I always try to attend the Leadership and ALSC session at ALA Conferences because I find it useful as both a networking tool and also as a way to expand my professional knowledge on topics relevant to children’s librarianship. Today’s meeting was no exception!
The program portion of this meeting featured educator and diversity advocate Debbie LeeKeenan who spoke on the topic of “Anti-bias Education and Children’s Literature: Provoking Courageous Conversations.” It was a powerful, timely, and thought-provoking discussion which covered topics including
- Social justice education during changing and challenging times
- Anti-bias education
- Building frameworks for courageous conversations, and how we can find opportunities for teachable and learnable moments
The importance of choosing more authentic and culturally responsive books was discussed, including the need to:
- Work to unlearn stereotypes, not create them
- Recognize that there are different experiences within every group
- Provide a range of books about differences, including differences in:
-
- race
- ethnicity
- family structure
- ability
- religion
- class
One of my biggest take-aways from this session was the importance of continuing to work to move beyond “either/or” thinking and embrace complexity. We can talk with each other and with kids about visions for a better world, and empower each other by being open to discussions of inequality or unfairness that we see and by asking “What can we do to make it better?”
This post addresses the ALSC Core Competencies of: I. Commitment to Client Group and VII. Professionalism and Professional Development