First, this session was recorded and will be on the ALSC web site at some point. I highly recommend taking an hour to watch it with your staff.
Some takeaways that I wrote down from this session include:
-Who is not being represented in the books that you share?
-When doing outreach to diverse populations, focus on what’s working, rather than what’s broken. Look for sustainable solutions.
-Check your pronoun usage in programs, policies, interactions, and when sharing books.
-Whose childhood matters? African American children are thought of as more adult than white children at a younger age. This means that people may let a 10 year old white child go for doing something childlike, but not an African American child for the same action.
-Know your community. Know your library. Who are the community leaders? Do they visit your library? Why not?
-You are a change agent. Connect with other like-minded people and stay current in your librarianship. Find blogs, round tables, and social media.
-Empower your users. Don’t put a lot of effort into fine free items when what your community really wants is signs in their own language.
Lisa is the Head of Youth/YA Services at the Clinton-Macomb Public Library in Clinton Township, MI.
This post addresses the following ALSC Core Competencies: V. Outreach and Advocacy and VII. Professionalism and Professional Development.