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In part 2 of this two-part episode, we talk to the creative team behind the Librarians with Spines  book series calling for radical librarianship, Yago Cura, Max Macias and Autumn Anglin. This trio of "information agitators" share the origins of this series, the need for necessary boundary-pushing in the library profession, and the importance of having a strong support system when doing antiracism work.

Hear about the efforts that went into the design and creation of Vol. 3, released in fall of 2022, and get a sneak peek of what's next for this series of essays pushing for a new era of librarianship.

Listen to Part 1 here.

Order Librarians with Spines  v.1, 2 & 3 here:  https://www.hinchaspress.com/librarians-with-spines
Visit the  Librarians with Spines Blog
Link to the  EDI & ANTIRACISM TOOLKIT

Hosts: Constance Palaia & Ericka Brunson-Rochette
Date Recorded: December 23, 2022

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In Part 1 of this two-part episode, we talk to the creative team behind the Librarians with Spines  book series calling for radical librarianship, Yago Cura, Max Macias and Autumn Anglin. This trio of "information agitators" share the origins of this series, the need for necessary boundary-pushing in the library profession, and the importance of having a strong support system when doing antiracism work.

Hear about the efforts that went into the design and creation of Vol. 3, released in fall of 2022, and get a sneak peek of what's next for this series of essays pushing for a new era of librarianship.

Order Librarians with Spines  v.1, 2 & 3 here:  https://www.hinchaspress.com/librarians-with-spines
Visit the  Librarians with Spines Blog
Link to the  EDI & ANTIRACISM TOOLKIT

Hosts: Constance Palaia & Ericka Brunson-Rochette
Date Recorded: December 23, 2022

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

In this episode, we talk with leadership from REFORMA Oregon about centering equity work as the foundation of library work, how to begin shifting Oregon library culture to better serve diverse communities as well as how a culture shift can support library workers of color. We also talk about how REFORMA Oregon supports EDI Antiracism work in the state and how this organization serves as a structure of support for library workers who identify as Latinx, speak Spanish or serve Latinx and Spanish-speaking communities. 

Brandace Rojo is the Current President of REFORMA Oregon and the Communications and Partnerships Manager at Josephine Community Library District.

Eduardo Arizaga is the Past President of REFORMA Oregon and the Community Engagement Manager at Multnomah County Library. REFORMA Oregon is a division of the Oregon Library Association as well as the Oregon chapter of REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking, an affiliate of the American Library Association. REFORMA Oregon is a professional organization for librarians and library staff who serve the Spanish-speaking and Latino communities.

Date of interview: November 18, 2022

Hosts: LaRee Dominguez and Kristen Curé

Resources talked about in this episode:

• REFORMA Oregon: https://reformaoregon.weebly.com/
• REFORMA National: https://www.reforma.org/ 
• Harvard implicit bias test: https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html 
• Dr. Michele Villagran’s 2018 article: Minimizing and addressing implicit bias in the workplace https://crln.acrl.org/index.php/crlnews/article/view/17370/19151  Intersection Allies: We Make Room for All by Carolyn Choi and Chelsea Johnson (book)
• 1989 Article by Peggy McIntosh: White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack: https://psychology.umbc.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/57/2016/10/White-Privilege_McIntosh-1989.pdf 
• OLA EDI Anti Racism Toolkit: https://www.oregon.gov/Library/libraries/Documents/OLA%20EDI%20Toolkit/OLA_TOOLKIT_Hard_Copy%202021_02_11.pdf 

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In this special episode, we talk with the School Library Journal School Librarian of the Year, K.C. Boyd, and the two  School Librarian of the Year finalists, Pia Alliende and Andy Spinks.

Amid book challenges, political and cultural attempts to staunch access to books that reflect the history and lives of our youth, and funding cuts to school libraries, these courageous library heroes talk about their grit and determination to provide mirrors, inspiration, and access to information for all youth.

Andy, K.C., and Pia discuss preparing for challenges, antiracist and inclusive collection development, and how to keep our eyes on the prize of nurturing healthy, critical, and curious youth.

School Library Journal School Librarian of the Year 2023 Nominations are due December 5, 2022.

Hosts: Constance Palaia & Ericka Brunson-Rochette
Date Recorded: October 23, 2022

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In this episode, we talk with Roland Barksdale-Hall, Branch Manager at the Stey-Nevant Branch Library in Farrell, PA and an author, activist, historian, and griot. Our conversation touches on forging deep community connections, confronting biases, being true to oneself, active listening and making people feel seen, and the huge impact we can have on others. Roland shares his own inspiring story and the active work it took to truly become “the friendly place” in his community. The episode is full of concrete advice for library workers at every point in their career. Resources discussed: 

• Roland’s blog post in Librarians with Spines 
• Books authored by Roland  

Date of interview: August 19, 2022
Hosts: LaRee Dominguez and Meredith Farkas 

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In this episode, we talk with librarians Priya Charry & Leah Larson about the intricacies of navigating conversations around equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. They emphasize the importance of holding space for these conversations, the challenges of doing so as marginalized individuals, and why libraries should be working on the retention, not just hiring, of BIPOC employees. 

This discussion was inspired by a presentation led at the 2022 Public Library Association conference entitled, “Facilitating EDI Conversations in Professional Settings and Public Programming.”
 
Date of interview: July 25, 2022
Hosts: Brittany Young and Ericka Brunson-Rochette

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In this Dear Abby-style episode, Christina Fuller-Gregory — facilitator of the Libraries of Eastern Oregon EDI Cohort, and principal consultant with Fuller Potential Consulting— offers advice for library workers faced with inequity, microaggressions, and racism in the workplace. The following experiences are true, and they were curated from library workers across Oregon and the U.S.
 
 Date of interview: June 15, 2022
 Hosts: Brittany Young & Roxanne M. Renteria
  
 Questions and inquiries for Fuller Potential Consulting can be emailed to:
 [email protected]
 
 OLA EDI & Antiracism Toolkit: https://bit.ly/3qSMDF7

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

In this episode, we talk with Tracie D. Hall, Executive Director of the American Library Association, about how diversifying library staff is essential to the future of the library profession and how individuals can advocate for themselves and find opportunities to work with mentors or to mentor others. Hall discusses how her own background and experiences have shaped her view of library work, as well as the critical role that history, the arts, and libraries play in our communities. 
 
Date of interview: May 19, 2022
Hosts: Ericka Brunson-Rochette and Melissa Anderson

OLA EDI & Antiracism Toolkit: https://bit.ly/3qSMDF7

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In this episode, we talk with Star Khan, Outreach Services Librarian at Driftwood Public Library, about outreach as a core library service, how she sees herself and her work as part of a larger community, and the role that outreach plays in equity work. 

Since the recording of this interview, Star was elected as the incoming 2022-2023 OLA President, to begin in August. 

Date of Interview: May 18, 2022
Hosts: Max Macias and Kristen Curé

OLA EDI & Antiracism Toolkit: https://bit.ly/3qSMDF7

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In this episode, we talk with Dr. Debbie Reese – Nambé Pueblo writer, scholar, and author of the American Indians in Children’s Literature blog – about her work, the importance of accurate representation in literature for children, and what library workers can do to support Native children with collection development, displays, cataloging, and more.

Date of interview: April 1, 2022
Hosts: Ericka Brunson-Rochette & Kristen Curé 

American Indians in Children’s Literature: https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/