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2 COGNOTES DENVER MIDWINTER MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
Looking Forward to Seeing You in New Orleans in June
The thousands of library workers, exhibitors, and supporters of ALA that converged in Denver this past weekend fully embraced the Libraries Transform – Libraries Lead initiative and future-focused library objectives. There was a clear and strong commitment directed to our respective communities, as discussions on education, technology, library funding, information policies, diversity and inclusion, social justice, and library advocacy took place throughout the meeting.
We were inspired by an encouraging roster of featured speakers, most of whom recollected their introduction to libraries and how it contributed to their career paths and life’s work. We found motivation from two generations of activists, #BlackLivesMatters co-founder, Patrisse Cullors and #1000blackgirlbooks founder, Marley Dias; diversity and inclusion recognition from Junot Díaz, Dave Eggers, and Elizabeth Acevedo; and the reminder that science is always cool from TV personality, Bill Nye and children’s author, Gregory Mone. The personal connections whether initiated during the weekend, or reinforced as attendees reconnected, were key to the onsite peer discussions and future commitment to our community work and professional development.
I am pleased that my President’s Program debating the issue, “Are Libraries Neutral? Have They Ever Been? Should They Be?” generated a wealth of forward-thinking ideas, and while the debate offered contrasting views, the conversation was extremely necessary and astoundingly significant. This was the second year for A Symposium on the Future of Libraries, More than 40 sessions, over three days were offered to explore innovation and future trends for academic, public, school, and special libraries. And the popular News You Can Use and ALA Master Series provided the forums to discuss matters from civic issues, to food and nutrition.
Attendees enjoyed an energy-infused exhibit floor with organizations from around the nation eager to make the lives of library workers more efficient and productive. The Book Buzz Theater and PopTop live stages offered hundreds of publishers and authors who signed countless books, while new and diverse films were unveiled at the Now Showing stage.
I am excited by what I witnessed at the 2018 ALA Midwinter Meeting, an eagerness to work toward a new model of library advocacy. I’m sure the enthusiasm will continue as we head to New Orleans for the 2018 ALA Annual Conference, June 21-26. To date, confirmed speakers include Dr. Carla Hayden and Doris Kearns Goodwin as part of the Auditorium Speaker Series, and actress Viola Davis, who will close the Conference. You can find general information, registration and housing, and social media links at www.alaannual.org. I’ll see you there!
Jim G. Neal
ALA President
NEEDED FOR TOMORROW: STRONG FOUNDATION, INNOVATION, DIVERSITY
Conversations around food are often lively and provide a window into the lives of others. As part of the ALA Masters Series, Liz Fitzgerald from the Free Library of Philadelphia’s Culinary Literacy Center presented on the use of cooking and culinary programing, as an invitation to connect to other people in the community and bring them into the library.
The Culinary Literacy Center now has a commercial-grade kitchen classroom. The mission is to advance literacy through food and cooking around a community table.
Libraries serve the needs of their patrons and the Culinary Literacy Center addresses some of the major needs of the city. A large population of adults in Philadelphia are in the low-literacy level, one in four is food insecure, and obesity is an issue for both adults and children. This programming has brought in many who are not typically library patrons.
Public programing includes knife skills, vegan classes, cheese making classes, butchering, and cookbook authors. Leanne Brown’s Good and Cheap is a resource given to patrons and students in many of the classes.
The Free Library also has offerings for target populations including an ESL program; a program for pre-K with academic, health and nutrition, and chef standards; a program for adults with disabilities; and a program for people with low visibility. The Recipes for Change program was directed toward refugee and immigrant women in the city. The sixweek Edible Alphabet program teaches ESL students different recipes and their ingredients.
Culinary Literacy programs can be done anywhere. Librarians wishing to start their own culinary literacy programing are encouraged to reach out to chefs at local restaurants as they are often open to coming to the library to teach a class. Librarians can lead classes for kids, but outside teachers such as dieticians, state university extension services, culinary school interns, and other nonprofits around food insecurity may be brought in.
For more information and ideas, visit www.freelibrary.org/cook.
