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CHICAGO – The Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) is pleased to share upcoming programming this summer.

At ALA’s Annual Conference in San Diego, SRRT will convene session called “Combatting Voter Suppression in Your Library which will be a discussion about how librarians and libraries can combat voter suppression in an age of rampant mis- and disinformation Saturday, June 29 from 2:30-3:30 pm PDT. Following Annual, SRRT’s next Afternoon of Social Justice will be held on July 31, 2024, with more details to come.

SRRT has long been known for exploring issues and promoting conversations that propel the professioto think critically about local and global concerns. Our programming committee reflects that spirit by hosting events that call people in and bring diverse perspectives to bear on timely issues.

In 2023, SRRT held three virtual events. On July 13, 2023, the round table hosted a book discussion on Matthew Desmond’s “Poverty, by America” that included facilitated group learning circles.

On August 18, 2023, the session featured speakers who shared a feminist perspective on the wars in Ukraine and Sudan and religious fundamentalism in Iran; a discussion about how libraries can become more culturally and physically equitable, diverse, and inclusive spaces to those with disabilities; and a screening and moderated discussion of the documentary film, Boycott.

On November 15, 2023, SRRT convened a panel, “Intellectual Freedom, Social Responsibility, and Praxis in Librarianship and Education,” which included a K-12 school librarian, public librarian, and university professor and focused on the intensified battles around book bans, censorship, public and school library funding, Critical Race Theory, African American Studies pedagogy, gender identity, and sexual orientation.

This year, SRRT hosted a monthly Current World Events Discussion Series for Library Staff & Community Members to raise awareness of and provide resources related to critical social, political, and economic issues and build media and information literacy

In March 2024, SRRT convened the two-day virtual summit, Abolitionist Visions and Intersections: Centering Human Relationships and Building Institutional Connections with Social Justice. The 15 sessions featured speakers who brought diverse perspectives and lived experiences to intersectional issues and provocative ideas. Sessions touched on information access and censorship in carceral settings, creative arts programming in prisons, archival stewardship of incarcerated persons’ records, inclusive library design, and innovative public library programming to serve vulnerable and reentry populations. The event also included two film screenings.

The Programming Committee strives to broaden our programming and identity’s reach by appealing to new and different audiences and promoting cross-sector conversations and interdisciplinary connections. Rachel Rosekind and Derek Wilmott serve as Programming Committee Co-Chairs. They may be contacted at:

• Rachel Rosekind: rosekindness@gmail.com
• Derek Wilmott: Robert.Wilmott@utoledo.edu

About

The Social Responsibilities Round TableSRRT is a Roundtable within the ¾«¶«´«Ã½. It works to make ¾«¶«´«Ã½more democratic and to establish progressive priorities not only for the Association, but also for the entire profession. Concern for human and economic rights was an important element in the founding of SRRT and remains an urgent concern today. SRRT believes that libraries and librarians must recognize and help solve social problems and inequities in order to carry out their mandate to work for the common good and bolster democracy.

To support SRRT programming and future learnings, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the Social Responsibilities Round Table general fund or a specific SRRT project. .