My second day at #PLA2016 started with an inspiring and motivating session by Verna Myers who talked about moving beyond “colorblindness” (which is not a real thing, let’s face it) and acknowledging our biases. She offered several takeaways that will keep me thinking (and talking) for a while, including:
- Moving from the golden rule – treat others as you’d wish to be treated – to the PLATINUM rule: treat others the way THEY want to be treated. This will mean having conversations.
- We each need to do a “bias inventory” and acknowledge our own biases and the cultural lens through which we view the world.
- If we don’t notice differences, we are in no position to MAKE a difference for those who experience challenges due to our, and other, biases.
I admit I have a bias about children’s librarians. I think they’re all AWESOME and the work they do CHANGES THE WORLD. I was pleased, then, to help organize Guerrilla Storytime at PLA, in which storytime presenters share their best practices for: scarf songs, eye-rolling parents, phonological awareness, unruly toddlers, and more. Join us again on Friday from 9:30 to 10:30 in the pre-function area outside the Mile High Ballroom. I’m sure you’ve got lots of awesomeness to share with us!
Did you know the Teen Bubbler at Madison Public Library partners with the local Juvenile Detention Center to bring their artist-in-residence and other maker programs to the residents there? SO. COOL.
In the afternoon, the kids’ and YA Book Buzz session added several new titles to my TBR list, including a new early reader series by various authors that will be branded with Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie (and introduced by them!). One of the first is Dan Santat’s Cookie Fiasco. Also, Corinne Sanchez from San Antonio Public Library told us about her department’s outreach to teen parents that looks amazing. She does a make-and-take related to one of the 5 practices (there are 5 sessions!) that the parents can use with their kids and then talks to them about how those activities help develop pre-reading skills. She shared some of her craft activities with us and they look amazing – high-contrast felt books and sensory bottles, anyone?
The day ended on a high note at the ALSC Happy Hour. It was great to meet current President Andrew Medlar as well as President-Elect Betsy Orsburn. Also, having time to socialize with my fellow awesome (remember, I’m biased) youth services librarians was a great way to wind down from a packed conference day. Let’s do it again tomorrow!