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2 COGNOTES 2017 MIDWINTER HIGHLIGHTS ISSUE
By ALA President Julie Todaro
It was invigorating to be in Atlanta with thousands of librarians, library workers, exhibitors, and supporters applying their energy and expertise to the ongoing work of transforming and positioning libraries and library professionals for a strong future. Our values, innovation, collaboration, learning, and conversation were at the core of our shared work. Commitment and expertise were in evidence throughout, as we discussed what was important to us, learned from one another, enjoyed thought- provoking speakers, explored the best of what’s new in the exhibits, and made personal connections.
The success of the new Symposium on the Future of Libraries organized by ALA’s Center for the Future of Libraries was thrilling, as was the ongoing visibility of the Libraries Transform campaign. I was very pleased that the vote to add Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion as a fourth distinct area to ALA’s three current strategic directions – advocacy, information policy, and professional and leadership development – passed unanimously. And the frank sharing of concerns and concrete ideas at the facilitated town hall, “Advocacy and Core Values in Uncertain Times,” provided important input for not only ALA’s work, but our work back at home. The wonderful author and poet Kwame Alexander made us laugh, cry, and – most importantly – think, during his entertaining talk as featured speaker at my President’s Program.
The town hall dialogue, “Competencies, Careers, and Successful Practice,” was rescheduled to Saturday during the Annual Conference, and I am eager for this discussion on the future of library professionals as experts, and what skills, knowledge, traits, and expectations will best support all libraries and constituents going forward. Also of special importance to me will be the Annual Conference launch of Book Club Central (BCC), a hub of resources from many venues, created in collaboration with Booklist, United for Libraries, and RUSA as well as other divisions and units as a presidential initiative. Be on the lookout for more news about it! Colson Whitehead and Matthew Desmond, winning authors of the 2017 Carnegie Medals, will both join us in Chicago. Other confirmed speakers include the opening speaker, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code, Reshma Saujani, and authors Sandra Uwiringyimana and Kameron Hurley.
Let’s continue our conversations in June and keep learning so we can make a difference for libraries and their constituents everywhere. You’ll find general information, registration and housing, and social media links at alaannual.org. See you in Chicago!What’s Left to Say About Thomas Jefferson? Everything.
By Erika L. Jenns, Indiana University Bloomington
On January 22, Annette Gordon-Reed, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and law professor at Harvard University, discussed her recently published book, “Most Blessed of the Patriarchs:” Thomas Jefferson and the Empire of the Imagination. Gordon-Reed and her co-author, Peter Onuf, University of Virginia, each focused on different aspects of Jefferson’s life. Gordon-Reed focused on slavery at Monticello and politics, while Onuf focused on social aspects. “We tried to blend together so that we had one voice for this particular book,” she said.
Gordon-Reed said even though Jefferson continues to be a contentious figure today, the choice to include “Empire of the Imagination” in the title of their book is a nod to what a visionary Jefferson was. The phrase describes his vision of what American society would be. Gordon-Reed said that the “most important event in Jefferson’s life” was the American Revolution. It was his participation in the event that was the galvanizing thing in his life. It was then that Virginians saw the individuals that they had enslaved as a threat and recognized their capacity to affect their own lives. Black men could act as soldiers, and even Jefferson’s own slaves became a threat to him in a way that they had not been before.
The concept of freedom for African Americans was not a simple one for Jefferson. He believed in emancipation, but also believed that expatriation must happen. Jefferson “did not believe that blacks and whites could live together in harmony,” said Gordon-Reed. She continued, “It has been a struggle to be a truly multiracial society where people have mutual respect for one another.” She cited the fairly recent introduction of commercials that represent other races and asked how we can expect things to have been any different in Jefferson’s time if it’s taken us this long.
Jefferson “lives in our understanding, through the Declaration of Independence,” said Gordon-Reed. All people have looked to this document when searching for acceptance and their place in the U.S. “We can move beyond,” she said. “Belief in democracy. Belief in the separation of church and state.” These are things we can hold on to today.
