SRRT (Social Responsibilities Round Table)

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The Social Responsibilities Round Table works to make ALA more democratic and to establish progressive priorities not only for the Association, but also for the entire profession. Concern for human and economic rights was an important element in the founding of SRRT and remains an urgent concern today. SRRT believes that libraries and librarians must recognize and help solve social problems and inequities in order to carry out their mandate to work for the common good and bolster democracy.

Learn more about SRRT on the ALA website.

  • 1.  Not sure if you all saw this, but thought it would be of interest to our Round Table

    Posted Apr 12, 2023 08:05 PM
    This is Maggie Tokuda-Hall’s blog post about Scholastic insisting she delete the word ‘racism’ and the paragraph talking about racism from her author’s note, or they would not feature her book in ironically an AANHPI narratives collection. But, heaven forbid she tell the full narrative. Angry at, and disappointed in, Scholastic

    https://www.prettyokmaggie.com/blog


  • 2.  RE: Not sure if you all saw this, but thought it would be of interest to our Round Table

    Posted Apr 12, 2023 11:39 PM
    Thank you, Sharon, for posting this. I hadn't seen it. Julie


    Julie Ann Winkelstein, PhD, MLIS
    Librarian, writer, teacher, activist
    Author: Libraries and Homelessness: An Action Guide (https://products.abc-clio.com/abc-cliocorporate/product.aspx?pc=A5708P)
    jwinkels@utk.edu

    My pronouns are she, her, hers

    Google is not a verb!




    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Not sure if you all saw this, but thought it would be of interest to our Round Table

    Posted Apr 14, 2023 08:57 AM

    My spouse mentioned this to me last night. So disappointed, and angry.

     

    I would assume Scholastic is fearful that they won't be able to sell books to schools (and more) in Florida and Texas. They are caving to fascism and authoritarianism.

     

    Katherine Moser Kelly (she, her)

    Largo Public Library - Community Services Librarian

    120 Central Park Drive, Largo, FL 33771

    727-587-6715 ext 2547

     

     

    Disclaimer: According to Florida Public Records Law, email correspondence to and from the City of Largo, including email addresses and other personal information, is public record and must be made available to public and media upon request, unless otherwise exempt by the Public Records Law.



    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Not sure if you all saw this, but thought it would be of interest to our Round Table

    Posted Apr 14, 2023 10:27 PM
    Hey all!!

    So there are two letters to sign out there, one for teachers and educators, one for authors/creators

    This is the link to the educator one:

    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSczQ6D8NcKBaQAvpRCSM_UA_7eSNpI5fLxkyKKds8ggTAOmJg/viewform

    If you want to share it with authors/creators, here’s that letter:

    https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdVJwPSIwVRQxWuaGbKkDHNAcnPpYwrU_jeUxajC3MMZw7JqQ/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0


    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Not sure if you all saw this, but thought it would be of interest to our Round Table

    Posted Apr 14, 2023 10:43 AM

    Thank you for sharing. I just read it and am so disappointed. Shame on Scholastic. I'm new to the group so I don't know the ins and outs, but this surely feels like something to act on in some way. I shared it on Facebook and tagged Scholastic indicating my disappointment, but they probably won't even see it. I'm sure this is happening to other authors as well . . . it is tough because I want to say I won't buy from them, but that is not realistic. How else do we show our discontent??

    Thanks,
    Jennifer


    ------------------------------
    Jennifer Millikan
    Director of Library Services
    St. Joseph's Academy Library
    Immediate Past-President, Missouri Association of School Librarians
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Not sure if you all saw this, but thought it would be of interest to our Round Table

    Posted Apr 14, 2023 01:56 PM

    I say we all go out and buy her book.  And I will definitely share the blog post. Thanks for posting this.



    ------------------------------
    Carolyn Nickerson-Harper
    Assistant Director
    Carlsbad Public Library
    Carlsbad, NM
    cjnickerson-harper@cityofcarlsbadnm.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Not sure if you all saw this, but thought it would be of interest to our Round Table

    Posted Apr 15, 2023 07:05 AM

    Amen.  I have ordered it from Bookshop.org--it is on back order--I hope because they  have sold a lot of copies.  Michael



    ------------------------------
    Michael Gorman
    Chicago, Illinois
    michaelg@mail.fresnostate.edu
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Not sure if you all saw this, but thought it would be of interest to our Round Table

    Posted Apr 15, 2023 08:57 PM
    Hi everyone,
    In case you haven't seen this, Scholastic has posted an apology: http://mediaroom.scholastic.com/press-release/our-commitment-sharing-diverse-stories

    Julie


    Julie Ann Winkelstein, PhD, MLIS
    Librarian, writer, teacher, activist
    Author: Libraries and Homelessness: An Action Guide (https://products.abc-clio.com/abc-cliocorporate/product.aspx?pc=A5708P)
    jwinkels@utk.edu

    My pronouns are she, her, hers

    Google is not a verb!




    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Not sure if you all saw this, but thought it would be of interest to our Round Table

    Posted Apr 15, 2023 09:13 PM
    They did apologize (kind of) and backtracked. The part that really bugged me was their dig at Maggie saying 'we wish she had showed us the post before going public' (not an exact quote).

    Well, maybe DON'T BE RACIST and you won't have to worry

    Also, pressure like this was posted on Twitter:



    Dr. Sayantani DasGupta
    @Sayantani16
    ·
    Apr 13
    I stand in solidarity with Maggie, against censorship, book banning & the silencing of conversations about racism, BIPOC lives & the struggle toward liberation. To that end, I resigned today as a mentor for the Scholastic Rising Voices AANHPI Narratives collection today

    -
    It took a LOT of people (with power) speaking up. This was a wonderful victory, we just have to keep shining a lot on actions like this.

    Thanks all!

    -Sharon





    Original Message