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Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

  • 1.  Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    Posted Jan 12, 2022 01:13 PM
      |   view attached
    The Resolutions Committee received the attached AASL Resolution (attached) and background (below) from Diane Chen, AASL Councilor (I made minor edits to the text below to reflect current status). 

    "At our AASL Board fall retreat, we unanimously passed the attached resolution ...[it has been also shared with] the Youth Council Caucus group on ALA Connect... The attached version has a few grammatical corrections as suggested via email among school librarian councilors. I will keep the version date updated so you will know that you are looking at the most current version.

    I am glad that we can acknowledge the past, while sharing how we have evolved to be doing better in our EDI initiatives - despite past and current imperfections."  

    My apologies to AASL for losing track of this resolution.

    -Aaron
    :-)'

    Attachment(s)



  • 2.  RE: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    Posted Jan 16, 2022 07:36 PM

    Another clear, sobering, and important messaging resolution which I truly appreciate.

    Grammar caucus notes, comma after "Whereas" needs to be removed in  Whereas #8!

     

     

    First letter of each Resolved clause needs to be lower case, i.e. acknowledges, apologizes, commits, communicates, creates...

     

    p.s. please insert "and" after the semicolon at the end of Resolved clause 8   

     

    Thanks!

    Mike L.  Marlin

    Director, California Braille and Talking Book Library

    ALA Councilor at Large

    Sacramento, CA

    Email: mmarlin33.3@gmail.com

    Mobile: (916) 243-9778

     






  • 3.  RE: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    Posted Jan 17, 2022 09:43 PM
    One of the reasons the SCOE, FTWG, FTRWG, and TAG groups worked so hard was to increase member engagement as requested by member surveys.  It seems that many councilors are waiting to participate until the virtual sessions or perhaps council forum. During the Youth Council Caucus meeting today, we discussed our disappointment not hearing from any other councilors about the vital issues in our resolutions to council: EDI and Intellectual Freedom attacks on school librarians. Should we just assume all councilors are in agreement and are just waiting until Council 3 to vote on the resolutions we brought forward? Perhaps the difficulty arises because councilors were more comfortable commenting via email instead of on Connect? We have changed our paths of communication and discussion. Not all councilors attend the council forums and council meetings occurring during the day are difficult to focus on when we are teaching, so asynchronous communication would be deeply appreciated. 

    Many school and youth librarians are under attack.  The inequities of service to the youth of our nation are increasing. There was a decrease of 20% of school library positions that greatly impacted BIPOC youth. Book deserts are increasing - leaving students without access to school libraries. Many school librarians believe the current and TAG proposals do not guarantee representation of all types of libraries on the executive board. Let's look back through the years and track how many years the EB has NOT had a school librarian represented. I am not content to have someone say they will represent school librarians when they do not research our needs or respond to the censorship and personal attacks we are experiencing. 

    These issues deserve engagement.  I encourage all councilors to read the resolutions and to respond.  Ask questions. Seek how you can support the school and youth librarians in our association and our profession.  If you are running for executive board or any offices, make sure you are researching the issues and are prepared to represent us. This is a time for engagement and speaking out. Perhaps we need to discuss what we really mean when we say we want to increase member engagement and how we are serving on council currently.

    Thank you, Mike, for pointing out the punctuation and grammar errors because it showed someone was reading the resolutions. 
    See you all online at the meetings this week.
    Sincerely,
    Diane Chen, AASL Division Councilor

    ------------------------------
    Diane R. Chen
    School Librarian @ Stratford STEM Magnet School
    AASL Division Councilor
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    Posted Jan 17, 2022 09:55 PM
    Thank you, Diane. I look forward to our discussions and votes this week. --
    Erika S. Long
    School Librarian
    Secretary/Treasurer-AASL
    Twitter @erikaslong
    Instagram @notyomamaslibrarian





  • 5.  RE: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    Posted Jan 17, 2022 10:15 PM
    Thanks for the resolution, Diane, et al.
    An updated version will be posted to the Council Documents section in Connect shortly.
    -Aaron
    :-)'

    ------------------------------
    Aaron W Dobbs (he/him)
    Library Support Staff Interests Round Table, President, 2021 - 2023
    ALA Council, Councilor for Small Round Tables, 2019 - 2022
    ALA Resolutions Committee, chair 2021 – 2022, member 2020 - 2022
    ALA Constitution & Bylaws Committee, member 2019 - 2023
    Round Table Member: ERT, GODORT, GNCRT, LearnRT, LHRT, LSSIRT, MAGIRT, NMRT, RMRT, SORT
    Division Member: ACRL, LITA, LLAMA, RUSA, UNITED
    ---
    Professor & Library Department Chair
    Scholarly Communication Librarian
    Librarian Liaison for Business
    Librarian Liaison for STEM
    Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania
    ---
    Vice President, 2016 - 2022
    Shippensburg University Chapter
    Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties
    ---
    Board of Trustees, President 2022, Trustee 2019 - 2024
    Jeffrey W and Jo Anne R Coy Public Library of Shippensburg
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    Posted Jan 17, 2022 10:25 PM
    Thanks, Aaron. We hope that many Councilors will read the resolution and speak to it in Council. 

    Sara
    ~~~
    Sara Kelly Johns
    Online Instructor, Syracuse University iSchool
    American Library Association Councilor-at-Large
    American Association of School Librarians Past President (2007-08)
    New York Library Association Past President (2014-15)
    67 Canaras Ave.
    Saranac Lake, NY 12983
    skjohns@gmail.com
    PH: 518-569-2339
    Twitter: @skjohns 
    "All knowledge is spendable currency, depending on the market"--Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings





  • 7.  RE: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    Posted Jan 17, 2022 10:31 PM

    It was super helpful to discuss the TAG questions with Youth Council Caucus this afternoon, and surprising indeed how little engagement has been present thus far from the rest of Council. We are discovering in society how important vocal engagement is to the voting process – isn't that at least as true in the Council environment? How can we hope to engage the membership if we ourselves are not engaged across library types and throughout Council. Diane's points are well taken. I look forward with everyone to meaningful conversation during Council and Council Forums.

     

    Dorcas Hand

    Texas Chapter Councilor






  • 8.  RE: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    Posted Jan 18, 2022 05:01 AM

    Thank you, Diane, for sharing the concerns of many school librarians.

    Both resolutions -- this resolution on EDI and the Resolution to Support School and Youth Services Librarians Facing Increased Intellectual Freedom Challenges -- are looking for all ALA members to come together at this crucial time to work together and to support school librarians on these issues.


    I also share the concern that all types of libraries should be represented on the executive board.

    I look forward to the discussions this week.

    --Kathy

    --
    Kathy Lester, MLIS, MA
    AASL President-Elect 2021-2022
    ALA Councilor At Large, 2021-2024
    ALA Committee on Library Advocacy Member,
       ALA State Ecosystem Subcommittee Member
    MAME Advocacy Chair, Past-President 2014
    School Librarian, East Middle School, Plymouth, MI





  • 9.  RE: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    Posted Jan 18, 2022 05:32 AM
    Diane,

    The discussion here has turned to representation on ALA’s Executive Board and you are absolutely correct that when compared to public librarians, academic librarians, library school faculty, we, as an organization, have not done a good job in ensuring that the voices of school librarians are well represented..

    Having said that, I believe that ALA has provided the resources to ensure that any member of Council can be on the board by supporting travel, hotel, etc for Board Members. Obviously the pandemic has “virtually” closed down in person meetings.

    The real issue is that most school districts will not support time off to attend in-person meeting for school librarians which in the past included two conferences and two additional meetings fall and spring as well as special meetings regarding hiring Executive Directors, etc.

    Those of us who have served on ALA’s Executive Board have either had very forward thinking Superinendents/Administrators who went all out to find a way to give days off or…. And I’m not sure that anyone I know paid for their own days off. This obviously is not a problem is you are the Dean of a library school, or the director of a large public or academic library or have an administrator who values your service to ALA.

    Times have changed somewhat and we have “survived” virtual meetings. Having said that I think that the more we depend on an Executive Board or Board of Directors, the more important it is for them to meet in person….. and this does not solve the problem of school librarians service at the highest ALA levels.

    In the “free-wheeling” days of the early 90’s, one year my school district gave me - and paid for a substitute - for 34 days during several school yeasr. The money came from the superintendents “slush fund”. That is not sustainable for anyone.

    I don’t have an answer but I hear your concerns.

    Ann K. Symons, School Librarian, retired
    Councilor at Large
    Past Board Member, ALA Treasurer, ALA President




  • 10.  RE: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    Posted Jan 18, 2022 07:56 AM

    Diane, thank you for your message to the list -- you raise some really important points about engagement.  And thanks to AASL and all those who worked on these resolutions.  I've been reading up on the history of ALA a lot lately and one thing has become clear to me -- what we say on the record matters. As does how we say it.  I think both statements can be an important part of supporting front line librarians and adding to the record of where we stand during this time of almost constant attacks.

    The resolutions are part of my report to the NJLA Board at our meeting this morning with my recommendation that NJLA endorse them both. 

    I did wonder if Resolve 1a in the IF resolution, which says:  "Pledging to reaffirm that the freedom to read supports active citizens of the future and to speak against censorship of youth library books and resources"  would be stronger if it said "Reaffirming that the freedom to read supports active citizens of the future and to speak against censorship of youth library books and resources."  I also wondered if you might consider adding chapters and others in Resolve 3.  In NJ both NJLA and NJASL have made strong statements in support of intellectual freedom and the front line librarians currently putting so much on the line to protect their students right to read. 

    With or without these changes these are important statements and I look forward to presenting them to my Board later this morning. 

    Thank you,

    Eileen

    --  Eileen M. Palmer Executive Director Libraries of Middlesex Automation Consortium NJLA Chapter Councilor to the ALA  27 Mayfield Ave. Edison, NJ 08837 (732) 750-2525 ext. 103 (732) 225-0910 (fax) empalmer@lmxac.org
    On 1/17/2022 10:43 PM, Diane Chen via ALA Connect wrote:
    0100017e6b481b1e-cdd7ce5e-7b24-4322-abcc-87688b5a652a-000000@email.amazonses.com">
    One of the reasons the SCOE, FTWG, FTRWG, and TAG groups worked so hard was to increase member engagement as requested by member surveys.  It... -posted to the "ALA Council" community
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    Jan 17, 2022 9:43 PM
    Diane Chen
    One of the reasons the SCOE, FTWG, FTRWG, and TAG groups worked so hard was to increase member engagement as requested by member surveys.  It seems that many councilors are waiting to participate until the virtual sessions or perhaps council forum. During the Youth Council Caucus meeting today, we discussed our disappointment not hearing from any other councilors about the vital issues in our resolutions to council: EDI and Intellectual Freedom attacks on school librarians. Should we just assume all councilors are in agreement and are just waiting until Council 3 to vote on the resolutions we brought forward? Perhaps the difficulty arises because councilors were more comfortable commenting via email instead of on Connect? We have changed our paths of communication and discussion. Not all councilors attend the council forums and council meetings occurring during the day are difficult to focus on when we are teaching, so asynchronous communication would be deeply appreciated. 

    Many school and youth librarians are under attack.  The inequities of service to the youth of our nation are increasing. There was a decrease of 20% of school library positions that greatly impacted BIPOC youth. Book deserts are increasing - leaving students without access to school libraries. Many school librarians believe the current and TAG proposals do not guarantee representation of all types of libraries on the executive board. Let's look back through the years and track how many years the EB has NOT had a school librarian represented. I am not content to have someone say they will represent school librarians when they do not research our needs or respond to the censorship and personal attacks we are experiencing. 

    These issues deserve engagement.  I encourage all councilors to read the resolutions and to respond.  Ask questions. Seek how you can support the school and youth librarians in our association and our profession.  If you are running for executive board or any offices, make sure you are researching the issues and are prepared to represent us. This is a time for engagement and speaking out. Perhaps we need to discuss what we really mean when we say we want to increase member engagement and how we are serving on council currently.

    Thank you, Mike, for pointing out the punctuation and grammar errors because it showed someone was reading the resolutions. 
    See you all online at the meetings this week.
    Sincerely,
    Diane Chen, AASL Division Councilor

    ------------------------------
    Diane R. Chen
    School Librarian @ Stratford STEM Magnet School
    AASL Division Councilor
    ------------------------------
      Forward  




     
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    Original Message:
    Sent: 1/17/2022 10:43:00 PM
    From: Diane Chen
    Subject: RE: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    One of the reasons the SCOE, FTWG, FTRWG, and TAG groups worked so hard was to increase member engagement as requested by member surveys.  It seems that many councilors are waiting to participate until the virtual sessions or perhaps council forum. During the Youth Council Caucus meeting today, we discussed our disappointment not hearing from any other councilors about the vital issues in our resolutions to council: EDI and Intellectual Freedom attacks on school librarians. Should we just assume all councilors are in agreement and are just waiting until Council 3 to vote on the resolutions we brought forward? Perhaps the difficulty arises because councilors were more comfortable commenting via email instead of on Connect? We have changed our paths of communication and discussion. Not all councilors attend the council forums and council meetings occurring during the day are difficult to focus on when we are teaching, so asynchronous communication would be deeply appreciated. 

    Many school and youth librarians are under attack.  The inequities of service to the youth of our nation are increasing. There was a decrease of 20% of school library positions that greatly impacted BIPOC youth. Book deserts are increasing - leaving students without access to school libraries. Many school librarians believe the current and TAG proposals do not guarantee representation of all types of libraries on the executive board. Let's look back through the years and track how many years the EB has NOT had a school librarian represented. I am not content to have someone say they will represent school librarians when they do not research our needs or respond to the censorship and personal attacks we are experiencing. 

    These issues deserve engagement.  I encourage all councilors to read the resolutions and to respond.  Ask questions. Seek how you can support the school and youth librarians in our association and our profession.  If you are running for executive board or any offices, make sure you are researching the issues and are prepared to represent us. This is a time for engagement and speaking out. Perhaps we need to discuss what we really mean when we say we want to increase member engagement and how we are serving on council currently.

    Thank you, Mike, for pointing out the punctuation and grammar errors because it showed someone was reading the resolutions. 
    See you all online at the meetings this week.
    Sincerely,
    Diane Chen, AASL Division Councilor

    ------------------------------
    Diane R. Chen
    School Librarian @ Stratford STEM Magnet School
    AASL Division Councilor
    ------------------------------

    Original Message:
    Sent: Jan 16, 2022 07:36 PM
    From: Mike Marlin
    Subject: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    Another clear, sobering, and important messaging resolution which I truly appreciate.

    Grammar caucus notes, comma after "Whereas" needs to be removed in  Whereas #8!

     

     

    First letter of each Resolved clause needs to be lower case, i.e. acknowledges, apologizes, commits, communicates, creates...

     

    p.s. please insert "and" after the semicolon at the end of Resolved clause 8   

     

    Thanks!

    Mike L.  Marlin

    Director, California Braille and Talking Book Library

    ALA Councilor at Large

    Sacramento, CA

    Email: mmarlin33.3@gmail.com

    Mobile: (916) 243-9778

     




    Original Message:
    Sent: 1/12/2022 2:13:00 PM
    From: Aaron Dobbs
    Subject: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    The Resolutions Committee received the attached AASL Resolution (attached) and background (below) from Diane Chen, AASL Councilor (I made minor edits to the text below to reflect current status). 

    "At our AASL Board fall retreat, we unanimously passed the attached resolution ...[it has been also shared with] the Youth Council Caucus group on ALA Connect... The attached version has a few grammatical corrections as suggested via email among school librarian councilors. I will keep the version date updated so you will know that you are looking at the most current version.

    I am glad that we can acknowledge the past, while sharing how we have evolved to be doing better in our EDI initiatives - despite past and current imperfections."  

    My apologies to AASL for losing track of this resolution.

    -Aaron
    :-)'


  • 11.  RE: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    Posted Jan 18, 2022 08:08 AM
    Greetings Diane and all,
    I strongly support both resolutions brought forward by AASL! I especially appreciate the calls to action in the resolution addressing censorship and attacks on school librarians. Both resolutions are well written and researched, and I thank everyone involved in authoring them, and getting a coalition of endorsers to sign on. 

    My only very minor suggestion for a change has to do with the fifth whereas clause in the censorship resolution. It ends with "promoting choice" and I would suggest adding "reading" to say "promoting reading choice" so there is no misunderstanding (or misconstruing in the media) of what type of  choice we are referring to.

    Many thanks for prompting this discussion, and for these excellent resolutions!

    ------------------------------
    [Karen] [Downing]
    [Education Librarian]
    [University of Michigan]
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    Posted Jan 18, 2022 09:11 AM

    Karen and Diane,

    I would suggest that it be broadened to reading and viewing – relating back to the Freedom to View Statement https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomviewstatement

     

    Sara D.

     

    Sara Dallas

    Director

    Southern Adirondack Library System

    22 Whitney Place

    Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

     

    518-584-7300 ext 205

    518-859-0742 (cell)

    www.sals.edu

     

     

    Freedom to Read Foundation Executive Board Member

    ALA Committee on Legislation

    ALA Councilor At Large

    LeRoy Merritt Foundation – Board of Trustees

    Capital District Library Council – Board of Directors

     

     

     

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  • 13.  RE: Resolution to Promote Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Efforts in AASL While Addressing Historical Effects of Racism

    Posted Jan 18, 2022 03:07 PM
    Diane and others
    I also strongly support this Resolution, glad ALA is owning up to the harm we have done, sorry we have to be clear about our current stance on racism in the profession.

    I have a small edit or clarification.  In Resolve 8,  "Communicates all EDI initiatives throughout AASL, ALA and the profession;"  Do you really mean "all" initiatives or do you want to clarify what you mean by All?

    Thanks to the Council for having this democratic body to bring these types of resolutions to light.

    Jennifer

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