant misinformation in the age of internet and social media, as well as dilemmas regarding how best to serve the most vulnerable populations, were key topics of discussion. Bridging the digital divide and alleviating social isolation were concerns across borders, exacerbated by the pandemic.

The 2020 conference featured speakers from France, Germany, the United States and Spain, as well as about 200 participants from Latin America, Europe and the U.S. Perspectives included those of writers, publishers, and social workers as well as reference librarians and library administrators. Among many partner organizations supporting the conference were the International Institute in Madrid, Spain’s Ministry of Culture, Goethe-Institut Madrid, and the embassies of France and the U.S.

Of particular interest to public librarians was the topic of people experiencing homelessness, as explained by social workers Silvia Galán Cordo and Ana Álvarez Rey-Carbacos of Samur Social Street Team, Madrid. As trusted faces among clients, they often help mediate issues that arise in libraries, collaborating with library staff as well as mental health service providers. People experiencing homelessness cannot always be identified based on appearance, especially during the pandemic, they pointed out. Use of the internet is a particularly critical need among this group: Something as simple as accessing retirement funds often necessitates digital access and digital literacy.

The social workers offered this advice for planning programs relevant to the homeless, such an internet training or job search help: Be flexible and offer incentives. It is difficult for people coping with homelessness to comply with rigid schedules, especially early meeting times. They may not own an alarm clock, may be in a shelter with set breakfast times, and may rely on public transportation. Incentives as simple as coffee not only make people feel more welcome but aid in the word-of-mouth spread of information about library programs.

Also from a public library perspective, Director of the Madrid Public Library M ͣLuisa Azcárraga Urteaga spoke of the psychological effects of loneliness and how libraries may help. She poignantly described loneliness as “having no one to share sorrows, but also joys.” Loneliness is often experienced by older people who may be widowed as well as retired. A significant portion of seniors have a disability that can make it harder to socialize. As in the U.S., library book clubs in Spain are typically attended by women over 60. Such book clubs often lead to going out for a drink or to a theater production based on a book, initiating social networks. However, even remote library services create connections: users call to ask for recommendations on ebooks or audio books, they chat with the driver of the bookmobile and with other readers, creating “tentacles beyond the physical space” of the library.

Those experiencing loneliness also include the well-educated and financially comfortable, Azcárraga Urteaga points out. Such people often avoid other social services due to the belief that such resources are not for them, but the public library is without stigma. She also explained how the library benefits young people, describing a “patient services” outreach program which involved reading to children in waiting rooms.

On the issue of misinformation and intellectual freedom, Cécile Swiatek, Deputy Director of the Library of the University of Paris II, illuminated the media literacy issue from the perspective of academic and scientific research libraries. She touched upon open access issues, both in terms of producing and unlocking scientific research. I presented a synopsis of my research on media literacy initiatives of U.S. public libraries since 2016. German author, translator, and publisher Zoë Beck spoke about issues relating to intellectual freedom in the publishing field.

Moderator Paz Fernández-Cuesta, Director of the Library of the Juan March Foundation Research Support Center in Madrid, coordinated the event with an empathetic and inquisitive tone, referring to the library as a “place of refuge” for many and ethics as a “living, evolving issue” within the profession. The conference opened with Javier Gomá Lanzón, philosopher and award-winning author, who said that for him personally the library is the best answer to the question: “Who has been your teacher?” He was interviewed by Anna Maria Ballester Bohn, Director of the Goethe-Institut Madrid Library. 

At the Q & A finale, many questions centered around what libraries are doing to help the most vulnerable, including people impacted by the pandemic. I mentioned the training our library staff received in Mental Health First Aid and in working with people experiencing homelessness. One of the key themes I absorbed from such training is to demonstrate respect for individuals well in advance of any difficult situations that may arise.

I was enriched by hearing from information professionals around the world about how they handle ethical problems. That so many of our concerns are the same makes me feel we have much to learn from one another about best practices. Perhaps a silver lining to this difficult year is that increased familiarity with virtual meetings and tools can lead to more communication and collaboration with international colleagues.

For more information, see the Everyday Ethics in Library Life conference recording. For past conference themes and general information, see the International Conference on Library Experiences. 

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“The Role of Libraries in Misinformation Programming: A Research Agenda,” by Jason C. Young, Brandyn Boyd, Katya Yefimova, Stacey Wedlake, Chris Coward and Rolf Hapel, outlines three areas in which academic partners can assist public libraries in the goal of achieving more effective methods for addressing misinformation: design of effective programming, development of tools to keep librarians informed, and empowering librarians to engage in controversial topics.

Researchers met with library staff from throughout the state of Washington to brainstorm on the topic. Participants discussed which approaches to misinformation were more likely to be successful, taking into consideration issues such as psychological barriers, the self-selecting nature of programs, and hardships faced by community members, including limited digital access.

Some ideas included integrating media literacy concepts within popular programming, as opposed to stand-alone programing on the topic (humorously described by one participant as “hiding the broccoli in the brownies”); capitalizing on trends such as virtual reality to garner interest; and strengthening community ties through dialog to combat the divisiveness exploited by misinformation campaigns. Participants emphasized the need for programming that was highly responsive, timely, and relevant to the daily lives of their community members. 

Staff also discussed challenges including perceived political connotations around terms such as “fake news” and “misinformation” causing some to resist those topics or even take offense. Challenges also include lack of staff time and other resources (funding, expertise, technology) – even a lack of confidence in tackling the issue. 

Another difficulty discussed was the lack of rigorous evaluation of public library programs and resulting data that would help in designing effective initiatives. The authors suggest that LIS and education scholars could help by developing and testing curriculum tools in public libraries. Another idea was for researchers to assist librarians by providing a portal to “fact cards” on current misinformation across a range of subjects. This could help librarians keep up with the constantly shifting barrage.

Libraries enjoy a trusted role in their communities and are also dependent upon local funding and support. These factors can make it more difficult for library staff to tackle potentially controversial issues, even problems that should be neutral and within their wheelhouse such as media literacy. Unfortunately, perpetrators of misinformation often malign those best positioned to counteract the misinformation (I think of this as “meta-misinformation”- turning people away not only from a particular set of facts but also from more reliable sources in general).

The authors acknowledge that many library core missions contribute to counteracting misinformation, including the psychological roots of it. They write: “Misinformation is most dangerous when it is able to exploit the fears and needs of communities. If librarians are able to bring communities together to solve problems before they become the target of a disinformation campaign, then this is a valuable contribution even if the library never directly addresses the topic…” Technology and literacy training are among services libraries provide that impact the “complex information ecosystem that supports misinformation.” 

Overall, the findings align with my own research on several points, including staff concern over the self-selecting nature of programs, lack of staff time as a primary barrier to more proactive responses, and the importance of staff training and community partnerships. However, this article does much more to address how academic partners can take a more active role in supporting public libraries in combatting misinformation.

Ironically, the article itself, while illuminating, also represents some of the difficulties faced by public library staff in accessing resources that could aid our mission. Empirical research on how best to implement media literacy initiatives in public libraries is uncommon to begin with, but what exists is often behind a paywall. Academics, including academic librarians, have professional incentives to produce research that public librarians do not. Academic professionals are naturally more likely to focus on the topic from the perspective of academic libraries rather than public ones. Academic research published behind a paywall further isolates it from use by public librarians. All this circles back to the suggestion by the authors that it would be helpful for academic researchers to partner with public libraries in training, programming, assessment, and access to research and expertise.

As the information- and misinformation- landscape continues to become more complex, librarians will need the support of colleagues, community members, and partners in combatting the misinformation that threatens our communities. It is heartening to know that we have allies.

The post New Research Explores How Public Libraries Can Best Combat Misinformation first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

“We are open regular hours- except of course the branch that burned to the ground. Our closest branch has almost doubled its hours and set up a private area for people to use a computer for zoom calls and insurance filings,” reports a staff member of the Whitman County Library in southeastern Washington. The branch that burned was the Malden Library, destroyed in a firestorm over Labor Day weekend along with 80% of the town’s buildings, according to CNN. According to library staff, “It was a tiny branch in a tiny town and truly the heart of the community.” However, in a remarkable spirit of resilience, the branch has already resumed some services, according to its Facebook page.

Three branches of the Fresno County Public Library in California were closed due to wildfires and related evacuations. Those branches were Auberry branch, the Big Creek and Shaver Lake branches. The Big Creek and Shaver Lake libraries remain closed as of this writing. Auberry Library reopened recently with limited services after being closed for three weeks due to the fires.

Poor air quality has forced some libraries to curtail services. “We have closed curbside services if PM2.5 (particulate matter) gets into the purple (hazardous) zone, we don’t do anything different when it’s just unhealthy,” reports a library assistant in the Sacramento, California area.

“We had to close our no-contact holds pickup service for eight days (a little more because we left midway through a day) due to smoke and refrain from having staff work inside the building during that time,” reports Michelle Rosenthal, Operations Manager for the Happy Valley Library in Oregon. Other branches in her system have been impacted in different ways: “The Happy Valley Library is in Clackamas County Oregon, part of the LINCC cooperative of libraries. The amount of services affected varied for each LINCC location.”

“My public library has several branches that were closed for nearby fires last month. They’ve all reopened now, and while I know some checked out materials were destroyed (over 2000 homes were burned) all the branches survived,” reports an academic librarian who is a patron of the Jackson County Library System in Southern Oregon. “I think branches were closed for both the Almeda and Obenchain Fires,” she added.

Clancy Pool, a Branch Manager at Whitman County Library, spoke to the impact of the 2020 fires compared to previous years: “My branch serves a population of about 1000 when I include the rural residents. We are in southeastern Washington State, an area of grain fields, not forests. Our normal wildfires have damaged acres of crops in the past, but not buildings. This year’s fire that destroyed small communities is the first I am aware of and I am a fifth generation resident in the area. The Labor Day fire came within 8 miles of my town and we were under a ‘prepare to evacuate’ order. In the last few years the big change for us has involved hazardous air quality. More and more we have had weeks each summer where smoke has come in from fires hundreds and even thousands of miles away and prevented outside activities for around a week.”

How can people help? Pool cautions against donating items that might not be needed and suggests using due diligence before donating online: “After a wildfire ask what is currently needed and what might be needed later. Do some research on where you are donating especially if it is a ‘Go Fund Me.’”

The Oregon Library Association https://www.olaweb.org/ has been receiving many offers of help, according to their website. While the impact of the fires is yet to be fully assessed, they suggest library workers who have been evacuated or lost their homes may be aided via the Red Cross (use “Western Fires” option to support efforts across the region) or Oregon Community Foundation page for Supporting Oregon Wildfire Relief. 

*Some staff members preferred not to be identified for this story. Names are withheld in those cases.

**The status of libraries mentioned may have changed since the writing of this article. Please see library websites for the latest information.

The post Wildfires Damage Libraries first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The above anecdote demonstrates that no one is too busy or illustrious to demonstrate small acts of kindness. Those of us who work with the public have that opportunity every day. We can take time to make eye contact and use a gentle, thoughtful tone of voice even when we’re stressed or a customer is grouchy. There are a lot of lonely people in the world, and some come to the library to interact. We can take a deep breath and deliver compassion along with information.

RBG heralded the power of reading: “Reading is the key that opens doors to many good things in life. Reading shaped my dreams, and more reading helped me make my dreams come true.” Her life reflects a lifetime of scholarship. Less than a year before her death she took time to speak at the Library of Congress Fall for the Book Festival. Whatever form books take – physical or virtual, fiction or nonfiction- books offer in-depth exploration of ideas and complex language that transcends the sound bites and slogans of social media. In the public library world, we have the honor of facilitating the love of reading and access to books every day.

RBG is famous for saying that we can disagree without being disagreeable. Her sincere friendship with fellow Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia is often cited as an example that we don’t need to agree on everything to appreciate one another on a human level. But that statement also speaks to dignity. We can refuse to be pulled down into the mud. She is also known to have said “it sometimes helps to be a little bit deaf.” While she fought for the big wins, she overlooked petty insults and minor annoyances.

Finally, RBG is best known for her ground-breaking work in gender equality. Many library systems recently eliminated the gender designation field on library card applications. While we continue to ensure customers are treated equitably, we also have work to do within the profession. It’s the elephant in the room: the pink collar ghetto. Like many majority-female professions, ours requires a high degree of specialized education and emotional labor, coupled with the stress of shift work, which many of us believe is not equitably compensated for compared with majority-male professions, including those requiring much less education. Youth services is the pinkest of pink when it comes to the ratio between responsibility and compensation within the library realm. We can do more to advocate for ourselves and others in the profession. As RBG advised: “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.”

Finally, we must have perseverance and not backslide. Libraries have come a long way from when John Lewis was among thousands denied a library card because of race, but let us not forget what RBG said in her dissent from rollbacks to the Voting Rights Act: Throwing away protections that have been successful because we think they are no longer needed “is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.”

Have foresight and see the big picture. Even though she suffered many losses, RBG described her famous dissents as “appealing to the intelligence of a future day.” When a step towards justice stumbles, the long-range climb continues.

Be bold. Be determined. Also be kind… like RBG.

The post Be Like RBG – Lessons from a Life first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

One example is the Toledo Lucas County Public Library (TLCPL) BLM Book Group in Ohio, facilitated by King Branch Assistant Manager, Franco Vitella and Teen Librarian, David Bush. The first meeting was on July 30. They agreed to answer some of my questions about the initiative.

PL: What are the goals of your BLM book club?  

FV & DB: The goal is to promote Black voices, perspectives, authors, and books that focus on the Black experience in an effort to lift an otherwise marginalized portion of society. The group will aim to construct a meaningful and compassionate conversation about anti-racism and embrace the diversity of the library’s collection, patrons, and surrounding community. The group will be guided by TLCPL’s value of being welcoming – respecting and valuing diversity, equity, and fairness – while recognizing that racism is not in line with these values.

PL: What kind of engagement and feedback did you get from participants in the first meeting of the BLM book club?

​FV & DB: Participants were thankful that that group was happening. We asked each participant to introduce themselves at the top of the meeting, and if they wanted, to share anything about themselves. Many of the participants shared why they were attending, primarily to become more comfortable talking about race and understand the issues. 

PL: Will you change anything for the next meeting based on how the first went?

​FV & DB: It did take a while for the conversation to get moving – I think everybody was a bit uncomfortable in terms of how to talk about the subject matter – but about a quarter through the meeting the conversation began to pick up. We opened the conversation with a general question for participants to chime in on what they thought, but it was the more specific questions that initiated the most conversation. If anything, I’d like to see us start with those specific questions.

PL: The first book for discussion was Me and White Supremacy by Layla Saad. This workbook can trigger strong reactions. Was this an issue, and/or how do you handle strong opinions or reactions within the group?

​FV & DB: Quite a few participants were either not able to read the book or finish it by the meeting. A few participants said they mostly wanted to sit back and listen because of this. But on the whole, while people expressed they did have strong reactions, it wasn’t an issue during the discussions. People were forthright and honest and nobody ventured into expressing negative opinions that would be considered a detriment to the group’s purpose.

PL: Do you anticipate a different crowd for the next title, or did most participants express a desire to continue with the group next month?

​​FV & DB: Participants did express interest in attending next month and we also solicited title ideas from participants for future meetings. Our next book, Five Days by Wes Moore, which documents the death of Freddie Grey while in Baltimore police custody, is definitely a pivot away from Me and White Supremacy in terms of it not being a workbook, but I think it will attract the same, or at least similar, audience.

PL: Do you have advice for libraries starting similar book clubs? 

Really think about what you aim to do in starting a book group like this. Be mindful and aware that it may not be easy. Discussing these topics can be difficult on a variety of levels and knowing that participants are coming from all different places is important to keep in mind.

PL: Is there anything else you’d like to add?

FV & DB: Not every library needs to have a book group similar to this, but every library must consider the impact they have on access, equity, and even the roles they play in being part of systemic racism. A book group won’t solve the greater systemic issues that exist in society and within many libraries, but it can be a vehicle for individuals to incite positive change through engagement. TLCPL’s director Jason Kucsma recently wrote in a post to Medium that “it is the job of all library leaders and staff to acknowledge that our work around access and equity is not finished and we must ensure our actions reflect a substantive, measurable, and honest approach to address systematic equity.” Libraries do need to be honest about what has happened in the past to contribute to these systemic issues and what actionable things we can do to undo that harm.

Other libraries launching BLM book clubs include the Alexandria Library in Virginia, where books to be discussed include So you Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo, How to be an Anti-Racist by Ibriam X Kendi, White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo and Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. That group is facilitated by Librarian Ruth Rasby of the Charles E. Beatley, Jr. branch. Ann Arbor District Library in Michigan has started a BLM initiative to encompass an array of programs, including a book group.

Some libraries are organizing book discussions for staff. The Library of Virginia is facilitating a “group read” specifically for public library directors on White Fragility. According to Nan B. Carmack, Director of Development & Networking, in addition to discussion prompts provided by the author, they will explore the question: “What does this group do next in regards to continuing to explore equality in librarianship?” 

The post Libraries Launch BLM Book Clubs first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Pivoting to online avenues for engaging the public during the pandemic, many archives, libraries and museums launched digital collecting projects. Digital collections enable cultural heritage organizations to gather primary source material about the pandemic in real time, even while buildings are closed, while also giving the community an outlet to express their individual perspectives on this unusual time. 

Local history archives that are part of public library systems tend to have limited staff and resources compared to independent museums. As a librarian at one such archive, I hope my experience with launching a COVID-19 digital collection portal might be useful to others. 

After participating in the Virginia Museum of History and Culture’s project “Share Your Story: Documenting COVID-19 in Virginia,” it occurred to me that our local history archive had a unique role to play in collecting digital material specific to our county. We had an opportunity to capture specifics meaningful to residents: local restaurants delivering take-out food via robot, neighborhood car parades honoring essential employees and graduates, the airport looking barren on what would normally have been a bustling travel day. These images and experiences will be of interest to future generations studying the impact of the pandemic on our county. 

In early April, I proposed to colleagues the idea of using a Google Form to collect stories and digital materials from our community while the building was closed. The deed of gift information and thank-you note could be embedded in the form, negating the need for separate documents. The form would allow typed responses as well as uploaded files: images, video or audio. All agreed, so I drafted the form and it was quickly launched via our website and social media pages and promoted via notices to local media outlets.

The level of interest in the project was greater than anticipated. Within two months there was more than one television segment on the story, as well as coverage in print and online. Items in the digital collection now number in the hundreds and include stories, drawings, photographs, video clips and links to podcasts and blogs. Contributors range from children to senior citizens, teachers to small business owners. By gathering diverse narratives from all demographics within the county, we preserve a fuller record of what has occurred for future generations.

Below are a few tips based on my experience with this project.

Leave it creative and open-ended. People will surprise you with their ingenuity. In a difficult situation, it’s important that people be able to respond in a way that is meaningful to them, whether by typing a few sentences, uploading images, or sharing a link to their blog. By enabling all of these options on the form, we received a maximum variety of contributions. 

Plan in advance for publicity. It’s a good idea to have, if not an official press release, at least a written description of the project ready to draw upon when asked. Often there is short notice to prepare for interviews or articles. Be sure to credit contributors who have elected to receive credit if the material they submitted is shared. (We also have a “keep me anonymous” option on the form.)

Be aware of legal and ethical issues. The Society of American Archivists offers a resource kit: Documenting in Times of Crisis. It’s thorough, covering everything from emotional support to budget, including sample templates and forms. When launching a project quickly in response to crisis, it’s not always possible to foresee all possible issues that could arise, but at least be prepared to sequester sensitive contributions (such as a journal that names other people) until staff can determine how best to handle such items.

Be flexible. The need to adapt as the project develops is likely. As community interest in our project grew, we decided to drop the original June 10 deadline and collect indefinitely. Community experiences in April may be very different from those in June or July, as the situation evolves. We also hadn’t anticipated needing to share items with the public until a later date, but due to interest in the project we began putting samples on our Friends of the Virginia Room Library Facebook page.

Next Steps

The next step is to make the majority of the collection digitally browse-able by the public. Beyond that, I hope to eventually connect our local COVID-19 collection with those of other towns, cities and states around the country for future researchers. Currently we’re investigating Biblioboard Creator for these purposes. Other options for tools to collect, catalog, and enable public access to a digital collection can be found in New York University Library’s Guide to Digital Humanities Tools & Software. For a recent video introducing several different approaches to this type of project, see Collecting in Crisis: Responsive Collecting in a Digital Age by the Maryland Historical Society and partner organizations.

Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed in this article are my own and not meant to reflect those of my employer or any other individual or organization.

The post A Covid-19 Digital Archive first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

About 25% of Americans lack high-speed internet access at home, according to a 2019 study by Pew Research Center. The digital gap between rural and non-rural Americans persists, with about 33% of rural Americans lacking home broadband access. In spite of initiatives such as Connect America Fund, Mobility Fund, and the Lifeline program for low-income Americans, this amounts to tens of millions of Americans lacking access to an increasingly vital resource.

While libraries can’t be the only answer to this problem, they are a key part of the solution, and librarians are taking on the challenge. Some steps libraries have taken to improve digital access while buildings are closed include:

• Strengthening wireless signals and extending activation hours so people can access wireless from outside library buildings
• Setting up additional drive-in Wi-Fi hotspot locations
• Purchasing additional mobile hotspots and devises for check-out to customers
• Reserving some hotspots for distribution to homeless encampments
• Using library vehicles to transport hotspots to low-income neighborhoods at advertised times
• Partnering with schools to get mobile hotspots to students in need
• Utilizing new technology such as TV White Space and AirFiber to extend broadband in rural areas
• Partnering with digital equity organizations, community leaders and service providers to reduce barriers 

“What we are seeing is not so much a lack of access to the internet, but poor bandwidth,” explains Aimee Schumm, eServices Manager for Boulder Public Library in Colorado. “One family we gave a hotspot to had multiple kids and they had to stagger their online learning time, or use a neighbors Wi-Fi to complete assignments.” The Library received a grant from their Foundation to purchase 275 additional hotspots at the beginning of the pandemic. They partnered with the local school district to distribute 125 to students lacking reliable internet, and distributed the remaining 150 to seniors and others residing in low income neighborhoods.

Other librarians report that bandwidth is critical now that more people are home from school and work. “I talked with one mom, who has a couple of small children… when her husband works from home he uses up all their data,” reports Donna Pierce, Library Director of Krum Public Library in Texas. With school moving online while parents telework, this creates major obstacles.

Williamsburg Regional Library in Virginia is using its bookmobiles to transport hotspots to underserved areas. The library purchased additional Wi-Fi hotspots, each allowing for 15 simultaneous connections, and is using their vehicles to drive them “to parking lots and neighborhoods where users can drive up, park, and take advantage of free internet access from the comfort and safety of their own cars,” according the Library’s press release. “Since the press release came out, we’ve added wireless (free) printing to our mobile hotspot vehicles,” adds Sandy Towers, Assistant Library Director.

Many library organizations are members of National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA). The NDIA website includes a list of Free & Low-Cost Internet Plans updated daily. According to the website: “Some Internet Service Providers have responded with new or improved discount broadband plans that will only be available for a short time; others continue to offer plans that were created prior to the crisis.” 

Twin Lakes Library System, which serves a rural area in Georgia, has been broadcasting their library signal via television White Space as a means of expanding internet access. This service is available 24-7 at multiple locations while buildings are closed. They are also investigating AirFiber technology, according to Director Stephen Houser. AirFiber is faster than White Space but requires a line of sight. The combination of technologies would expand options for the rural community.

Washington State Library is engaged in a public-private partnership designed make free broadband accessible to all residents in the state. The Drive-in Wi-Fi program moved quickly during the pandemic to add 140 new drive-in hotspots to the 301 existing Library hotspots, with a goal of 600 public hotspots available throughout the state soon.

Finally, the Public Library Association (PLA) and Microsoft Corp. launched an initiative to increase access to technology during the Covid-19 crisis. Microsoft will provide funding to help public libraries in rural communities extend Wi-Fi access by installing WiFi access points on or near library grounds. Visit www.ala.org/pla/initiatives/publicwifi to see eligibility requirements, deadlines, and more information.

The temporary closure of libraries and schools has brought attention to the tens of millions of Americans lacking access to high-speed internet service essential for 21^st century communications. Library professionals are committed to expanding digital access during pandemic closures and after buildings reopen. Going forward, societal and economic fallout from the pandemic will necessitate the prioritization of digital equity- equity that begins with access.

The post Digital Access during Covid-19 first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The term “vocational awe” was coined by Fobazi Ettarh in Vocational Awe and Librarianship: The Lies We Tell Ourselves, In the Library with a Lead Pipe, January 2018: “Vocational awe describes the set of ideas, values, and assumptions librarians have about themselves and the profession that result in notions that libraries as institutions are inherently good, sacred notions, and therefore beyond critique.” In a piece that resonated, albeit with some discomfort, among many in the field, Ettarh argued that vocational awe directly correlates with pervasive problems in the profession such as burnout, under-compensation, job creep, and lack of diversity. How can devotion to positive ideals go wrong? Ettarh writes: “In the face of grand missions of literacy and freedom, advocating for your full lunch break feels petty. And tasked with the responsibility of sustaining democracy and intellectual freedom, taking a mental health day feels shameful. Awe is easily weaponized against the worker…”

Serving the community is our mission. But librarians are people too, and also part of the community. Problems for individuals become problems for the profession as a whole when fewer excellent candidates are drawn to or remain in the field. It becomes a problem for public librarianship in particular when the demands of irregular rotating shifts make childcare difficult and increase stress, causing loss of staff to other types of libraries that offer stable schedules.

The decision by many city and county officials to keep libraries open during the start of the pandemic entailed particular risks to public library staff and patrons. The very ideals that public library professionals take pride in– welcoming service to all, the more the merrier- is exactly what exacerbates danger during an infectious disease crisis. Closure of schools and enjoinders to “work from home” during the pandemic meant more people displaced from other institutions would flock to public libraries that remained open, compounding the risk. 

As COVID-19 spread in the US, along with reports of devastation from countries previously affected, library social media sites formerly devoted to enthusiastic sharing of program ideas and reader’s advisory tips became infused with something else: fear and anger. As staff continued to work in libraries visited by hundreds or thousands of people per day, sharing keyboards, touch-screen kiosks, books and toys, many worried for their health and that of loved ones and patrons. Many felt in the dark as to whether or when their libraries would close or limit services. As more did close, those remaining at work in crowded buildings pleaded on social media for others in the field to advocate and sign petitions on their behalf. 

Mirroring those concerns, a piece in The Gothamist about the Brooklyn Public Library remaining open quoted one employee as saying: “I’m a bit worried. It seems to go against what public health officials are saying.” Another was blunt: “I’m so mad. I have kids at home… They don’t care about our health…”

Chicago Public Library kept some branches open until the Governor of Illinois announced a “stay at home” order for the state. The Chicago Tribune quoted Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Alison Arwady stating libraries must remain open to “provide for those who have no other place to go for basic access to the internet or other resources.” A library staff member quoted in the article confessed: “…maybe we are serving too many purposes, maybe there should be other alternatives for our homeless population.” ProPublica Illinios also reported on the situation, quoting a librarian: “The mayor is forcing libraries to be the social safety net of the city… She is relying on us to do what the city is supposed to be doing by providing homeless shelters, mental health institutions, being a day care.”

By remaining open, libraries send a message to the public that it’s safe to come in. “My library was filled with older people… I just wanted to go out and scream, ‘Go home. What are you doing here?’ I knew that if we didn’t make that move to close the building, they would never stop coming. We were, at that point, doing more harm than good,” relayed Jennifer Pearson, director of the Marshall County Memorial Library in Tennessee, quoted in Wired Magazine. On March 17, the ALA Executive Board concurred, recommending that all libraries close during this stage of the pandemic: “Keeping libraries open at this time has the potential to harm communities more than help.”

Not only should we be asking what constitutes a fair burden to place on library staff- but whether the very fact that public libraries provide access to limited resources allows us to make excuses for the fact that so many in our society struggle with underclass status- without access to wireless and internet services, without access to emergency shelter. When it comes to serious widespread issues such as poverty and homelessness, offering public libraries as the panacea can seem like siphoning up the ocean with an eyedropper. The temporary closure of libraries might force us to examine some of the inequities in society and envision more widespread solutions. 

Disclaimer: This article expresses my own opinions and is not intended to reflect those of my employer or any other individual or organization.

The post Resisting “Vocational Awe” During the Pandemic first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Although state and local voting laws vary, many areas allow and even require public libraries to serve as voter registration sites and polling locations. Madison Public Library in Wisconsin is among them. “All 9 of our library locations serve as absentee voting sites,” reports Krissy Wick, Director of Public Services: “Residents can come to the library to vote two weeks prior to each Election Day (even on nights and weekends). This is in addition to the voter registration we do regularly all year. Our libraries now see more voting than our City Clerk’s office!”

The National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) of 1993 mandated that states provide broader access to voter registration through state and local agencies. Some states have designated their public libraries as voter registration sites to comply, meaning that in addition to offering information, voter registration forms are accepted from citizens and transmitted to election officials. “When people register to get a library card, we ask if they would like to register or update their voter information,” says Renae Rountree, Director of the Washington County Public Library in Florida.

Many libraries also serve as polling places on Election Day. Paul Kagebein, Adult Services Programmer at the Garland County Library in Arkansas, explains how he began the process of becoming a polling place: “I reached out to the Garland County Election Commission and invited them to see our facility. They agreed it would be a wonderful partnership… The Election Commission is fully responsible for setup and operating of the voting process. We provide the space and adjust our hours on voting day to accommodate the legal polling hours.” Kagebein believes the library is ideal for this purpose: “…hundreds of people come into the library in a given day just to access other resources. It’s a perfect opportunity for a significant number of people to have an easier opportunity to vote.”

Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) in New York serves 2.6 million residents, and 20 of their 59 branches serve as polling places for primary and general elections. On Election Day, all branches open for voting offer a Community Open House with coffee and snacks. “Anything to make the process more bearable and welcoming,” explains Nick Higgins, Chief Librarian of BPL. While citizens wait in line to vote, staff offer library card applications. “It’s a great opportunity to get new users in the door, welcome the community, and keep them coming back,” Higgins says. For residents, the library is recognizable and familiar, putting voters at ease.

The process is not without logistical challenges. BPL branches that serve as polling places open at 5am on Election Day and stay open as late as midnight to enable all in line to cast ballots. This requires some adjustment of staff schedules; however, library services are available only during regular library hours. Some public space is temporarily sacrificed for voting equipment and crowds, but there have been very few complaints: People “recognize the importance” of the event, Higgins explains.

For library staff, welcoming voters is an opportunity to “live the mission of the public library” Higgins adds. Two BPL locations will be open for special hours on President’s Day for voter registration. Every visitor will received a pocket copy of the U.S. Constitution. 

Many libraries partner with their local chapter of League of Women Voters (LWV) to provide voter registration services. Slover Library, a branch of Norfolk Public Library in Virginia, contacted their local LWV about partnering to offer voter registration once a month on a Saturday afternoon at the Library. “Our first event registered six customers; updated one customer’s address; and fielded several questions about registering to vote,” reports Josette Dubois, Programs Librarian.

The Voter Education and Registration Assistance Project (VERAP) is a collaboration between League of Women Voters of the Northwoods (LWVNOW) and Wisconsin public libraries serving the same area. Kris Adams Wendt, Public Library Consultant for Wisconsin Valley Library Service, has been “advising and serving as liaison between LWVNOW voter services committee and the wider Wisconsin library community to get the word out about the VERAP tools.”

Your state or local election office can advise on voter services at the library. The American Library Association (ALA)’s guide Libraries and Voter Engagement includes useful resources and steps for getting starting, such as keeping the library’s board and administration apprised and ensuring all staff and volunteers understand local voting laws pertaining to library activities. 

Please see my previous article, Election Year at the Library, for more ideas on engaging voters during the election season.

The post Voting at the Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The Town and Country Public Library in Illinois has a similar event for both kids and teens. Children vote for their favorite cookie, and teens vote for their favorite pizza. “The library gave out samples of the cookie and pizza that won these junior elections,” reports Roving Reference Librarian Dwayne Nelson.

While no advance registration was needed for these kid-friendly events, millions of adults find out too late that they missed a deadline to register or update their information before Election Day. Some proactive libraries are promoting National Voter Registration Day with programs and displays. The holiday celebrating democracy occurs the fourth Tuesday of September each year.

Madison Public Library in Wisconsin partnered with Local Voices Network prior to their last mayoral election to collect information about concerns of citizens. The program utilized digital hearths to record over 60 discussions and convey perspectives of diverse community members to candidates, policymakers and the media.

Central Rappahannock Regional Library in Virginia conducted a “Speed Repping“ event in which “state assembly candidates were invited to speak with the public in a speed-dating style setting,” according to Tracy McPeck, Adult Services Coordinator. The event was in partnership with League of Women Voters Fredericksburg Area (LWVFA) and other local groups. They also partnered with LWVFA on ‘Civic Lab: Dear Elected Official’, which McPeck describes as “informal lobby tables that engage passersby in discussions on where to vote and how to contact their legislators.”

Many libraries create LibGuides for voters, such as Be A Voter, developed by Reference Librarian Haley Samuelson and colleague Nate Gass of Cook Memorial Public Library District in Illinois: “Our goal was to create a one stop shop for the entire voting process. We are located in a deep purple district and have been pleased that patrons of all political stripes have found the resource useful and neutral,” Samuelson reports.

Young voters tend to be least likely to turn out on Election Day. Matt Imrie creates an interactive display to raise awareness. “I have a display in my teen area encouraging young people to register and have a rotating display of books, a weekly countdown, and a random political term with what it means written in plain English,” explains the Youth Information Specialist for the Gardner Branch of the Johnson County Library in Kansas.

Public libraries often serve vulnerable members of the community, including survivors of domestic violence, whose barriers to voting may include privacy concerns. Miranda Dube, who maintains the Librarians for Survivors website, explains how to help: “Libraries can make sure they provide information on how voting records are public as many survivors may be unaware of the risk of registering to vote. Make sure information about local Address Confidentiality Programs (ACPs) are available.” ACP and Confidential Voter Listings are state-administered programs that enable survivors of domestic violence to vote using a substitute address. The National Network to end Domestic Violence maintains a state-by-state list of such programs.

Lack of a permanent address can be a voting obstacle for people experiencing homelessness. You Don’t Need a Home to Vote toolkit, produced by the National Coalition to End Homelessness, includes tips and a chart of state voter regulations. Nonprofit Votes helps nonprofits engage members in voting and elections, including a starter kit and checklist for remaining nonpartisan.

Wondering who won the kids’ vote at the City of Fairfax Regional Library? Let’s just say the kids didn’t agree with the Electoral College results in 2016, but aligned with adult voting results for the county. And in the local election, Marvel Superheroes beat DC Comics’ team by just 12 votes- proving that every vote counts!

The post Election Year at the Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

One of the latest examples is a new state-wide cemetery survey launched by the Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT), the State Highway Administration (SHA), and Preservation Maryland. The program will solicit help from community members to identify and record local cemeteries and burial sites. An app being developed by SHA will collect data points of grave sites to create a layer in SHA’s statewide geographic information system (GIS) mapping tool. The data will help SHA avoid interference with burial sites when planning projects. About a dozen cemeteries have been documented by the app so far, many dating from the 19th century and located on private property.[1]

Much more work is forthcoming. As part of the project, archaeologist Caroline Herritt, working as Cemetery Document Specialist for Preservation Maryland, will survey 100 at-risk cemeteries, some in abandoned or poorly maintained locations, and will attempt to locate previously unknown burial sites.[2] Libraries and other community centers will be the site of workshops lead by SHA and Preservation Maryland in which members of the public can find out more about the project, volunteer as community liaisons, and eventually learn how to use the app to collect and record data. 

Internationally, new technology and the growth of participatory culture are making it easier for researchers to find graves of ancestors or people of interest, and to contribute data. Find A Grave allows members of the public to search for graves located on any of the seven continents. Members may add photos of headstones, memorial information, or GPS coordinates, and may also request photos of grave sites or headstones from others users.  

Billion Graves is a similar resource. Billing itself as “the world’s largest resource for searchable GPS cemetery data,” their app includes satellite maps of cemeteries around the world with GPS markers to help users find individual graves. Users can contribute GPS data, add images of headstones, and transcribe material online. The website includes a guide for service groups and those earning Eagle Badges that explains how to contribute by documenting a cemetery. 

Many libraries have taken an active role in documenting local cemetery data and making such data more user-friendly for customers. Pharr Memorial Library in Texas, noticing customers struggle to navigate paper records in their collection, coordinated with city Geographic Information System (GIS) and engineering departments to map the data for over 2,000 deceased individuals in nearby Guadalupe Cemetery.[3] The data is now available online as an interactive map. 

Many cemeteries have created their own apps to help visitors find individual headstones and landmarks within the property. Arlington National Cemetery’s app, ANC Explorer, for example, enables families and members of the public to view front-and-back headstone photos, and receive directions to grave locations and other points of interest via web or mobile app. 

Laws and regulations regarding the preservation of historic cemeteries vary by country, and within the U.S. are governed by federal historic preservation laws as well as state laws and local regulations. The Library of Congress guide, Preservation of Historic Cemeteries in Selected Countries, offers an overview of some of the complexities.  

Cemetery data is important to many researchers, not to mention families like the one who contacted Fairfax County Public Library for help finding their missing Grandpa. Fortunately, with the development of new technologies and techniques, these markers of history are becoming easier to locate and preserve. 

1.  Deville, Taylor. 2019. “‘These Places are Worth Protecting’: Public Invited to Help Document Burial Sites at Arbutus Library Workshop.” Baltimore Sun Media, December 6, 2019. https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/baltimore-county/catonsville/cng-co-ca-at-cemetery-documentation-workshop-20191206-6wihjyieuvbzzpuzfz7ixgwm2u-story.html
2. Cowen, Elly Colmers. 2019. “New Statewide Cemetery Documentation Project Underway.” Preservation Maryland, March 19, 2019.https://www.preservationmaryland.org/new-statewide-cemetery-documentation-project-underway/
3.  Rosales, Romeo, Jr. 2015. “The Departed: One Library’s Innovative Cemetery Project.” Public Libraries Online, November 10, 2015. https://publiclibrariesonline.org/2015/11/the-departed-one-librarys-innovative-cemetery-project/
   

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It’s been said that we live in a post-truth society, one in which appeals to emotion and beliefs are more influential in shaping opinions than facts and reason. While skepticism is nothing new, it seems particularly in vogue in the social media age to insist that because no one source is completely infallible there is no reason to place particular value on authoritative sources or expertise. This is an issue of primary concern for libraries and archives whose core values include the curation of, and provision of access to, reliable sources of information. What does post-truthism mean in terms of practical operations of collecting organizations, such as regional archives which often fall within the purview of public libraries? To begin with, how does one archive fake news?

Context

Context is key. Information is shaped by various internal and external contexts^.1 Therefore, preserving the cultural and semantic context that clearly marks the information as false is critical when archiving misleading or inaccurate information. But what exactly constitutes fake news – does this include satire, advertisements, clickbait? Other problems have to do with the “digital born” nature of most contemporary fake news and the “no such thing as bad publicity” angle – even obviously fake news is perceived as more credible when exposure is repeated, as can easily happen when digital material goes viral. Thus making such data available digitally may serve to lend weight to ideas even when context is provided that marks the material as false or inaccurate. This is less of an issue in traditional “hard copy” archives.²

Format

Typically libraries strive to provide information in multiple formats to increase accessibility. When it comes to disinformation that is preserved for archival purposes, this approach can backfire because digital material is more easily manipulated and taken out of context. Unique quandaries are faced by libraries that include archives of extremist literature. Groups with fringe beliefs often seek to boost credibility by discrediting mainstream and authoritative sources of information.³ Unique challenges in this arena include providing context for offensive materials, presenting them in an objective manner for scholarly use, and ensuring those with valid research interests know about and have access to collections while mitigating potential exploitation for nefarious purposes.⁴ Format plays a large part in this as “hard copy” material requires more effort to access on the part of users and tends to attract primarily those with research interests. Offering the material in digital format makes it easier to access but also increases the possibility that its context may be misrepresented.

Objectivity

Some interesting issues related to objectivity and historical archives are raised in “Imperial Shrines: How Presidential Libraries Distort History⁵ by Benjamin Hufbauer. Hufbauer argues that presidential libraries are becoming less conducive to research and more like shrines celebrating the achievements of presidents, due to competing interests of organizations that share in their design and upkeep. Presidential library archivists and curators are hired and funded by the federal government and the archives are run by the National Archives. However, museum elements -including exhibits- are privately funded and have become more elaborate over the years, tending to glorify presidents and their achievements. Hufbauer points out cases in which more controversial aspects of a presidency have been drastically under-represented by the library. Similar conflicts of interest can impact even small regional archives when donors or benefactors aim to influence the manner in which collections are presented or interpreted.

Volume

The challenges facing archivists are growing as electronic formats exponentially increase the amount of material to be sorted. Hufbauer points out that, due to electronic formats, the number of documents per president has vastly increased, with pages numbering in the tens of millions as of 2008⁶ (this quantity surely has exploded even more in the decade since). The dilemma posed by the pervasiveness of “digital born” material is evident in a 2017 blog post by the Library of Congress (LOC)⁷ explaining its decision to end a 2006-2017 agreement with Twitter which gave LOC access to all public tweets for their archive. The LOC will no longer collect all tweets, only those surrounding nationally significant events. The sheer volume of digital-born material is making it impossible for archives even as lofty as the LOC to keep up with the organization of such data. This necessitates drawing boundaries and being transparent about limitations.

Anticipating and planning for issues of context, format, objectivity, and volume will continue to be a challenge for collecting agencies, including libraries of all kinds. If your library has ideas for dealing with such issues, please add them in the comments.

References

1. Nicole Cooke, “Posttruth, Truthiness, and Alternative Facts: Information Behavior and Critical Information Consumption for a New Age.” Library Quarterly, 87 no. 3 (2017): 211-221.
2. Corrie Commisso, “The Post-truth Archive: Considerations for Archiving Context in Fake News Repositories.” Preservation, Digital Technology, and Culture, 46 no. 3 (2017): 99-102.
3. Lee McItyre, Post-Truth, (Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 2018), 62.
4. Maria R. Traska, “EXTREMISM @the LIBRARY.” American Libraries, 45 no. 6 (2014): 32–35.
5. Benjamin Hufbauer, “Imperial Shrines: How Presidential Libraries Distort History.” The Christian Century, 125, no. 11 (2008, June 3): 12+. Retrieved from http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A179658870/SPJ.SP00?u=fairfax_main&sid=SPJ.SP00&xid=499438be
6. Hufbauer, Imperial Shrines, para 11.
7. Library of Congress. “Update on the Twitter archive at the Library of Congress.” (2017, December). Retrieved from: https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/files/2017/12/2017dec_twitter_white-paper.pdf

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The following examples of outreach to people in residential care came in response to my request via an ALA listserv. Five main categories emerged.

In-Person Delivery of Materials
Although National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) delivers audio materials to qualified citizens free of charge, some librarians find personal deliveries provide an opportunity to engage with community members, book talk, and share information about library resources. Charlotte Nance, Branch Manager of Weatherford Public Library in Oklahoma, takes a bookmobile to nursing homes, rehab centers and retirement facilities every Friday. “I have formed relationships with the residents, and they look forward to the visits. I deliver requests as well as book talk with them about what they enjoy reading. Bonds have been formed… I would miss this service if it ever stopped.”

Book Clubs and Reading Groups
These can be traditional book clubs or read-aloud programs in which a story or article is read aloud and discussed. Valerie Weber, Heritage Branch Librarian in Yuma, Arizona, runs “Senior StoryTimes” at a local facility biweekly. She reads short stories and sometimes poems, followed by a participatory element. “Every session one of the residents, chosen the program prior, tells a story from their childhood, a defining life moment, etc.  This is my favorite part of the program.  The storytellers always seem to enjoy having the whole room’s attention, and residents are always surprised in what they learn about each other.”

Discussion Groups
Themed discussion groups provide socialization and promote lifelong learning. “Community Conversations” is a program run by Kathleen Mayo, retired Outreach Manager for Lee County Library System in Florida. Volunteers are trained to lead discussions at 18 senior residential facilities. “We center each monthly session on a theme such as Becoming an American, Women’s Lives, Letter Writing, and Marriage Advice. Each discussion uses reminiscence mixed with an assortment of readings (poems, essays, quotes, song lyrics…) as well as photos, physical objects, and music.” Residents who require physical assistance but crave intellectual stimulation may benefit from in-depth discussion groups such as the global affairs program Great Decisions offered by the Foreign Policy Association.

Memory Programs
These can be targeted towards people experiencing dementia or simply to older adults who enjoy reminiscing. Julie McDaniel, a librarian from Ohio, volunteers at a senior living facility where many residents have lived all their lives in the rural area. The public library has archived high school yearbooks and city directories which she uses to lead programs, including a mapping program: “…we start at the main square in our town and ‘map’ what the residents remember.  This is a free hand map on a large roll of paper.  I use the city directory to help get the memories started… It usually doesn’t take long for someone to remember something and that starts conversations about people who used to work at various places… or what someone remembers about shopping there. I add details to our ‘map’… I accept everything.”

Tales & Travel Memories
Provides a free tool kit for outreach to people living with dementia. Founder Mary Beth Riedner, a retired librarian, explains: “The program focuses on remaining strengths instead of losses. Many people with dementia can still read and enjoy taking turns reading short stories, such as folk tales, aloud or participating in choral reading of poetry…  Browsing through richly illustrated non-fiction books helps to elicit memories and stimulates conversations. Books and reading can be important tools to improve the quality of life for those living with dementia who are often isolated and forgotten.”

Tech-Mobiles and Tech-Help
These may include demonstrations of new technology, “petting zoos” of electronic devises to try, or clinics to help residents trouble-shoot and access library recourses on their devices. “We bring tech help to our city’s Senior Center once a month for our ‘On the Move & One-on-One Tech Help Sessions’. Staff provide assistance to seniors with using technology, and also bring some of the library’s digital devices for them to try out,” reports Katharine Chung, Assistant Library Director, Danbury Library in Connecticut.

Other ideas include collecting oral histories to enrich local history archives. As with general outreach, possibilities are almost limitless and some trial and error may be necessary to find what resonates with a particular community.

Additional Resources

ALA Office for Literacy and Outreach Services Keys to Engaging Older Adults @ Your Librarytoolkit includes tips for getting started, fundraising, measuring outcomes, and lists other resources.

ASGCLA Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias Interest Group (IGARD) is devoted to providing library services to those living with dementia. See their list of best practice resources and join the group’s listserv to network.

The post Five Kinds of Outreach to People in Residential Care first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Universal access is a core value of librarianship. According to principles of universal access, every person regardless of age, size, or differing abilities is afforded easy, flexible access to information and resources. Libraries integrate these principles into design of spaces and equipment. But even the most well-designed building or website can remain beyond reach of people in long-term care facilities, many of whom are unable to travel to library buildings and also lack access to private telephones, online services, or internet-enabled devices. Delivery of materials alone does not bridge the divide. Face-to-face outreach to these residents may be necessary to provide equitable service.

A literature review reveals two main gaps in library and information science research on the issue. There is a lack of research incorporating perspectives of differently-abled people, let alone people residing in long term care facilities, regarding their preferences for services. There is likewise little in the way of a systematic widespread approach to the provision of outreach to these residents. Addressing both of these issues would go a long way towards ensuring people in residential care experience the same level of library service others in the community enjoy.

Among the few researchers to examine library services from the perspectives of the differently-abled are Clayton Copeland[i] and J. J. Pionke[ii]. Copeland’s work prompts reflection on the terms “disabled” versus “differently-abled.” The term “differently-abled” puts the emphasis on the abilities of the person, not the barriers imposed by society. Bringing this into the practical realm of outreach to people in residential care, one might ask: Are these residents any less able to appreciate literature and learning, or have we merely constructed an environment that makes it difficult for them to access the resources? On the contrary, people with restricted access may be even more appreciative of, and benefit even more from, outreach services than typically-abled people.

Copeland explains that while National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) services are essential, public libraries relying exclusively on the NLS to serve differently-abled patrons may be engaging in ‘separatist’ or ‘segregationist’ tendencies[iii].  Some large library systems have a designated branch to administer the Talking Books program and deliver materials to the homebound. While efficient, care should be taken to assure this doesn’t create a separatist situation in which differently-abled customers are referred to remote services when their needs could be handled locally.

The essay “Poverty and the Public Library” emphasizes that offering equal service to all can mean extending more to those who have less[iv]. While the authors were writing about the economically challenged, this principle can apply to any group experiencing greater barriers to access. (It should also be noted that many of the elderly and differently-abled also face greater than average economic challenges.)  Just as we might waive a fine or proof of residence to provide equal access to materials for the poor or homeless, we might extend more off-site programming and outreach for those who cannot physically access the branch, even though such efforts require an investment of staff time.

More on issues of social justice relating to the differently-abled come from researchers J. J. Pionke and Jill Lewis. Pionke writes about universal design as a concept that extends to all aspects of library service, calling for a mental shift in how we perceive both the functionally diverse and the issue of access, imploring libraries to address this as a social justice issue[v]. Similarly, Lewis points out spotty implementation of universal access measures and services for the differently-abled and decries the lack of equity in information access despite the feasibility of such measures[vi]. She points out difference in perspectives between librarians, who may think they are doing enough, and the differently-abled who may perceive otherwise.

The ALA recognizes that equity extends beyond equal access to deliberate action to ensure community members have needed resources. There are certainly challenges to expanding service: staff time is limited and coordinating with outside facilities can be tricky. However, the benefits go both ways. Bringing services outside the confines of walls and webpages brings more visibility to vital library resources. Extended outreach can create more meaningful opportunities for volunteers. Outreach targeted to community needs may help justify funding and secure grants.

People living in residential facilities have much to offer libraries: they vote, they have friends and family who vote, they may contribute to local history projects and archives, they have unique perspectives, and they are often greatly appreciative of services others might take for granted. By extending a fuller range of services to all members of the community, the library strengthens community bonds and increases in visibility and relevance.

Note from the author: I intend to follow up this piece with one that presents examples of libraries engaging in outreach to people in long-term care. Please feel free to contact me if you have experience with such efforts or know of good examples.

References

[i] Copeland, C. A. 2011. Library and information center accessibility: The differently-able patron’s perspective. Technical Services Quarterly, 28(2), 223-241.

[ii] Pionke, J. J. 2017. Toward holistic accessibility: Narratives from functionally diverse patrons. Reference & User Services Quarterly, 57(1), 48-56.

[iii] Copeland, C. A. 2011. Library and information center accessibility: The differently-able patron’s perspective. Technical Services Quarterly, 28(2), 223-241

[iv] Machreon, P. & Barriage, S. 2016. Poverty and the public library: How Canadian public libraries are serving the economically challenged. In Class and librarianship: Essays at the intersection of information, labor and capital. Ed. Estep, E. & Enright, N. California: Library Juice Press.

[v] Pionke, J. J. 2017. Beyond ADA compliance: The library as a place for all. Urban Library Journal, 23(1), 1-17.

[vi] Lewis, J. 2013. Information Equality for Individuals with Disabilities: Does It Exist? Library Quarterly, 83(3), 229-235.

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Central to the mission of public libraries is the facilitation of self-directed learning for all members of the community.  Now more than ever, learning includes not just the ability to consume information in the form of text, but the ability to create and share information and adapt to the ever-changing information and technology landscape. This flexible skill set, sometimes known as meta-literacy, is evident in the growth of the participatory culture and makerspace movements. Simply put, creation is empowering, and the library is ideally suited to enable creative learning through shared resources and collaborative spaces. 

The Public Library Innovation Exchange (PLIX) began in 2017 as collaboration between MIT Media Labs and librarians with the goal of bringing creative learning and STEAM exploration to communities around the country. Creative learning enables people to work on projects they are passionate about, with collaborative groups, in a playful atmosphere that encourages experimentation. The philosophy can be summed up with four P’s: projects, peers, passion and play.[1]  

Whether one is taking the first step or feeding a seemingly insatiable demand for STEAM programming, an excellent resource is the PLIX website. Some of the PLIX activities include Chibitronics (peel-and-stick electronic modules for building circuits on paper with LED lights), building with duct tape for younger children, and a photography turntable system called Spin to document DIY project development over time. New PLIX Facilitation Kits make jump-starting the process easy. The kits can be ordered with supplies included or assembled independently by gathering inexpensive materials and using free instructions, zines, and tools downloadable from the website. The first two kits launched are a paper circuits kit and a Scratch + micro:bit kit. More kits are in the works, and librarians are invited to help test prototypes. 

The goal with creative learning is for participants to explore new techniques that can be applied to their own ideas and projects. MIT Media Labs stresses the experimental aspect of learning – it’s the process, not the result that is most valuable. PLIX offers this advice for facilitators: “Frame activities to encourage creative possibilities. When coming up with an activity prompt, try using a theme (e.g. “enchanted garden”) instead of an end product (e.g. “make a frog”). This will encourage patrons to bring their own ideas and passions into the activity.”[2] Other tips include not taking over the tools when a participant has a question and allowing participants to learn from one another as opposed to positioning oneself as the only teacher. And why let customers have all the fun? PLIX recommends staff begin by playing with the materials and kits to get a sense of the possibilities. 

The purpose of PLIX goes beyond expanding STEAM programs: It was envisioned as a unique approach to problem-solving, one that would bring problem-solving techniques to communities most in need of solutions. PLIX Residency Exchanges bring researchers to library communities to work on issues that are of most relevance to those areas. Some of those initiatives have included personal food computers, data literacy programs, and space exploration.

When it comes to problem-solving, the library is uniquely positioned to facilitate “creative abrasion” – a higher level of innovation that occurs when people from diverse fields contribute their talents and perspectives to a project.[3] Creative abrasion allows for a cross-pollination of ideas that can be transformative, leading to more successful outcomes. Public library space enables people from diverging disciplines and worldviews to come together in a shared learning environment, increasing opportunities for collective innovation.

The library has served as a makerspace since long before that term was coined. From early literacy extension activities at storytimes (please don’t call them crafts!), to software that allows users to design documents and graphics, build websites, or compose music, the library has been a place for people to create things, whether virtual or physical.  However, as new technologies rapidly emerge, the possibilities expand along with the demand for access and assistance navigating them. As the adage “nothing is constant but change” has become a mantra, the principles of creative learning remind us to stay open-minded and enjoy the process.

References

 MIT Media Lab Learning Initiative. “Creative Learning: How the MIT Media Lab Learns and How Everyone Else Can Learn This Way Too.” https://learn.media.mit.edu/creative-learning Accessed July 11, 2019.

 “[PLIX] Cultivate Your Creative Learning Facilitation Practice.” Google Docs. Accessed July 12, 2019. https://docs.google.com/document/d/16l57Ik3_F2n3RePDzUZkZiVCUezKT57rSImnAtW57iA/edit.

Colegrove, Patrick “tod”. “Editorial Board Thoughts: Libraries as Makerspace?” Information Technology and Libraries32, no. 1 (2013): 2. doi:10.6017/ital.v32i1.3793.

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