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14 COGNOTES
2016 ANNUAL CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS • ORLANDO
Dutch Caribbean Librarians Come to Orlando
The Sustainability Task Force hosted a delegation of librarians from the Caribbean June 26 who presented “The National Library of Aruba: Promoting, Enhancing, and Embracing Green Education.” The panel included representatives from the National Library of Aruba (NLA) and the Philipsburg Jubilee Library (PJL, St. Maarten).
During the last four years (2012 - 2015) 6,000 students and teachers in secondary schools and higher education of Aruba attended symposiums on sustainable energy, food supply, and soil practices. For this initiative, NLA collaborated with a range of Aruban stakeholders including FEFTAS; W.E.B. Aruba N.V.; Government Department IBiSA, N.V.; Elmar, Green‘s’Cool, SETAR N.V.; Utilities Aruba N.V.; Americas Sustainable Development Foundation; and Government Department of Agriculture, Husbandry, and Fishery, all of which sponsored and organized the four symposiums.
Invited guest speakers from the United States, the Netherlands, and Aruba gave their presentations during those four years. Panelists at ALA Annual Conference included Astrid Britten, director of the National Library of Aruba; Ronny R. Alders, coordinator of Green Education Symposiums/Green Education Project of the National Library of Aruba and coordinator of Academic Lectures of Lifelong Learning of the National Library of Aruba, and Monique Alberts - Luijdjens, director of the Philipsburg Jubilee Library (PJL) of St. Maarten. The moderator of the panel presentation was Frederick W. Stoss, associate librarian from the University at Buffalo in New York.
Student Press Advocate, Librarians Share 2016 FTRF Roll of Honor Award
Librarians Helen Adams and Nancy Kranich and attorney and First Amendment advocate Frank Lo-Monte have been named the recipients of the 2016 Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF) Roll of Honor Award.
Helen Adams, a school librarian and educator who has taught intellectual freedom and ethics to graduate library science students for over a decade, is a past trustee of the Freedom to Read Foundation and has also served on ALA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee and its Privacy Subcommittee.
Nancy Kranich, past president of the American Library Association and a former trustee of the Freedom to Read Foundation, teaches intellectual freedom, information policy, and community engagement at the Rutgers University School of Communication and Information and serves as Rutgers’ special projects librarian.
Frank LoMonte is executive director of Student Press Law Center where, for almost two decades, he has led the Student Press Law Center’s vigorous defense of the first amendment rights of student journalists
The Roll of Honor was established in 1987 to recognize and honor those individuals who have contributed substantially to FTRF through adherence to its principles and/or substantial monetary support.
Afternoon Tea with Authors, a Gala Event
By Deborah Hathaway, Texas Woman’s University, MLS
United for Libraries’ signature biannual event, the Gala Author Tea, featured six very different authors who all share a passion for writing and an admiration for librarians. The gala tea, held at both the Midwinter Meeting and Annual Conference, is an eagerly anticipated event, where attendees have the opportunity to meet authors and receive copies of their books. A mix of first-time and established authors, each is passionate about writing and grateful for the opportunity to say thank you and share their passion with librarians.
While enjoying finger sandwiches, attendees heard from each author on how they began writing, what their books are about, and how much the library meant to them as children. Imbolo Mbue was a homesick young woman from Cameroon who came to the United States and found acceptance and a sense of belonging at the public library. Her novel, Behold the Dreamers, is the story of two very different families and the power of the American dream. It tells of the sacrifices the families are compelled to make so their dreams can come true.
This year’s featured guests were:
Lisa Fenn, Carry On: A Story of Resilience, Redemption, and an Unlikely Family (August 2016);
Jayne Entwistle (narrator) of Alan Bradley’s As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust;
Susan Mallery, Daughters of the Bride;
Thomas Mullen, Darktown: A Novel;
Shari Lapeña, The Couple Next Door (August 2016); and
Imbolo Mbue, Behold the Dreamers: A Novel.
Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Launches Recommendations
By Sara Zettervall, Hennepin County Library
The ALA Executive Board accepted the recommendations made by the Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion during the first business meeting of this conference. This is an important step forward in rethinking and refreshing ALA’s total approach to fostering a more inclusive organization and profession.
Two years ago, the task force was charged to “develop a plan and strategic actions to build more equity, diversity, and inclusion among our members.” Representatives from divisions across ALA and its affiliates worked together to produce the 58 recommendations that the board accepted. Their charge also states that “the most important task force outcome is the public and honest conversation that will be generated by its plan and recommended actions.” This was accomplished when they shared the recommendations at the ALA Membership Meeting on June 25 and will continue as the recommendations are brought to Council and beyond.
The next phase will be taken by the ALA Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Implementation Working Group, which launches for two years at the end of this year’s conference. The task force, several of whose members are continuing on the work group, has already demonstrated a commitment to action. With Librarians Build Communities, they planned this year’s volunteer efforts to collect school supplies for local children and help staff Summer BreakSpot at Orlando Public Library. They also recommended Michael Eric Dyson as this year’s Opening General Session speaker.
ALA’s commitment to equity in the organization and profession has never been stronger. The blood drive, ribbons, and armbands in support of Orlando’s Pulse victims and their families and friends are outward signs of an inward change.
Mark Your Calendar
Midwinter Meeting
Atlanta, Georgia
January 20-24, 2017
Annual Conference
Chicago, Illinois
June 22-27, 2017
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