Send us a text

In this episode, the hosts welcome back Jamia Williams, co-creator and co-host of the podcast LibVoices, which amplifies the voices of Black, indigenous, and people of color who work in archives and libraries. This time around, Williams, a Consumer Health Program Specialist with the Network of the National Library of Medicine (NNLM) Training Office, discusses health literacy, resources and advocacy. In addition, she touches upon the topic of barriers to recruitment, retention and advancement, better preparing library students, and A.I.

Hosts: Bryan Miyagishima and Joan Vigil
Date of recording:  November 21, 2024
 
Mentioned in this episode:
Find out how to become a free member of the NNLM, to access trainings, or explore resources. Membership is open to libraries, and other institutions such as community partner organizations. Explore the Membership FAQ to know more.

Explore the Joint Librarians of Color (JCLC, Inc.) website to know more, and find out about upcoming conference opportunities. 

NALCO refers to American Library Association ethnic affiliates: American Indian Library Association (AILA), the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), the Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), and REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-speaking. 

Readings include: 

• Bartley, Kelsa, Jahala Simuel, and Jamia Williams. “New to Health Sciences Librarianship: Strategies, Tips, and Tricks.” Journal of the Medical Library Association (JMLA) 109, no. 2 (April 2021): 330-335.
• Williams, Jamia. “Upgrading AI Dialogue: Prioritizing Women of Color Researchers.” CHOICE (blog). Association of College and Research Libraries, October 22, 2024. 

Send us a text

In this episode we welcome We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) board members and authors Caroline Richmond (Executive Director) and Dhonielle Clayton (COO) to discuss why it is more important than ever to ensure diverse books are available and accessible to youth.

Since its creation in 2014, WNDB has championed diverse publishing and diverse creators, and has pushed back against the lack of diverse representation in youth literature, publishing and collections. Their advocacy efforts include, but are not limited to: mentoring marginalized creators, donating diverse books to schools and libraries across the nation, providing resources to diverse publishing professionals, and supporting educators and creators facing censorship attempts. 

Learn more about WNDB's programs, resources and successes.

Hosts: Gene Iparraguirre and LaRee Dominguez
Date of recording:  November 8, 2024

Mentioned in this episode:
Indigenous Reads Rising
Books Save Lives Campaign
Walter Grant
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan

Caroline Richmond's Author Website
Dhonielle Clayton's Author Website

Send us a text

In this episode, Dr. Emily Knox, a professor in the School of Information Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, explores the intersection of intellectual freedom, freedom of expression, and social justice, as well as power, neutrality, and the rise in book challenges and bans in the United States.

Hosts: Ericka Brunson-Rochette and Gene Iparraguirre
Record Date: October 9, 2024*
*Please note episode was recorded prior to the 2024 election

Mentioned in this episode:
'The creed of a librarian: no politics, no religion, no morals' by D.J. Foskett
ALA Library Bill of Rights
Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse 2024 Report
Book Riot article on Krause's 850 "Banned Books"

Send us a text

In this episode*, we have the absolute honor of conversing with Donna Barba Higuera, Middle Grade and Picture Book Author, Newbery Medal and Pura Belpré Award Winner and New York Times Best Seller. Donna shares from where and whom she draws her stories, and how she went from an imaginative child to inspiring readers of all ages.

In a time where book challenges are on the rise, Donna discusses the importance and power of sharing stories, owning the stories you hear and having access to stories representing all kinds of readers.

*A follow-up conversation was had between Donna, Ericka and Pia live on stage at the Association of Library Services to Children (ALSC) National Institute on September 21, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. The theme of the Institute was Standing up for Stories, and the hosts were able to dig deeper into the stories shared in this conversation and Donna, in turn, asked questions of the hosts about the power of sharing voices and experiences on the podcast. Unfortunately, there were sound quality issues with that recording and in the end it was not able to be saved. Pia and Ericka share a small reflection on both conversations at the end of this episode.

Date of interview: August 27, 2024
Date of post interview reflection: October 16, 2024
Host(s): Ericka Brunson-Rochette & Pia Alliende
 
Additional Info. & Links:
Donna's website-https://www.dbhiguera.com/
2024 ALSC National Institute-https://www.ala.org/alsc/confsce/institute 

Send us a text

In this episode we are joined in conversation by Shannon LaRance (Dine'/Hopi/Assiniboine).  Founder of Indigenous Empowerment, Indigenous Empowerment's mission is to ensure culturally sensitive counselors and social service agents are accessible to those in need. Their goal is to train human service organizations across the nation on the complexities, nuances, and beauty of Indigenous people. Social Worker, Counselor, So’oh Story Time.

So'oh, meaning "Grandmother" in Hopi, embodies the essence of our storytelling traditions. It reflects the nurturing and educational atmosphere created on her Youtube channel - “So’oh Story Time”. LaRance reads books for our children and grandchildren - with an emphasis on books written or illustrated by Native American/Indigenous authors and illustrators.

Date of interview: September 6, 2024
Host(s): LaRee Dominguez & Joan Vigil
 
Additional Info. & Links:
https://linktr.ee/SoohStoryTime
So'oh Story Time - YouTube

Send us a text

In this episode we are joined in conversation by scholar, academic consultant, librarian and educational game designer, Fobzi Ettarh, who notably coined the concept of "vocational awe" in 2018. Ettarh shares how vocational awe operates at both the micro and macro levels, contributing to problematic hiring, onboarding, and retention practices in the library profession, and illustrates how this concept directly ties to workplace inequities and burnout.

Additionally, Ettarh provides actionable ways to escape the trap of vocational awe by prioritizing mental health and rest, achieving work-life balance, reframing how we are showing up for community, and urging administrators to lead by example.

Date of interview: July 17, 2024
Host(s): Ericka Brunson-Rochette & Rodrigo Gaspar-Barajas


Additional Info. & Links:

Vocational Awe-  “the set of ideas, values, and assumptions librarians have about themselves and the profession that result in beliefs that libraries as institutions are inherently good and sacred, and therefore beyond critique.” (Ettarh, 2018)

• "Vocational Awe and Librarianship: The Lies We Tell Ourselves"  (January 2018 article from, In the Library With the Lead Pipe)
• Ettarh's Webpage/Blog
• Follow Ettarh on Twitter @Fobettarh
• Latanya Jenkins' story 
• ALA Memorial Resolution Honoring Latanya N. Jenkins

Send us a text

Anne Heidemann & Melissa Isaac from the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe of Michigan join us to share about Maawn Doobiigeng, a new classification system for the Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Library. 

In 2019, The Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Libraries were awarded the IMLS National Leadership Grant to facilitate the creation of a new classification system by members of the community. As of April 2024, this new system, titled Maawn Doobiigeng (Gather Together), has been created and is being implemented into the libraries. 

Heidemann and Isaac share about the process, from idea to implementation, and explain why this new system was imperative for accurately describing and providing access to Native Topics.

Date of interview: June 12, 2024
Hosts: LaRee Dominguez & Gene Iparraguirre

Saginaw Chippewa Tribal Libraries--Maawn Doobiigeng
Maawn Doobiigeng Press Release

Send us a text

*There were slight technical issues during the recording of this episode. We apologize for any minor disruptions*

We are excited to welcome Jamillah R. Gabriel,  the Critical Pedagogy Research Librarian at Harvard University and co-host of the podcast LibVoices, for a second time. Jamillah provides listeners with a beginner-friendly overview of Critical Pedagogy, how it can be applied to library and information science, and used to promote EDIA within libraries and educational settings. 

Jamillah explores why EDIA racism trainings fail (or perhaps more accurately, why EDIA trainings are designed to fail), and how decolonizing bibliographic research can aid in centering marginalized voices and perspectives when it comes to knowledge production and citation. 

For additional readings on the topics discussed, try: 

• The Criticalness of LIS Incorporating Critical Theory, Pedagogy, and Action in LIS Research, Teaching, and Practice by Jamillah R. Gabriel
• Critical Librarianship & Pedagogy: Interview with Jamillah Gabriel by Jamia Williams
• Archiving Blackness: Reimagining and Recreating the Archive(s) as Literary and Information Wake Work by Jamillah R. Gabriel

Hosts:   LaRee Dominguez & Roxanne M. Renteria
Date of Interview: May 10, 2024

Send us a text

In this episode, Immer Honorato, Library Outreach Specialist at the Tualatin Public Library, talks with us about connecting his library with his community in Tualatin, Oregon.

 As an immigrant of Mexico who grew up in Tualatin, Immer brings an important bilingual and bicultural perspective to bridging the gap between library services and a library’s community. He reminds us that there are steps that all of us can take to improve accessibility, a sense of belonging, and relevancy  in our libraries.

Winter 2024 OLAQ - "Bibliotequitas para Tualatin  (Bibliotequitas for Tualatin)"  Pg. 29-31

Hosts:  Joan Vigil & Kristen Curé
Date of Interview: April 9, 2024

Send us a text

Multitalented Aaron Whitefield joins the hosts and shares insight gained from leading successful multicultural academic programs during the decade he spent working as an educator, library professional and youth development specialist in Columbus, Ohio.

Aaron’s passion for uplifting youth and creating community is apparent, even while navigating systemic issues like sexism, classism, and racism. Those interested in better understanding the “unique experiences, challenges, and triumphs of living as a Black introvert in an ever-changing America” should checkout his podcast, The Semi-Social Life of a Black Introvert.

Website: MU.FA.LI. - Home (iammufali.com)

Hosts: LaRee Dominguez & Roxanne M. Renteria

Date of Interview: February 23, 2024