SRRT Newsletter - Issue 198, March 2017

SRRT Newsletter - Issue 198, March 2017

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Contents

Letter from the Editor

by Melissa I. Cardenas-Dow

Melissa Cardenas-Dow

Dear SRRT Newsletter readers:

Welcome, dear readers, to the March 2017 issue of the SRRT Newsletter!

As we face challenges to our professional values and ethics from many fronts, including the current national political climate in the United States, we are all called to recommit, both individually and collectively, to the ideals that distinguish the library and information professions as integral parts of our many communities.

Calls to act and re-commitment were made and heard loud and clear throughout ¾«¶«´«Ã½Midwinter 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. These calls continue and will be strongly made again during the 2017 ¾«¶«´«Ã½Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois.

As library workers and information access advocates, the calling is embodied in our professional ethics. These are ideals we see as cornerstones of life in a free, democratic, and multicultural society: privacy, education, lifelong learning, service, the public good, and social responsibility.

Our Round Table acts on these professional values by participating in work that further our collective ideals by providing representatives to, for example, the ¾«¶«´«Ã½Office for Diversity, Literacy & Outreach Services (ALA-ODLOS) Advisory Committee and the ¾«¶«´«Ã½Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Implementation Working Group. SRRT also practices our professional values by partnering with other groups and championing topics and issues that serve the public good in the long-run. The work to further just, equitable policies and practices within our professional circles is tough and often frustrating. But participate we must. Our struggle continues.

This issue of the SRRT Newsletter provides you with some recaps of SRRT's events from ¾«¶«´«Ã½Midwinter Meeting 2017. It also provides insights into events and programs to expect for ¾«¶«´«Ã½Annual Conference 2017.

All the best,

Melissa I. Cardenas-Dow

SRRT Newsletter Editor

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SRRT Coordinator's Column

by Diedre Conkling, SRRT Coordinator, District Librarian, Lincoln County Library District, Newport, Oregon

Diedre Conkling

The SRRT Action Council meetings at ¾«¶«´«Ã½2017 Midwinter were full of information and action.

The ¾«¶«´«Ã½2017 elections are here. Election is open through April 5, 2017. SRRT has four open positions on Action Council. We also have four candidates: Jane Cothron (OR), Violet B. Fox (MN), Charles E. Kratz (PA), and Virginia B. (Ginny) Moore (MD).

All three candidates for ¾«¶«´«Ã½President came to our Action Council meeting at ¾«¶«´«Ã½Midwinter. The candidates are Terri Grief, Loida Garcia-Febo, and Scott Walter. We did not have a discussion about the candidates following their presentations. This was my mistake. I do think we got a good feeling for each candidate through their presentations and people did have some good individual discussions after the meetings.

All of the Task Forces have great things happening. The Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration was a big hit, as always. The International Responsibilities Task Force is working with the Sustainability Round Table to bring Bill McKibben to the ¾«¶«´«Ã½2017 Conference. The Hunger, Homelessness, and Poverty Task Force had a good meeting at the All-Task Force meeting and I am sure we will hear more from them soon. The Feminist Task Force is continuing on with the Women of Library History Tumblr () in March for Women's History Month and the Amelia Bloomer Project completed their 16th list (). The Feminist Task Force is also planning a program for this summer, "Dismantling the Master's Bookshelves: Feminism for Libraries in the Real World."

We also have been planning to have our annual membership meeting and social with the Sustainability Round Table at the 2017 Conference. In the next newsletter you will find some changes in the SRRT Bylaws that are being proposed so that you will be able to vote on the changes at the membership meeting.

Thank you everyone for bringing lots of energy and ideas to the SRRT Action Council meetings at Midwinter.

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Councilor's Report From ¾«¶«´«Ã½Midwinter Meeting 2017, Atlanta, GA

by Laura Koltutsky, Social Sciences Librarian, University of Calgary Libraries and Cultural Resources

Laura Koltutsky

Midwinter 2017 will be memorable to me for many reasons. These Council meetings were quite emotional for several reasons. After Council I on Sunday, the Council room was used for the ¾«¶«´«Ã½Town Hall: Library Advocacy and Core Values in Uncertain Times event, where for an hour and a half members came and spoke about their concerns for ALA, their library, their communities, and their country. The town hall can be viewed online through the American Libraries Magazine Facebook page:

Emotions also ran high during the debate over the Resolution on the Education Requirements for Future ¾«¶«´«Ã½Executive Directors 2016-2017 ¾«¶«´«Ã½CD#14Rev_11817_act that was brought forward by the Executive Board. The resolution proposed changing the ALA-accredited Master's Degree or a CAEP-accredited Master's Degree with a specialty in school library media requirement to a less restrictive "strongly preferred but not required" educational qualification for future ¾«¶«´«Ã½executive director candidates The Resolution was extensively debated by Councilors. The current Executive Director of ALA, Keith Michael Fiels, was asked if he felt it should be a requirement and he said that yes, he did believe that it should remain. The vote was remarkably close, requiring a standing vote, but the resolution was defeated.

Other resolutions that came forward included:

  • the Revised Resolution on Gun Violence Affecting Libraries, Library Workers, and Library Patrons ¾«¶«´«Ã½CD#42.1. Several SRRT members worked on a revised draft of the 2015-2016 ¾«¶«´«Ã½CD#45 along with members from the Committee on Legislation, the Intellectual Freedom Committee, and members of Council. The revised draft process provided opportunities for member input before Midwinter. This revised draft was adopted by Council.
  • Resolution on Access to Accurate Information 2016-2017 ¾«¶«´«Ã½CD 19.10
  • Resolution Establishing Family/Caregiver Status as a Protected Class in ¾«¶«´«Ã½Volunteer Work 2016-2017 ¾«¶«´«Ã½CD#31_12217_act

Other Council actions:

  • Council also selected two Council members, Mario Gonzalez and Amy Spence Lappin, to serve on the Executive Director Search Committee.
  • Council voted to bestow ¾«¶«´«Ã½honorary membership upon Ann K. Symons for her contributions to the association.
  • Lastly, Council voted to amend the ¾«¶«´«Ã½Strategic Plan (2014-2015 ¾«¶«´«Ã½CD#37_62815_final) by adding a fourth Strategic Direction: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion ¾«¶«´«Ã½CD35-35.2_12017_Act.

All Midwinter 2017 Council documents can be found on the ¾«¶«´«Ã½website from this link: .

Submitted by

Laura Koltutsky, SRRT Councilor

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Minutes from Action Council I & II meetings, ¾«¶«´«Ã½Midwinter Meeting 2017

Submitted by Kenny Garcia, SRRT Secretary

Social Responsibilities Round Table

Action Council I & II Meetings

¾«¶«´«Ã½Midwinter Conference 2017, Atlanta GA

SRRT Action Council I

Saturday, January 21, 2017

8:30-11:30 a.m.

In attendance: Diedre Conkling (Coordinator), Nikki Winslow (Nominations Committee Chair), Kenny Garcia (Secretary), Al Kagan (Membership Committee Chair), Mark Hudson (Freedom to Read Foundation & PLG Liaison), Laura Koltutsky (SRRT Councilor), Mary Biblo, Ginny Moore, LaJuan Pringle (MLKTF Representative), Sherre Harrington (Feminist Task Force Representative), Violet Fox, Tara Brady, Herbert Biblo

  1. Welcome and Introductions
  2. Review of Agenda
    1. Additions
  3. Resolutions
    1. Gun Violence Resolution
      1. Gun Violence working group developed revised resolution. Original resolution was developed in 2015 by SRRT. Public library workers expressed concern over language while academic library workers expressed support. SRRT stands by its statement to reinstate all the resolved clauses.
        1. Al moved to reinstate resolve clauses, Kenny seconded. Motion passed.
    2. Resolution on Family Status as Protected Class
      1. Why is Family Status listed as a protected class?
      2. Institutions can establish their own protected class
      3. An action needs to be identified
        1. Moved to Action Council II
    3. Memorial Resolution for Ruth Gordon
      1. Ruth was early and active member of SRRT.
    4. ¾«¶«´«Ã½Executive Director search
      1. Discussion on whether or not the ED needs to have an MLS degree. Other professional associations require that their executive director have the terminal degree in their area. ¾«¶«´«Ã½also pushed for the Librarian of Congress to have an MLS. There is a need to protect our profession.
        1. Al moved to oppose resolution to remove clause that requires MLS. Sherre seconded. Motion passed.
  4. Election
    1. Need at least four SRRT members to run for SRRT Action Council (currently have three candidates) - Forms open through 11:59 p.m. Central Time through January 26th. Must have SRRT dues paid by that time.
      1. Ginny will also run for SRRT Action Council.
  5. Reports
    1. Treasurer
      1. Charles did not attend the conference this year.
        1. Al motioned to increase amount each task force receives annually to $2,000. Mary seconded. Motion passed.
    2. SRRT Membership Committee
      1. Membership increased by 5% (Total: 1,074 members). Some of the Round Tables are bigger than divisions.
        1. ¾«¶«´«Ã½international members are able to join SRRT for half price.
          1. Need to know how many ¾«¶«´«Ã½members are international members. Need to ask the staff liaison for official number.
            1. Need to change the bylaws to include international members.
              1. Al moved to reduce membership dues for international members to half price. Kenny seconded. Motion passed.
    3. Task Forces
      1. Feminist Task Force (FTF)
        1. The Atlanta March will be on rain or shine.
        2. The newsletter, listserv, and Women and Library History project will continue to be worked on.
        3. FTF is working on a program on social media and activism.
        4. FTF is hosting a reception at Charis Books, one of the few remaining feminist bookstores in the US.
      2. Martin Luther King (MLK), Jr. Holiday Task Force
        1. Sunrise Celebration on Monday.
        2. Archival project to transfer documents in the DC area.
        3. Black Lives Matter program at Annual.
      3. International Responsibilities Task Force (IRTF)
        1. SRRT is working with SustainRT on the Bill McKibben program. AP¾«¶«´«Ã½and AILA co-sponsored the event. The program will be held Saturday afternoon.
          1. Al motioned to increase amount for this year's program to $4,000. Laura seconded. Motion passed.
      4. Hunger, Homelessness, and Poverty Task Force (HHPTF)
        1. No report shared.
    4. ¾«¶«´«Ã½Planning Budget Assembly
      1. No report shared.
    5. ¾«¶«´«Ã½Legislation Assembly (COL)
      1. Gun violence resolution discussed.
    6. Sustainability Round Table (SustainRT) - Saturday
      1. Bill McKibben program
      2. Divestment of Fossil Fuels - any resolutions?
      3. Joint Social at ¾«¶«´«Ã½2017 Annual
      4. Report moved to Action Council II
    7. Intellectual Freedom Committee/Intellectual Freedom Round Table
    8. ¾«¶«´«Ã½Round Table Coordinating Assembly
      1. Round Table Assembly expressed concern over the conference remodel proposal. The roundtables need to have a separate jury just for roundtable proposals. The assembly advocated that each roundtable have at least one program and any additional program proposals will be juried. No specific information given on process and jury selection. The remodel proposal has not been discussed on Council. The remodel proposal does not address the streamlining of the conference structure. Presentation on changes to ¾«¶«´«Ã½Connect was given.
    9. ¾«¶«´«Ã½Council
    10. ¾«¶«´«Ã½Executive Board Liaison - Karen Downing
      1. Overall membership down. Student memberships down due to lower enrollment in LIS programs across the board. Budget is on target for the general fund. Midwinter registration similar to last year. Fourth strategic priority, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, will be discussed at ¾«¶«´«Ã½Council II. Office of Intellectual Freedom will be hosting an Advocacy Bootcamp for state chapter associations. ¾«¶«´«Ã½Conference Committee developed a remodel proposal. The purpose is to reduce programs with similar content and keep committee meetings close to convention center. Executive Director search will begin after Council representation is selected. Executive Board will also have search committee in place soon to have a new Washington Office director in place by May 2017.
        1. SRRT members expressed concerns over the conference remodel proposal. Under difficult times, SRRT and the ethnic caucuses have historically revitalized the association. The conference remodel proposal pushes SRRT and the ethnic caucuses to the margins. SRRT's position on the executive director search and the Washington Office was also expressed regarding new hires having an MLS and the de-professionalization of librarianship. There are very qualified librarians with MLS degrees.
  6. ¾«¶«´«Ã½Presidential Candidates
    1. Terri Grief - Saturday at 11:15 a.m.
    2. Loida Garcia-Febo - Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
    3. Scott Walter - Saturday sometime between 9:45 and 10:15 a.m.
  7. Additional Items
    1. SRRT ByLaws
      1. Includes increase in Task Force Funding from $1,500 to $2,000 and elimination of term limits, etc.
      2. Could also include dues for International members.
    2. Conference Remodel Proposal
    3. Hiring of next ¾«¶«´«Ã½Executive Director
    4. Next SRRT Coordinator
    5. Next Newsletter Editor
    6. ByLaws Changes
      1. Term limits
      2. Finances

SRRT Action Council II

Sunday, January 22, 2017

3:00-4:00 p.m.

In attendance: Diedre Conkling (Coordinator), Nikki Winslow (Nominations Committee Chair), Kenny Garcia (Secretary), Al Kagan (Membership Committee Chair), Mark Hudson (Freedom to Read Foundation & PLG Liaison), Laura Koltutsky (SRRT Councilor), Sherre Harrington (Feminist Task Force Representative), Loida Garcia-Febo, Madeleine Charney, Jodi Shaw, Ryan Mendenhall, Fred Stoss

  1. ¾«¶«´«Ã½Presidential Candidates
    1. Loida Garcia-Febo - Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
  2. Intellectual Freedom Round Table
    1. There are fewer members of the Round Table. They are working on an Annual program. The round table is in support of including Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity as part of the strategic plan.
  3. ¾«¶«´«Ã½Planning and Budget Assembly
    1. Assembly went over the budget. Jim Neal presented on his internal and external priorities. There is a five-year budgetary plan. ¾«¶«´«Ã½is focused on hiring new staff. Conference remodel plan was discussed and an FAQ document was shared. Feedback can be given through ¾«¶«´«Ã½Connect. More information is needed on the conference remodel plan. The plan will be discussed at Council Forum.
  4. Sustainability Round Table (SustainRT)
    1. Bill McKibben program
      1. AILA will be discussing what they would like at program. AP¾«¶«´«Ã½is requesting a logo on handout and website. AP¾«¶«´«Ã½is planning a talk, possibly on climate change, at Annual. Should direct action be included on handout?
      2. Program needs more marketing. One possibility would be to pay for an advertisement in the May and/or June issue of the American Libraries magazine. The estimated cost for full-page ad is $1,720. John Admundsen is working on publicity. Other options would be to include the program in Cognotes or a column in American Libraries. ¾«¶«´«Ã½promotes keynote speakers; can ¾«¶«´«Ã½do the same for this program? A press photo of Bill McKibben is needed.
    2. Divestment of Fossil Fuels
      1. This will be an action item for Annual meeting. Divestment as action can be included in the discussion with Bill McKibben.
      2. There was a meeting with Susan Hildreth, the ¾«¶«´«Ã½treasurer. The discussion focused on how to implement the divestment resolution. Susan proposed increasing the amount invested in socially responsible funds rather than divesting from funds. It will be discussed at the ¾«¶«´«Ã½Executive Board meeting.
    3. Joint Social at ¾«¶«´«Ã½2017 Annual
      1. Greenleaf Publishing is sponsoring the joint social. It will be located at a hotel. There is already $1,000 in the budget for the social. SRRT will work with John Admundsen on selecting a venue.
  5. Family resolution
    1. Discussed at Council forum.
  6. Gun Violence resolution
    1. Discussed at Council forum.
  7. Meeting extension
    1. Laura motioned to extend the meeting by 15 minutes. Nikki seconded. Motion passed.
  8. SRRT Coordinator
    1. Al nominated Kenny Garcia. Diedre seconded. Motion passed.
    2. New coordinator will begin after ¾«¶«´«Ã½Annual 2017.
    3. There will be a need for a secretary after ¾«¶«´«Ã½Annual.
  9. Newsletter Editor
    1. Melissa is stepping down after ¾«¶«´«Ã½Annual.
    2. Two new editorial members will be needed as well.
    3. It will be discussed at ¾«¶«´«Ã½Annual.
  10. ByLaws Changes
    1. Changes to the bylaws were discussed. Nikki motioned to accept the proposed changes. Al seconded. Motion passed.
    2. Some of the proposed changes focus on revising the language on term limits and finances.
    3. SRRT membership will vote on the proposed changes.

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Feminist Task Force News

by Sherre Harrington, Director and Liaison to Mathematics & Natural Science - Berry College Memorial Library, Mount Berry, Georgia

The Amelia Bloomer Project announced its 2017 list of notable feminist literature for people from birth to age 18 on January 26. The list, and more information about this initiative, are on the . In addition, every year, once the deliberations are over, the committee donates the books they bring to Midwinter to an agency in our host city. This year the books were donated to the library at Hembree Springs Elementary School in Roswell, Georgia, and other Fulton County public schools.

Dolores Fidishun will continue as editor of FTF's online newsletter, . The January issue has some great articles such as "Assisting Transgender Patrons" by author and trans advocate Sophie Kandler.Christina Riehman-Murphy and Lillian Hansberry's article focuses on parallels with the current political climate in the U.S. and the historical record of an essay contest at The Ogontz School for Young Ladies in Rydal, Pennsylvania. New books for review are coming in, too. If you are interested in writing for WiL, contact information is on the web page.

This will be the 5th year for , an FTF Women's History Month project to share stories about the women "who have mentored us, blazed trails for us, and made us who we are." Profiles from previous years include librarian and playwright Regina Andrews, the Pack Horse Library Project, library scholar and activist Dr. Kathleen de la Peña McCook, and Carol Seajay and the Feminist Bookstore Network.

Save the date for FTF's program at ¾«¶«´«Ã½Annual 2017: "Dismantling the Master's Bookshelves": Feminism for Libraries in the Real World, Sunday, June 25, 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. Audre Lorde famously noted over thirty years ago that "the master's tools will never dismantle the master's house." Those opposed to systems of intersectional oppression are still seeking ways to effectively combat them. Lorde suggested, "In a world of possibility for us all, our personal visions help lay the groundwork for political action." Former librarian and editor of the new YA book Here We Are: Feminism for the Real World, Kelly Jensen, moderates a panel with contributors to Here We Are and others to discuss how library workers committed to feminist practices in their personal lives can work in practical ways to resist systems of oppression in their professional lives. The program will focus on concrete strategies for achieving this goal.

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Hunger, Homelessness and Poverty Task Force News

by Julie Ann Winkelstein, SRRT HHPTF Co-coordinator, postdoctoral researcher, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

The HHPTF met at Midwinter 2017 at the SRRT All Task Force meeting on Friday night. We were a small group but we had a good conversation about the need for flexible library policies, staff training, and the question of "consistency" when it comes to enforcing policies. From my experiences talking to library staff across the United States and in Canada, these are ongoing concerns and conversations. There is no one answer when it comes to questions related to homelessness and libraries - each library needs to assess their concerns and needs and address them in a way that works for them and for the community they serve. However, it's important to remember that people experiencing homelessness are members of those communities and their needs for information, resources and, most of all, respect are the same as community members who are housed.

Our website provides numerous resources, articles, and links, organized by general categories, that can help libraries find their way when addressing homelessness. The downloadable toolkit, "Extending Our Reach: Reducing Homelessness Through Library Engagement," can be an excellent resource as well. It's available for download on the ¾«¶«´«Ã½website at: .

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International Responsibilities Task Force News

by Al Kagan, African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration Emeritus - University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign

The International Responsibilities Task Force is pleased to present a program at the annual meeting in Chicago with Bill McKibben, acclaimed author, environmentalist, and activist. His books have been published worldwide in over 20 languages. In 2014, he was awarded the Right Livelihood Prize (sometimes called the "alternative Nobel"). McKibben is co-founder and Senior Advisor at , an international, grassroots climate movement that works in 188 countries to organize rallies and, among other things, to spearhead resistance to the Keystone Pipeline. This organization is also credited with beginning the fossil fuel divestment movement. McKibben suggests that we see climate change as a threat on the order of World War III and respond accordingly. With this mindset, we can make societal shifts similar to those experienced in the 1940s wartime era and move to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and energy storage. There is urgency to his message as climate change is happening more quickly than scientists anticipated. McKibben argues that the status quo and denial are luxuries we cannot afford. The nonviolent campaign that McKibben proposes will save lives and has the potential to produce millions of jobs.

Mr. McKibben's talk will be co-sponsored by the Sustainability Round Table, the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association, and the American Indian Library Association. The talk will be on Saturday, June 24, 1:00-2:30 p.m.

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Task Force News

by LaJuan Pringle, Library Manager -- Charlotte Mecklenburg Library

With this year's Midwinter Meeting in Atlanta, it was particularly fitting that the 17th anniversary of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Observance and Sunrise Celebration was celebrated with over 200 attendees. "Freedom Ain't Never Been Free" was the theme of this year's program, sponsored by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Task Force and the Black Caucus of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½. Dr. Daina Ramey Berry was the keynote speaker of the event. As Dr. Berry spoke, she made an analogy between the hope for a better day championed by Dr. King and others throughout the civil rights movement to the hope of slaves as they aspired for freedom. Dr. Berry spoke briefly about her latest book, The Price for Their Pound of Flesh, and also signed copies for attendees after the celebration. Patty Wong, City Librarian of Santa Monica Public Library, gave an uplifting call to action by asking librarians to focus on our work in our communities, as our work is more important now than ever. Also in attendance were Cynthia P. Lewis, Director of Archives for the King Library and Archives, and Carla D. Hayden, the first woman and African-American to serve as Librarian of Congress.

Ginny Moore, retired librarian from the Prince George's County Memorial Library System (PCMLS) in Maryland, has compiled files that captures the work of the National Library Involvement Committee of the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission. The Commission, established by Dr. E.J. Josey and Dr. Hardy R. Franklin, would later evolve into the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Task Force. Ginny's documents capture an essential part of SRRT history. The Task Force is working to organize and archive the files. We'll keep you updated as this project progresses.

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Ethnic Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table (EMIERT) News

Submitted by Nikitia Wilson, EMIERT Membership Committee Chair, Queens Public Library, Queens, New York

EMIERT will sponsor three programs at ¾«¶«´«Ã½Annual 2017 in Chicago: You Can't Stay Neutral on a Moving Train: Making Critical Librarianship Tangible Through Library Programs and Exhibits; Integrating Diversity Initiatives and Community Engagement: The Human Library at Penn State University; and The World at Your Fingertips: How to Use Global Literature in Translation in Library Programs.

The Round Table will also co-sponsor a program by Deepa Iyer with the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA). Iyer, an activist and writer published a book titled We Too Sing America: South Asian, Arab, Muslim and Sikh Immigrants Shape Our Multiracial Future. Details on the program with Iyer will be provided at a later time.

EMIERT Taste of the Town (Chicago): Join EMIERT on Friday, June 23, 11:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m. The day will include: the Chinese-American Museum of Chicago, Lunch on your own, and shopping in Chinatown. More information about reserving a spot and the cost will be available on the ¾«¶«´«Ã½scheduler.

The 48th Annual Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast: Join EMIERT and the Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee at the 48th annual Coretta Scott King Book Awards Breakfast. Held on Sunday, June 25, 7:00-9:30 a.m., the breakfast will feature CSK Winner and Honor authors and illustrators, as well as the recipient of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement.

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Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT) News

Submitted by Deb Sica, GLBTRT Chair

Essay: Daring To Find Our Name in 2017

There have been many times throughout our Round Table history that we have changed our name to reflect progress and changes in our community. We have traditionally used a range of acronyms to echo evolution in our community and body politic. Recently at the 2017 Midwinter GLBTRT Executive Board Meeting, I started a discussion on this topic.

We have been called various titles, from the GLTF [SRRT Gay Liberation Task Force], to the GLBRT, and lastly the GLBTRT - all in a progression. At that board meeting, Ann Symons, who had done a bit of research beforehand, brought to the group's attention that at Portland State University, the descriptive language offered to students disclosing sexual orientation included: asexual, bisexual, gay, heterosexual, straight, lesbian, pansexual, queer, questioning, unsure, same gender loving, other. Descriptive language offered to students disclosing gender identity are: agender, genderqueer, man, non-binary, questioning, unsure, transman, transwoman, transgender, woman, other. By those inclusive standards, we would be drowning in so many letters by calling ourselves the ABGHSLPQQUSGLOAGMNQUTTTWO RT.

Suffice to say, we are evolving and it can be challenging to come up with a name that is short enough to be easily useful in all manner of communication and simultaneously reflects our inclusive membership values.

Some of us discussed naming-renaming options along the lines of Spectrum or Reforma - using a single word like other ¾«¶«´«Ã½groups to unify our purpose rather than extending an acronym. Suggestions like "Stonewall" or "Pride" were tossed out. Some of us suggested an acronym that spelled out something essential to our mission. Others expressed that we have such name recognition built up after so many years and they would not want to see that go away with a name change.

In 2020, the RT will be having our Golden Jubilee and will be standing on 50 years of library history!

We as an Executive Board decided to start a full membership conversation, a conversation that will also be on the agenda at the Annual RT Membership Meeting this 2017 ¾«¶«´«Ã½Annual Conference in Chicago. At some point, the issue of the RT's name may be on the ballot so all members will have a voice. For now, we thought we would get people thinking and pondering such a change over our listserv to start a respectful and well researched discussion in advance. This process, if we as a RT choose to engage in it, is slow and will probably not have a resolution until near the 2020 Golden Jubilee event. There are substantial affiliated documents, ¾«¶«´«Ã½procedures, websites, branding, etc. that would need also need to reflect any changes.

Please do share your thoughts with us over the GLBTRT Listserv and at Annual. We want to hear from as many members as possible. And I do hope to see you at the RT Membership Meeting in Chicago, where we will continue this conversation!

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Sustainability Round Table (SustainRT) News

Submitted by René Tanner, SustainRT Coordinator

Online Education

SustainRT hosts quarterly online education sessions, which are recorded and available through the . In December, David Selden with the National Indian Law Library spoke about the founding of the under the American Association of Law Libraries. Their activities include a Conference Travel Offset Project and a Resolution on Sustainability in Law Libraries.

On Thursday, March 9, 2017, from 12:15-12:45 p.m. EST, Amy Brunvand, an academic librarian at the University of Utah talked about her work with her campus Sustainability Office. Her project was to compile a Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System™ (STARS) report, a transparent, self-reporting framework for colleges and universities to measure their sustainability performance. This rating system is used for ranking by Sierra Magazine and Princeton Green Schools, among others. View the of the presentation.

¾«¶«´«Ã½Meeting and Conference

At the 2017 ¾«¶«´«Ã½Midwinter Meeting, a draft of the Post-Inauguration Message to the Library Community from SustainRT was shared for feedback. The message was sent to the list and posted on the SustainRT webpage.

At the 2017 Annual ¾«¶«´«Ã½conference in Chicago, SustainRT will have two programs on sustainable library buildings:



  • Sunday, June 25 from 8:30 to 10 a.m.


  • Sunday, June 25 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.

In addition, there will be a special presentation by environmental activist, author, and founder of , Bill McKibben. His address is made possible through a partnership between ALA's Sustainability Round Table and Social Responsibilities Round Table, as well as the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association and the American Indian Library Association. The date and time are forthcoming.

Sharing Our Stories

SustainRT was invited to submit a short video to be shown at "Encounter for Sustainable Development in Libraries" in Portugal on February 10, 2017. The conference was a nationwide gathering focused on implementing the 2030 UN Agenda in Portuguese libraries. Jodi Shaw, SustainRT Coordinator-elect, gathered the stories and produced a that highlighted the work of SustainRT librarians in support of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development.

If you have a story to share about sustainability and libraries, please send us a video clip or write a guest blog post. For details about these opportunities, please visit our .

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¾«¶«´«Ã½Office for Diversity, Literacy & Outreach Services (ALA-ODLOS) Advisory Committee News

by Julie Ann Winkelstein, SRRT HHPTF Co-coordinator, postdoctoral researcher, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

As it says on ¾«¶«´«Ã½Connect: "The Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services (ODLOS) Advisory Committee provides advice and support to the ODLOS on the areas of diversity, literacy and outreach. The Advisory Committee is comprised of member groups that represent diverse viewpoints and constituents and will provide a two way forum to communicate member needs to ODLOS and for the Office to share information with member groups... Members are appointed to the ODLOS Advisory Committee through recommendations from the Presidents/Chairs of the stakeholder committees and organizations, with an additional three members appointed by the ¾«¶«´«Ã½President-elect" ("About this group,' ).

As the SRRT representative to the Advisory Committee, I participate in the regular virtual meetings (through conference calls), keep SRRT Action Council informed about our discussions, serve on subcommittees, report on SRRT activities and actions, and generally try to represent a socially responsible point of view. The agendas and minutes for the meetings are available on ¾«¶«´«Ã½Connect at: and the ODLOS Handbook 2016 is available here: .

I'm glad this Advisory Committee exists and I hope that together we can make ¾«¶«´«Ã½more actively committed to diversity, in all its forms, as well as to addressing poverty, housing instability, and the social inequities that impact the communities we serve.

If you have any questions about either of these groups, please feel free to contact Julie Winkelstein at jwinkels@utk.edu. I look forward to hearing from you!

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Book Review: White Backlash: Immigration, Race, and American Politics

Reviewed by Kenya Flash, Diversity Resident Librarian, University of Tennessee, Knoxville

White Backlash: Immigration, Race, and American Politics

Abrajano, M. & Hajnal, Z. L. (2015) White Backlash: Immigration, Race, and American Politics. New Jersey: Princeton University Press.

November 9, 2016. A surprising end to a long and bitter election cycle. Newspapers and pundits had viewed the election of Donald Trump as unlikely, and yet he had won the Electoral College. What went wrong? What caused this dramatic upset over the more liberal candidate? Abrajano and Hajnal (2015) could have predicted this outcome based on their research in White Backlash: Immigration, Race, and American Politics.

With large influxes of immigrants into American society, white constituents have reacted in a markedly partisan way. This reaction has left an impact, a narrowing of services and opportunities open to immigrants and other minorities. White voters, the authors contend, are led to fear the impact of immigration through the news media and through the party system.

Abrajano and Hajnal provide a brief overview of how immigration has historically affected partisan politics. They use an aggressive research agenda that explores various elements: voting patterns of whites between the 1970s and the 2008 election compared to immigration voting records during the same time span; the services provided at the state and local levels where there are large Latino populations; the media representation of immigration between the 1980s and present.

The authors explore shifting dynamics between the Republican and Democratic parties--and the deepening divide between these parties regarding immigration in particular. The authors do not, however, attempt to articulate the actual stance of either party at a given point in recent history.

Instead, they refer directly to commentary by candidates on immigration. Is there a national stance on immigration that is partisan? If so, can that stance shift? If Republicans are hostile to immigration, such a stance is seemingly contradicted by Reagan instituting one of the first Amnesty programs in the nation. Additionally, a nuanced look at local politics may show more local support by conservatives for immigration, particularly in areas where there is a heavy reliance on immigrant labor. While it may be a foregone conclusion that Republicans have a harder outlook on immigration, pointing to the platform would provide a stronger case.

The authors frequently cite the New York Times, which provides a long publication history on immigration, but has a specific bias and may also not represent what many white voters may be reading. The authors address such concerns by stating that the newspaper's known liberal bias tends to place immigration in a more positive light. An effort is made to balance the heavy Times citations by also referring to other publications, including The Wall Street Journal.

This fascinating book provides readers with a better understanding of how media bias and local politics can shape perceptions of voters. The volume challenges the traditional idea that party choice is static and provides a look into the current, most dominant voting bloc in the nation. Readers will learn that surprisingly, when there is a perceived threat to the privilege of this bloc--in terms of either jobs, crime, or social and status attainment--voters tend to forego previous party loyalties and instead choose to limit services that may also be benefiting them. In the wake of the 2016 election, readers will appreciate work that further couches voter behavior in a broader historical context.

From Kenya Flash: "I am an academic librarian and new to the profession and to the Social Responsibilities Round table. I joined in the past month. As a diversity resident, I am excited to be a part of a round table that explores equity and democracy in the profession."

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Essay and Resource: LGBT Legal Resources: A LibGuide Evolution

Submitted by Emma Wood, Assistant Librarian, University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth Law Library, Dartmouth

A few years ago, I created a LibGuide on the topic of same-sex marriage. The online guide presented resources and strategies for finding gay marriage articles and case law, with a heavy focus on surveying state legislation. At the time, several organizations were tracking the legislative process with virtual maps of the U.S. and digitally illuminating each state that passed a marriage equality bill. My LibGuide linked to these maps which, back then, were a spectrum of color and topographical variance. In 2015, the Obergefell decision (Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584, 2604 (2015)) equalized the gay marriage landscape, and all at once the colorful boundaries between right-to-marry states, domestic-partnership states, and traditional-marriage states were uniform. Suddenly the books that my guide highlighted from our print collection (Civil Wars : A Battle for Gay Marriage, Legalizing Gay Marriage, etc.) had historical value rather than cutting edge information. Under the powerful brush of the Supreme Court majority opinion, the maps were painted a single color, and my LibGuide was (happily) obsolete.

Of course the implications of Obergefell are more important than a potential weeding or acquisition project and a LibGuide update, but the symbolism of these tasks is momentous to a librarian. When a Supreme Court decision has immediate impact on a library collection, it illustrates the connection of library work and work output to the world at large. Our social responsibilities are tied to in-person interactions and services, but also to our online presence and the items on our shelves. The resolve to monitor events that affect collections and the scope of an area of research are vital because library patrons are best-served to see themselves and the changing world in the resources offered. If diversity of people and the advancement of rights are mirrored by library materials, the tasks that we undertake to keep current are our duty to social change. Sometimes that role in the updating process is cathartic. What better reason to tackle that updating project you've been avoiding than social responsibility!

I recently reworked my same-sex marriage LibGuide to compliment a new class being offered at UMass Law: Sexuality, Identity, and the Law. The online library guide format lends itself to social responsibility because it is designed for change. LibGuides themselves are evidence of a digital shift in librarianship, and they are also poised to capture social and legislative shifts. Physical library collections have always been viewed as malleable and living and LibGuides can highlight the pulse of our physical collections. They are the frontage to our newest and most relevant material. Just as the national picture evolved, my guide evolved to encompass LGBT legal issues generally. The guide's research focus has changed to current LGBT issues such as anti-discrimination legislation and transgender rights. My revised guide, which can be found here: , is in some small way, a measure of progress. It is ever-changing, and I look forward to when this guide is less applicable to current controversy, and more appropriate for the history of civil rights battles won.

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Call for Editorial Board Members

Are you looking for a way to be more involved in the Social Responsibilities Round Table? Are you passionate about books, media and their role in social responsibility? Do you have excellent writing and editing skills? Are you good at meeting deadlines and encouraging others to meet them as well? If so, membership to the SRRT Newsletter Editorial Board might be just the volunteer position you're looking for!

We are in need of two members who can serve on the Editorial Board as soon as possible.

Editorial Board memberships positions are determined by the SRRT Action Council.

If you are interested in becoming members of the SRRT Editorial Board, please send a copy of your resume/CV, a brief letter of inquiry outlining your qualifications and interest in the position, and a writing sample and/or examples of previous work to Melissa Cardenas-Dow, SRRT Newsletter Editor and SRRT Editorial Board member, at micd.srrt.newsletter [at] gmail.com.

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Call for Submissions

The SRRT newsletter is always looking for good articles, essays and letters to the editor. The next submission deadline is May 19, 2017.

Submissions to the SRRT Newsletter may be made by any current SRRT Member or SRRT affiliate. Please send your submissions electronically in one of the following formats: MS Word, RTF, PDF, or plain text pasted into the body of an e-mail. Submissions should be 500 to 1,000 words. Graphics are encouraged. If using images that are already on the Internet, the URL of the image and a caption or description may be added to the text of the submission.

Please send original submissions and inquiries to SRRT Newsletter Editor Melissa I. Cardenas-Dow at micd.srrt.newsletter [at] gmail.com, indicating "SRRT Newsletter" within the subject line of your e-mail. A confirmation of receipt will be sent in a timely manner.

Submissions for book or media reviews should be sent to Meaghan Hunt-Wilson, the SRRT Newsletter Reviews Editor at SRRTreviews [at] gmail.com, indicating "Reviews" in the subject line of your e-mail.

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Publication Information

SRRT Newsletter is published quarterly by the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the ¾«¶«´«Ã½. ISSN: 0749-1670. Copyright © 2017 by the Social Responsibilities Round Table. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without permission.

Editor: Melissa I. Cardenas-Dow, micd.srrt.newsletter [at] gmail.com.

Reviews Editor: Meaghan Hunt-Wilson, SRRTreviews [at] gmail.com.

Editorial Board Members: Cicely Douglas, Michael Gorman, and Rebecca Martin.

Views expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily those of ALA/SRRT. The editors reserve the right to edit submitted material as necessary or as whimsy strikes.

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