Article Note: A Bit More on Librarian Sabbaticals

This article was cited in the previous article I read about factors that contribute to librarian turnover. Sabbaticals were discussed a bit in that article. I was able to get a hold of this article, so I figured I would read it too. I will disclose up front that librarians in my small college do qualify for sabbaticals, though there are issues with that I will mention as I comment on this article. 

This article looks at academic librarian participation in sabbaticals. The research was based mainly on a survey sent to library directors that included some open-ended questions; answers to those open-ended questions are discussed in the article. A significant part of the argument for librarians taking sabbatical if they are able is that the experience can provide some respite and refreshing for the librarians. To be honest, for me at least, besides not being able to take a sabbatical (a full one that is), a sabbatical would not be the respite and/or break from the daily grind writes like the author make it out to be. It would just be taking time off to do more work, different work, but still a lot of work, then write reports about it when I get back while catching up on the work I was not able to do while I was gone on said sabbatical. That is not less stress. That sounds like more stress, and I can do without that. 

 

Some takeaways from the article: 

• A 2001 study by Gaskell and Morril, which this article's author relies on quite a bit, found that a bit over half of the academic institutions the researchers surveyed offered sabbatical to academic librarians; however, only the most "avid" librarians applied for the programs (153). 
• I can't imagine why more librarians would not apply. I will disclose also that prior to my current job, I never had sabbaticals as an option, so personally I fail to see the big deal. 
• Author points out that literature related to sabbaticals in academia is small, even smaller when it deals with academic librarians. This literature tends to be either personal narratives or descriptive and informative review articles. In other words, the kind of LIS articles that may get written because someone needs to get tenure, but are not persuasive to administrators. In fact, the author mentions this: "Regrettably, this kind of writing is simply not likely to convince those college administrators, 'who really have not plans or expectations for the library except the hope that it will stay withing the allocated budget and that the faculty and the students...will not complain too strenuously about it'" (154). 
• Then there are administrators who would love to cut the library budget even more (or entirely if they could get away with it), but that is another story. 
• The author discloses: "It is now time to acknowledge that this author is one of the fortunate few within the library profession to currently be enjoying a year-long sabbatical. Yet, my own experience also demonstrates that such 'acceptance into full faculty collegiality is not generally extended'" (154). 
• Must be nice and duh! Further, the author describes their institution: "Our leadership is strong and the staff highly skilled and service-oriented. We work with an exceptional teaching faculty, a reasonably engaged student body and the librarians at my institution look forward to lengthy, fulfilling careers" (154). To be honest, the author's description of their institution does have echoes of Lake Wobegon.
  
• Author goes on to write after that disclosure about a colleague who had a sabbatical project rejected, a project that was related to the library and its work (I guess it was not deemed academic enough). Not exactly a supportive administration there, but not surprising. For me, that is another reason I do not bother applying for sabbatical: I honestly do not think based on local conditions that I can get the upper ups to approve anything I would care enough about to work on during a sabbatical. 
• Adding to my comment above, this finding from the article is not encouraging: "The following respondent's comment was representative, 'there is no specific prohibition against it, but it is unclear if a request for a sabbatical would be approved by the faculty committee or college administration.' Other participants noted that sabbatical leaves could be provided 'on (the) whim' or 'at the discretion' of administrative personnel outside of the library" (155).
   
• Key question from the article author: "...librarians do suffer job-dissatisfaction and burnout. Shouldn't we be making a more determined effort to get out a bit more?" (154). 
• Yes, and it's called taking a vacation, not a sabbatical. 
• Barely 50% of respondents said that sabbatical offerings from librarians were equivalent to what "real" faculty get. The article goes on to state that "a number of respondents report that librarians at their institutions receive sabbaticals that are significantly shorter in duration than those of their teaching faculty colleagues" (158). This also brings up an issue of equity.
  
• I can assure you we would be one of those places where the sabbatical offering for librarians is not equivalent to what the "real" faculty get. Our situation here is very much like situations reported in the article where "another person who also noted that at his/her institution librarian leaves needed to 'coincide with summer, whereas faculty can go for half or full years. . .'" (158). 
• "And yet, the issues described by survey participants in this study are hardly new or earth-shattering" (160).
• And yet this article got written and published. 

 

Citation for the article: 

Molly R. Flaspohler, "Librarian Sabbatical Leaves: Do We Need to Get Out More?" The Journal of Academic Librarianship 35.2 (March 2009): 152-161.  

Article Note: On Factors That Contribute to Academic Librarian Turnover

As I started to read this article, I recalled my days in library school. Early on in the program one of the assignments in a library management class I was taking was to interview a library manager/supervisor. So I went back to my previous graduate school and interviewed their head of the reference department at the time. They told me, among various insights, that turnover in her unit was part of the trade as other librarians would move up to promotions elsewhere. She tried to make an environment to make sure her librarians and workers did well at their job so they could succeed wherever they ended up. I admit that at the time, and even now, I have some mixed feelings about that. 

This article looks at reasons librarians gave for leaving one academic institution for another within a five-year period. I will mention upfront that I would've fallen within the changing jobs in 5 to 7 years, though for me it was not just in libraries. But that is another story. 

Some takeaways from the article, with a bit of my commentary: 

• "Library managers and their supervisors do not benefit from new librarians every two years as much as they benefit from librarians that believe in their institution and stay with it" (Cottrell, qtd. in 579).
• And yet, more often than not library managers are on the lookout for the next library messiahs and young librarians versed in the latest "flash." See also the phenomenon of "new-hire messianism" identified by the Library Loon back in 2011. Some things have not changed over time. By the way, finding that 2011 link took some doing on the search engine. Part of it I am sure is because as library blogs age, and are mostly forgotten except by a few of us, content like the Library Loon's gets buried deeper in the web.
  
• Purpose of the article is to "examine the contributing factors to academic librarian turnover and begin a conversation about retaining 21st century library professionals" (580). 
• The study defined academic librarians as "any professional holding a Master's degree in Library Science and currently working in an academic setting" (582). To be included in the survey, "participants had to be currently employed as an academic librarian within the United States and have voluntarily left an academic librarian position within the last five years" (582). 
• The survey ended up with 275 participants who completed the survey and met the criteria to be included. 
• Note that most of the participants worked and/or work at large public universities of 20K+ students.
  
• A study by M. Becher, quoted in the article, found that "among librarians with faculty status, tenured librarians have the highest levels of job satisfaction. Meanwhile, non-tenured librarians reported lower overall job satisfaction, particularly among those not on the tenure-track but who work alongside tenure track librarians" (qtd. in 581). 
• I would buck this trend given my low regard for tenure and librarianship. A couple of my colleagues here would likely buck the trend as well, but I will note no one was asking me. 
• "In recent years, the concept of job burnout has become more prevalent in the library literature. One of the primary causes of burnout is work overload" (581). 
• Gee, can't imagine why. 
• "Quantitative data showed that participants were most dissatisfied with the morale in the library" (585). Again, I can't imagine why. Keep in mind this article came out in 2020, which means the research was done in 2019 or so, i.e. mostly before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. If morale in libraries was low then, it took another major hit during the pandemic. Issues that respondents identified related to morale included ineffective library management (things like micromanaging, poor decisions, unethical behavior), campus administration issues (such as poor leadership), and lack of growth opportunities (585). 
• Toxic and dysfunctional library culture and environment was also identified as a morale issue, though to be honest, it did not score as high as I would have expected. Still, I would say the old adage is applicable: people don't quit jobs. They quite bad managers and supervisors. Turns out a bit later in the article, the authors mention this too: "Results from the study indicate that employees are not fleeing their positions, they are fleeing work environments they feel are toxic" (591). Way I see it this kind of finding should be an indictment of how some libraries are run and the shameful fact that a good amount of toxic library supervisors and directors are not only tolerated but even rewarded. But do not take my word for it. Read on.
  
• "Low morale (M=3.17, SD- 1.01) was the area of highest dissatisfaction and was often tied to library leadership and culture within the open-ended responses. Direct supervisors were a frequently cited source of conflict due to bullying, neglect, or biased behavior. These behaviors were exhibited by the supervisors themselves, but also between colleagues and departments" (591). Good thing they did not ask me because I could have shared a horror story or two about workplace bullying and spineless administrators.
  
• An interesting to me finding: "This means that academic librarians who previously worked at smaller institutions (in terms of enrollment) were more dissatisfied with aspects related to their job duties and compensation and benefits than academic librarians who worked at larger institutions" (590). 
• In my experience, and I emphasize it is my experience, I have been more satisfied working in a smaller campus. There are reasons for that, and I probably should write about that some day. 
• Another interesting to me finding: "In the open-ended portion of the survey, participants reported that being classified as staff meant having less conference and travel funding and feeling less respected by colleagues within the university" (592). 
• To which I ask if they feel more respected if they have tenure. Because from experience in more than one campus I have worked in, I can safely tell you that "real" faculty don't give a shit about us librarians being "faculty" too. We are not "real" to them. 
• And speaking of messianism and librarianship, "other librarians reported that newly hired librarians in instruction or technical services were offered lower salaries than new librarians that worked in digital fields" (593). As if overall inequity issues were not bad enough. 
• A possible solution in hiring: "honestly during the recruitment phase about the surrounding area in order for candidates to make informed decisions about whether it will be a good fit" (594).
• Yea, right. On a very anecdotal side notes, some hiring committees locally have reported that "the surrounding area" (i.e. the state) has created some difficulties in attracting quality candidates to come work here. Catch is that much like libraries can't control local weather (and yes, in some cases, unhappiness with weather was a reason for a departure), they can't really control if their locale is less than desirable (for whatever reasons, including the political climate for instance). 
• "As reflected in burnout literature, librarians exceed what is considered a typical work week to fit in their service and scholarship elements on top of their work tasks" (594). 
• And with little to no appreciation (let alone compensation) I will add. On a positive for me, I am glad I am not on a tenure line, which means I do not have to worry about "scholarship" requirements that would be more of a distraction to me doing my actual work. 
• And yet another of those gee I wonder why findings: The authors mention that "while about half of academic librarians are eligible for sabbatical, less than a third take advantage of the privilege" (594). 
• Where do I even start with that one. One reason may be the workloads we often have combined with an inability to realistically take time off. I happen to have the so-called privilege of sabbatical, but when it came up for me I did not take it. One of the reasons is that, although I get it, I cannot take it in the way a "real" faculty would be able to take it (six months to a year straight through). My duties pretty much prevent this. I am one of the primary library instructors and my duties in a regular semester are quite heavy. This would mean a disruption to the library. Not to mention likelihood of getting a sabbatical replacement for me is fairly low (again, unlike "real" faculty who can likely count on that). Here, the one or two colleagues who took a sabbatical had to split it, and not even a fair split. It was basically two summers (because again, we have to work during the year), so they do not even get a full sabbatical (two summers is not even six months). I am sure there are other reasons those librarians choose not to take their sabbaticals if they even get them. To be honest, from what I gather, an academic librarian getting sabbaticals as a job privilege is rare. I may need to check on that at some point. Having said that, I will note that before I came to my current job, I never had sabbatical as an academic librarian so to be honest to the so-called privilege does not really impress me. 
• "Retaining employees is especially important because while waves of new employees can bring with them waves of new ideas, longtime employees identify more closely with and have more loyalty to their institution's mission" (Cottrell qtd. in 594). 
• This becomes a question of hoe much administrators value loyalty to the institution and workplace or not If all they care about is the latest messiah and flash, then turnover might not be as big an issue. It can be the price of doing business, get a nice project going and as long as someone who remains behind can maintain it the originator can leave (or the project falls apart, but by then the next new person brings along the next new thing, and repeat the cycle). 
• "Retention strategies should begin at the start of a librarian's time at an institution, not when they are already thinking about leaving" (595). 
• Duh. I can assure you that no one really thought of this in places I was hired previously, and if we are being honest, I do not think they gave it that much thought at my current workplace. 
• "Recruiting and retaining librarians of color is particularly problematic in environments that do not protect employees from racial microaggressions, isolation, invalidations and microinsults..." (596).
• Again, duh. See also the previous point here about employers being honest or not about ground conditions when they are doing hiring. 
• The authors note that the study did not consider librarians who left the profession entirely, and that can be a subject for further study.

 

Citation for the article: 

 Christina Heady, et.al., "Contributory Factors to Academic Librarian Turnover: a Mixed-Methods Study." Journal of Library Administration 60.6 (2020): 579-599.  

Article Note: Looking at the Immersive Media and Books 2020 Report

This article looks at and summarizes findings from the Immersive Media and Books 2020 report done by Panorama Project. You can find the full report here. At the link you can download the full report to read, and they also offer a webinar on it you can watch. The big takeaway from the report is that books are not in a vacuum; they exist within a connected media ecosystem that can include television, the Internet, games, etc. The report looks at consumer behavior related to books and that media ecosystem before and during the COVID-19 pandemic (the pandemic that as of this writing is still ongoing). I am writing down some of the key ideas from the article and adding a bit of my commentary here or there. 

• Definition of book engagement: "...buying, borrowing, subscribing to, reading or gifting a printed book, an ebook, or audiobook in part or in whole" (228). In the survey, participants were then asked how many books they engaged with rather than how many books they read (which is what other surveys such as Pew Research does). This can account for more than just people who read books or buy books. This can account for people who do things like check books out of the library that they may or not read. I am sure some readers out there who use libraries have done that, check out a book they returned unread. No shame in that. It also accounts for other behaviors such as buying books as gifts. 
• Survey sample size was 4,314. Data was collected from September to November 2020.
• Word of mouth discovery is a highlight of the report. This includes learning about books via family, friends, and social media. Not one form of discovery predominates; they are widely distributed. 
• Report found people may not be very aware of the role of algorithms in book discovery, for example in social media spaces (based on how people curate their social media) and in places like Amazon where the algorithm is used to target ads and sale suggestions (and this is something people cannot opt out). For me, a lot of my social media is curated in terms of books and reading, especially Twitter and my RSS reader where I follow authors, book publishers, and other reader's advisory resources.
  
• Author brand plays a role in book discovery and purchasing. People cite favorite authors and author events as ways of discovering new books. I'll say that may not be as much for me. While I have some favorite authors, I do not always try to read everything a favorite author puts out. I tend to like a bit more variety, so I wander around in seeking out new books to read. Personally, I don't really fit this because I mostly discover new things to read via social media, as I noted above. I also discover new books to read via tools and sites like NetGalley and Edelweiss Plus, plus I am a strong library user, both my local public library and the academic library I work at. Being a professional librarian means I also have access to things like publisher catalogs. So I am very aware that I am a bit different than the average survey participants. 
• Definition of avid book engagers from the report: "...respondents who 'engaged' with 4 or more books per month (in any format: ebook, audiobook, or print book)" (231).
• Why diversity matters and publishers need to pay more attention: "Young ethnically diverse respondents (especially Black and LatinX millennials) are avidly buying, borrowing, and subscribing to books. The book industry has long underestimated Black, LatinX and millennial book engagers as desirable target audiences. These are consumers to watch going forward" (232-233). I'd say the publishing industry still underestimates them. 
• Yes, libraries DO drive book sales (no matter what grouchy and greedy book publishers would have you believe): "35.9% of respondents bough a book online that they found in a library. 31.1% of respondents bought a book in a bookstore that they first found in a library" (234). 
• The concept of cross-media discovery: "Cross-media discovery (discovering books through video games or TV/movies and vice versa) is high amongst survey respondents, suggesting that audiences are already accustomed to traversing media to pursue stories and worlds they enjoy; there is likely more opportunity for cross-media collaboration" (235). I would say I do not discover much to read via video games, since I play so little video games if ever. I may discover something to read from television or movies, but that is pretty rare too. One way I discover books to read from television is via documentaries and similar programs. If the program on a topic I am interested in features an expert, and that expert has written a book, I am likely to search out the book and decide if I want to read it down the road or not. 
• Piracy may be a problem, but it is also a matter for publishers to demonstrate value of buying their products. "Musicians have adapted to the reality of piracy by putting more of a premium on things that are harder to pirate, such as fan merchandise and live concerts. The public's demand for printed books suggests that authors won't have to shift their revenue streams as extremely as did musicians. But publishers will have to make sure the value proposition of buying a printed book more evident to young people habituated to leasing access to entertainment" (236). 
• However, for all the griping certain segments make about online pirates, the issue is not black and white as those certain segments would have you believe: "book pirates are not only thieves but also customers, library patrons, fanfiction readers/writers, and more. Compared to the general survey population, a higher percentage of book pirates during COVID are buying more books (38.7%), audiobooks (27.1%) and print books (33.7%). . ." (236). 
• "The data show that book pirates are avid readers who will buy books when the value proposition is clear to them; for example, pirates are much more likely than the general survey population to buy books in multiple formats (41.5%)" (236). 
• "This disrupts the usual absolute perspective-- pirate or not pirate-- with a more nuanced understanding and spectrum of piracy behavior" (236). This is a bit of why I am not too critical of pirates as some other folks out there are. Also if you make things harder in terms of ability to purchase a book (or another item), from what I have seen, the more likely said items will be pirated. 
• Key finding about libraries: "The most important finding is that library borrowing encourages book sales. Immersive Media & Books 2020 finds that libraries, bookstores, and online channels mutually reinforce each other, leading to engagement and sales in other channels" (237, emphasis in original). We need to say this louder for the greedy asshat publisher moguls in the back who keep making things difficult for libraries to acquire books, especially ebooks, for their communities. 
• Furthermore, "the report found that library borrowing does not preclude or discourage respondents from buying books; on the contrary, a greater percentage of library card holders said they were buying more books during COVID than the general survey population, in every format" (237). 

 

Citation for the article: 

Rachel Noorda and Kathi Inman Berens, "Immersive Media and Books 2020: New Insights About Book Pirates, Libraries and Discovery, Millennials, and Cross-Media Engagement: Before and During COVID." Publishing Research Quarterly 37 (2021): 227-240.  

Article Note: On the experience of uniqueness and difference for librarians of color

The article argues that due to lack of diversity in the profession, the experiences of librarians of color are often ignored by the white majority. The white majority may be unaware of the challenges their colleagues of color face. Personally, I think at times the majority is fully aware, but they just ignore it, minimize, or make it worse, but the article is much more charitable overall (that is another story for another time). 

Once again, I want to jot down some takeaways from the article I want to remember with some comments of my own. 

• "The lack of diversity in librarianship is a well-known and well-documented problem" (285). And yet, here we are again with another article discussing that lack of diversity in the profession that is so well-known and well-documented. The article goes to point out further that progress has been slow and that we need more than statistics and calls for action. Again, nothing new here. 
• What the article aims to do: ". . .articulate with rich detail how a group of librarians of color experience uniqueness and difference in a predominantly white profession" (286). Does it succeed? I would say not quite. Once you get past the literature review and the method, there is just not that much to consider in the discussion. Actual descriptions of what the librarians of color experience are pretty brief. 
• On participants for the study: "The eight participants included four women and four men who self-identified as African American, Asian, and LatinX, with some multiple identities also offered. Participants were employed in a number of environments including academic research libraries, community college libraries, public libraries, and school libraries. A challenge to the study was some participants' concern that their anonymity would not be protected if demographic detail was provided, due to the small number of librarians of color in the profession" (287-288). So basically they had a sample so small that participants could be easily identifiable, so the authors need to keep things very vague. This is a common concern for librarians of color, including me. It is a big reason I never participate in any campus survey that asks for my demographic information. Once they know my gender, ethnicity, and department, there is NO anonymity for me no matter what they claim. 
• Big themes to emerge from this limited study is the experience of uniqueness and difference among librarians of color. Another theme they found is that intersectionality can play a role as well, where there are layers of diversity, for example being a librarian of color and male (in a female dominated profession). 
• Some librarians of color would argue, and I would probably agree, that times our presence contributes to making things inclusive. We do the work just by being there, showing up, doing our work. 
• Participants felt that being a librarian of color allowed them to better related to library patrons of color. Part of it due to shared experience. I can related to that. 
• Participants also felt that there are burdens to being a librarian of color such as the expectation of serving in every diversity committee, service job, initiative, etc. a campus creates. I can relate to that too, though I have done my best personally to distance myself from some of that. For good or ill, there are always new faculty on my campus willing to do that to get their service requirements for their tenure line. Note that while I have "faculty" status, I am not "real" faculty nor am I on a tenure track. While I do get roped into committee work now and then, it is not a strict requirement, so when it comes to DEI, I tend to avoid it because, well, I do not wish nor need to be the token guy (but that is another story). Bottom line here, as the article points out, is that the work of librarians of color is often very different than the work of the white colleagues in terms of having to do things like the diversity committee, collection development in some area based on race and/or ethnicity (oh, you are LatinX, and you speak Spanish? you are the new Spanish liaison, for example).
  
• "The microaggressions and discrimination experienced by participants reinforce the need for diversity policies, as well as a creation of a culture of support and inclusion" (294). Gee, you think? One thing the article does not consider, and it is probably something for another article, is what happens when one member of a color group does the microaggressions and discrimination towards another member of another color group, say a black person discriminating against an Asian. And yes, that can happen (but so far not something I have seen in the literature. I suppose folks of color have enough problems as is from outside to check on the problems in their houses, but again, that is another story). 
• From the conclusion: "Some findings of this study may sound all too familiar to librarians of color" (295). Again, you think? 
• Also from the conclusion: "There is frustration with seeing endless papers about diversity issues and racism in information professions that raise problems but offer little in way of solutions" (295). Kind of like this paper. To be honest, as I mentioned, actual accounts from the librarians of color are very brief and minimal. It does not feel like enough. As for the findings, a lot of this is not really new. 

 Citation for the article: 

Amy VanScoy and Kawanna Bright, "Articulating the Experience of Uniqueness and Difference for Librarians of Color." The Library Quarterly 89.4 (2019): 285-297.

Article Note: On top trends in academic libraries for 2022

The article summarizes and discusses trends in academic librarianship for the previous two years, going back to 2020. This report from Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) seeks to provide a snapshot of what has been going on. I read through this, and I am jotting down a few takeaways and comments from my reading. Keep in mind this is an ACRL report, which means it is mostly looking at R-1 universities and other really big schools. My college would not be on their radar, but I still find some things in the article can be applicable here.

 

• COVID-19 pretty much dominated the time period. It forced libraries to adapt and offer new online services and/or expand the online services they had already. Locally, we had to significantly expand our online services.* Like other libraries, we did have a lockdown period. 
• Like many other workplaces and the rest of society, the pandemic exposed the many inequity issues in library employment. The authors write that "inequities between librarians and other library staff were heightened" (244). Locally, well, this would include the already existing inequity issues between the "real" faculty and the "library faculty. 
• In addition, the authors also write that "low morale continues to be an area of concern in librarianship, particularly for librarians of color, nonlibrarian staff, and members of underrepresented groups" (244). Add other life pressures, and librarians who happen to be on tenure lines are seriously suffering. Personally, I am glad I am not on a tenure line. There are issues that cause me stress, but publish or perish is not one of them.
• Yes, the pandemic also made us more aware of space and its utilization. Signage, enforcing masking rules (which have been relaxed by now), social distancing, so on, were and are issues. 
• A side note from the space issue. An investigation the authors cite looked at "pre-COVID, how collaboration spaces are used and found that furniture or spaces intended for multiple people are frequently being used by single individuals" (245). We certainly jumped on the collaboration spaces bandwagon here. I would say we need to investigate here how exactly are collaborative spaces used, to verify if use is consistent with the investigation mentioned or not. 
• Sharing collections more and more emphasis on open access.  On open access, the authors point out that while there is a lot of talk about OA, librarians being typically in favor, it has not translated into any substantial OA policies. 
• Apparently artificial intelligence (AI) is a growing trend in academic libraries, but to be honest, that is not something that has appeared on our radar at this point, and as of this writing, it would not be a priority to any degree. For us, it would be a very low concern if at all at this point in time. 
• Data and data management. At times, administrators speak about it, but so far no one really has presented any ideas or paths to execute or make it meaningful. 
• Why this can be significant for libraries, including for libraries like ours? "Libraries are taking a greater interest in data visualization as they seek to tell their own story, including assessment, value of the library, collection analysis, and internal capacity building" (249). 
• Critical librarianship continues to be a trend. 
• Defined: "For instance, critical librarianship argues that libraries are not neutral and challenges librarians to take steps towards antiracist and aintioppressive practices for the benefit of users but also for the benefit of the profession itself" (249). 
• This is an area that I admit we need to work on and explore further here. 
• A key area of this is critical information literacy (CIL). "CIL literature discusses why and how information professionals should ask questions about power dynamics within academia, equal access to information, and the economic incentives around how information and data are created, stored, and used" (249). While we do some of that in our information literacy sessions, it is nowhere near being systematic or consistent. Clearly an area we need to explore. Given where I work, this kind of labor makes sense as well as would go with the overall institutional mission. As I said, needs further investigation at this time. 

On a final note, I did find copies of some items from the article's references list, which I will read and make notes here as I get to them.  

Citation for the article: 2021-2022 ACRL Research Planning and Review Committee, "Top Trends in Academic Libraries: a Review of Trends and Issues." C&RL News, June 2022: 243-256.

* Here is our webpage for COVID-19 online services we set up in 2020 shortly after the initial lockdown. The website has been updated as changes happened over time. 

Book Review: Ukraine: What Everyone Needs to Know

Serhy Yekelchyk, Ukraine: What Everyone Needs to Know. New York: Oxford University Press, 2020. ISBN: 9780197532119.

 

Genre: nonfiction, reference

Subgenre: Ukraine, history, politics

Format: hardcover

Source: Hutchins Library, Berea College

 

This book is part of Oxford's series "What Everyone Needs To Know" (by the way, they do have the trademark on that phrase). Our library recently bought this title for our collection, in part given the timely topic at this moment. I decided to go ahead and read it to learn more as well as to write this brief review. This is a second edition of the book. The author is a professor of History and Slavic Studies at the University of Victoria and writes on modern Ukraine and Russian-Ukraine relations. 

The book follows the typical format of the "What Everyone Needs to Know" series, which is a question and answer format. The book is arranged into seven chapters: 

• Why Ukraine?
• The Land and the People.
• The Making of Modern Ukraine.
• Ukraine After Communism.
• The Orange Revolution and the EuroMaidan.
• Russia's Annexation of the Crimea and the War in the Donbas.
• The War in Ukraine as an International Issue. 

Each chapter then has a series of basic questions with answers. Some sample questions the book answers are: 

• Why did Ukraine become a key reference point of American political struggles?
• Was Ukraine always part of Russia?
• When and why did Ukraine give up its nuclear arsenal? 
• What assistance has the United States provided Ukraine since 2014?

In addition, the book also includes a chronology, a map, a set of notes documenting facts, and a list for further reading. The book covers the country from its early days up until the first year or so of Zelensky's presidency.  As the author writes, he focuses mainly on "Ukraine's complex national and civic identity" (xv). He does address that and a bit more as he also looks at Ukraine's relations with Russia as well as Ukraine's interactions with the United States and the international community. 

The book is more an academic textbook, in other words I would not label it for pleasure reading (unless you are a policy wonk, history buff, or similar reader), but it should be of interest to general readers who want to learn more about the topic. While the text can be a bit dry at times, the book is still very accessible. The question and answer format is good to allow readers to read a bit at a time here or there. Some readers may want to read the book cover to cover. Other readers may want to just find topics of interest and focus on those. If you need a basic book that covers the topic well, this book will do the job. 

For academic libraries, this can be a good book to introduce the topic to students. For students who may be writing research papers on Ukraine and the war with Russia, this can be a good text to get them started. It can provide an overview of the issues, and the references from the notes and further reading can give students additional sources to read and explore. I would also say this can be a good selection for public libraries seeking to add a book on what is a topic right out of the news at this time. If a public library does not have much on Ukraine, this book can be a good start. 

Overall, at a little under 200 pages, not including notes and reading list, this is a book anyone can read and get a basic understanding of the country and the relevant issues. I really like it, and it would be one I would hand to students and other patrons wanting to learn more about the topic. Bottom line is this is a pretty good primer on the topic. 

4 out of 5 stars.

Article Note: Caring in First Year Library One-Shot Instruction

I picked this up to read in my quest to keep up with the literature in library instruction. Here are some takeaways and notes I want to remember from the article, with a bit of comment. 

• Author's main argument: "an academic librarian providing one-shot instruction sessions to first-year students is uniquely positioned to enact a feminist ethic of care in the classroom" (96). A key is to think of the session as the start on an open librarian and student relationship.
  
• The author further argues that the instruction session is a first impression for first year students and a way to inspire a relationship with the librarian and the library. This is a big reason why here in our library we promote our other services during instruction sessions, especially availability of appointments for research consultations with a librarian. 
• I'd give this article some bonus points for mentioning bell hooks and her work. To be honest, if you are writing about feminism and education, odds are good you have to bring up bell hooks.
• Author making reference to O'Keefe: "Studies have shown that a sense of connectedness and feeling cared for can have dramatic impact on student retention rates and ensuring that students perform to the best of their abilities; that sense of connectedness can come from a caring relationship with just one key person in the student's institution" (qtd. in 97). This is also why our librarians strive to demystify academia, make transparent assumptions that professors often take for granted and fail or neglect to explain to students. On a side note, I may need to check the literature for anything on this demystifying process; I am sure there is something out there, yet for us here seems like just something we do. 
  
• Citation for the reference: O'Keefe, P. (2013). "A sense of belonging: Improving student retention." College Student Journal, 47 (4): 605-613.
• Defining feminist pedagogy, from Crabtree, et.al.: "Feminist pedagogy is marked by a desire to break down the classroom hierarchy that traditionally puts the teacher in a position of power over the students, favoring instead an egalitarian community of learners who respect individuals and differences" (97).
•  Citation for the reference: Crabtree, R.D., Sapp, D.A., and Licona, A.C. (eds.). (2009). Feminist pedagogy: Looking back to move forward. The Johns Hopkins Press. 
• Though the author argues that our classrooms may be places of radical possibilities, I do have to question that. Just how much "freedom" do we really have given certain faculty demands and other restrictions? 
• The author highlights that the one-on-one reference consultation is a good fit for a caring relationship to develop. We often find here that we are better able to care for and help our students in consultations. In addition, the feedback from post consultation surveys we do as part of our assessment process tend to be positive. 
• A tip: "It is important to show availability outside the classroom for a future encounter" (100). We certainly do this. I even keep late hours for consultations. 
• The author probably needs to work on limits and boundaries given that she "gives students her email address and cell number and asks them to email/call/text anytime" (100). I give my students my email address, but that is it. They do not get my cell, and I do not think a librarian should be giving out their personal cell number. Heck, in previous workplaces some of the female librarians had to be concerned about stalking to the point they did not even want their full names on name tags. So no, not giving out my cell. Besides, as much as my current employer loves the idea of 24/7 availability, reality is workers including me do have lives outside of work that do not include our students. Healthy boundaries need to be enforced. Besides, there is no reference question that would require an emergency call at 3am for instance. 
• A big part of the reason I choose to work in a small college: "What if our first-year students came to the library for the first time and discovered there a librarian who knew their names, was interested in their research assignment and its relation to their lives, reflected carefully and responded to their expressed needs, was knowledgeable and credible, indicated wide availability outside of the library session, and sought further and deeper relationships with them as individuals?" (101-102). That is basically a lot of what my colleagues and I do here. The small college setting does make it a bit easier. 
• To be honest, a lot of this material is not so much "feminist" caring. It is just plain caring, making an effort to know the students. The article could have left out the feminist theory at the start of the article, and this would still work. 

 

Citation for the article: Leah Morin, "The First-Year Library Instruction One-Shot: A Place for Caring." Communications in Information Literacy 15.1 (2021): 95-103. 

Some additional items from the references list I may want to look at: 

Accardi, M.T. (2013). Feminist Pedagogy for Library Instruction. Library Juice Press. 

Kumbier, A., Drabinkski, and M.T. Accardi, (2010). Critical Library Instruction: Theories and Methods. Library Juice Press.  

I already read and reviewed bell hooks book Teaching to Transgress (link to review and reading notes part one and part two).

 

 

 

 

Article Note: On trendspotting and the future in post-pandemic academic libraries

This editorial piece looks at spotting trends for academic libraries in the post-pandemic world. Personally, I do not think we are in a post-pandemic world, but as I often say, I am not a pundit nor do I play one on TV. Anyhow, the last two years have been challenging for us in academic libraries, large or small. We had to improvise, adapt, and overcome in order to serve our students. In our case, we did do quite a bit of work in order to respond and adapt our services to more online settings. Our library did have some structure in place to accomplish this. The college overall had to work at it a bit more mainly because we are a residential campus, but the college did adapt as well. The article's author suggests that these new experiences will continue to shape academia in the post-pandemic world. Do keep in mind that for the most part, as usual in many LIS articles, this one focuses more on larger institutions like ACRL members and its UK counterpart. I am more interested to see if anything can be useful to us here in our more modest and smaller setting.

 

Some key quotes, with my comments. 

 

"The pandemic has heightened the importance and significance of being able to operate in a hybrid manner and how libraries deliver services in online environments" (2). 

 

By now, an increase in online learning is a given, and it is more significant in the COVID times. COVID and online learning are here to stay, which should not surprise anyone. 

 

"Brine and Knight (2021) actually discuss the continued increasing cost of digital content, and the impact that the pandemic has had on this issue" (2). 

 

This has been and continues to be a constant, the increasing costs. As I often say these days, this is one of the things I do not need cartomancy for. 

 

On another note, as the article mentions, open access has expanded. However, the work is barely starting. It is nowhere near where it could be or should be. 

 

"By 2020, the ACRL trends around students have become more about 'student wellbeing and mental health,' illustrating that whilst the focus may have changed, the importance of understanding and supporting students has never diminished" (3).

The 2020 report would look at data before the pandemic, Even then wellbeing and mental health were emerging as issues. If anything, the pandemic has made issues of wellness and mental health worse given the higher stress students, along with faculty and staff, face during these Hard Times. As for how higher education has handled it, well, based on observation I'd say inconsistently. 

"Academic librarians will need to manage and curate data more and more, and consequently will need to become more 'data literate'" (5). 

We continue to use data and evidence to guide our decisions, but the point here is that there are and will be more additional data sources to consider. 

 

"Academic libraries continue to lead the way in decolonization and liberation work and initiatives within their institutions, but much still needs to be done to address the unbalanced nature of the academic library workforce and how this reflects on the support and services provided for the users of those libraries" (5). 

Naturally, something had to be said to diversity and inclusion. Given the climate in the U.S. as of this post, I am a bit skeptical about claiming that academic libraries lead the way in the liberation work. Some might, but others are failing at it. Even here I know we do what we can, but there is still work to do.

Citation for the article: Leo Appleton, "Trendspotting-- Looking to the Future in a Post-Pandemic Academic Library Environment." New Review of Academic Leadership, 28.1 (2022): 1-6.

 

 

Book Review: Stalin's Library

 

Geoffrey Roberts, Stalin's Library: a Dictator and His Books. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2022.  ISBN:  9780300179040.

 

Genre: libraries, biography, politics

Subgenre: history, Russian, Soviet Union

Format: hardcover

Source: Via Interlibrary Loan through Hutchins Library, Berea College. The book came from Alcuin Library, St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota.  

 

If memory serves me right, I saw this book mentioned somewhere on social media. I like reading about books and libraries, so this book seemed to fit the bill. The book has an introduction, seven chapters, a conclusion, notes, and a further reading list. 

To be honest, this book is really a political biography of Stalin with a bit of a literacy narrative. We learn that Stalin was an avid and attentive reader. He read extensively, and he read books within his ideologies as well as books by his rivals and enemies. Stalin also read some works from other countries in Russian translation. 

We know a lot about Stalin as a reader from the remnants of his personal library. I say remnants because Stalin's personal library was dispersed after his death. Stalin was an active reader, and he made a lot of notes in his books as he read. This marginalia gives us insight into Stalin's thoughts on various topics and issues. In addition, Stalin was an active editor of documents, his and other people's documents, and scholars have studied these documents too. 

The most interesting part of the book is the look at Stalin's library, the kinds of books he collected and read. The part about how Stalin arranged his books, or rather had a librarian do it for him, is also interesting. 

The rest of the book is mostly a political biography, and it is not always interesting. At times, this biography goes a bit much into minutiae. This can make the text a bit dense to read at times. Some readers may choose to skim through some of this material. 

I would say that much of this book feels more like an academic article or two on Stalin as a reader. At some point, someone decided to pitch a book, and the additional biographical material, which often is not connected to Stalin as a reader, feels like filler at times. The result is that the interesting topic of Stalin as a reader and his books gets lost in the rest of the text. 

For public libraries, this may be a book to skip. For academic libraries, large academic libraries with strong collections on the Soviet Union, Russia, Eastern Europe, and Asia might find this to be an optional selection. It may also be an optional selection for LIS/library school libraries. 

In the end, this was just OK. This is not really a book that can be read for pleasure.

2 out of 5 stars. 

* * * * * 

 

Additional reading notes: 

 

 What the book aims to do: 

"This book explores the intellectual life and biography of one of history's bloodiest dictators: Joseph Stalin. Uniquely, it does so through the prism of his personal library. A dedicated reader and self-improver, Stalin's accumulation of books was a lifelong passion" (1).

Part of me thinks that the line we often hear about how reading makes people better is not really true, at least not in all cases. In this case, just look at Stalin. 

 

How the book views Stalin, according to the author: 

"This book views Stalin through a different lens-- as a dedicated idealist and as an activist intellectual who valued ideas as much as power, who was ceaseless in his own efforts at self-education, a restless mind, reading for the revolution to the very end of his life" (6). 

Books are the best way to know Stalin's inner life: 

"Apart from private photographs and some hastily written and perfunctory letters to family members, Stalin's library books are among the best means we have of accessing the dictator's inner life" (15). 

Stalin seeing himself as an intellectual: 

"Stalin saw himself as neither a worker nor a peasant, but as, in effect, an intellectual whose task it was to spread enlightenment and socialist consciousness. It was this fundamental choice of an intellectual identity that motivated his fanatical, life-long commitment to reading and self-improvement" (48). 

Yet in a way Stalin read like many of us read: 

"Stalin read books in diverse ways-- selectively or comprehensively, cursorily or with avid attention. Some he read cover to cover, others he merely skimmed. Sometimes he would begin reading a book, lose interest after a few pages and jump from the introduction to the conclusion. Some books he read in a single sitting, others he dipped in and out of" (97). 

What Stalin's library reveals: 

"In truth, no smoking guns are to be found anywhere in the remnants of Stalin's library. His pometki reveal preoccupations not secrets, and the way he engaged with ideas, arguments, and facts" (101). 

A reason Stalin read a lot: 

"Admittedly, complexity, depth, and subtlety were not strengths of Stalin's nor was he an original thinker. His lifelong practice was to utilise other people's ideas, formulations and information-- that was why he read such a lot. His intellectual hallmark was that of a brilliant simplifier, clarifier, and populariser" (153). 

Additional Notes from US Book Show 2022: Session on "Tik Tok and Books"

Another session I listened to after the conference. This is my last set of notes for the conference this year.

 

This panel featured a BookTok influencer (just one by the way) and rest were book publisher marketing representatives. Part of the reason I listened to this panel was curiosity. A couple of people have suggested to me that I should give Tik Tok a try. I remain skeptical. I recently launched a YouTube channel, bare bones as it is, and to add another bit of work filming content, even if it is very short, sounds like more of a work burden and perhaps too high a price for whatever little additional exposure I may get as reviewer, writer, and cartomancer. But, in part to be aware, I listened to what they had to say.

• As of 2022, Tik Tok has experienced large growth and has become the 3rd most popular social media platform with 1 billion active users as of this year. They are 3rd behind Facebook and Twitter. (Publishers are basically tripping themselves with interest in TikTok, or BookTok, as the niche community of book talkers and reviewers is known, due to the platform's very high engagement numbers. Not too shabby for a channel that features videos of 1 to 3 minutes in length.)
• The short form video is appealing to TikTok users. They also mention that finding content on TikTok is easier versus finding content on YouTube. Overall, this is still about the algorithms both platforms use. 
• They cite the "authenticity" in TikTok, that videos there are less staged than in other platforms. (Given some TikTok videos I have seen, they can be just as staged as any other platform.) In theory at least, there is less need to edit, and users say that is appealing. 
• Diversity of voices is cited as a good element in TikTok (so far in the panel, everyone is just gushing about the service like it's the 2nd Coming). 
• The main demographic is 18-34 years old, and it is mainly women (women predominance is consistent in social media overall). Males may or not exist in BookTok it seems, or if they are there, it is in very niche communities, so not as visible. 
• Common BookTok genres that "work well" include romance, romantic comedy, and fantasy. Also some literary fiction. 
• (In a way, the publishers here sound a lot like many librarians back in the Library 2.0 days, as in wanting to be in spaces where they may or not be wanted.) 
• The panel's lone BookToker argues there are niche areas for some genres, depending on interests. The platform has progressed a bit according to them. 
• They may find new books to read from follower suggestions. Finding other BookTokers they like and trust. 
• Sponsored content does not do well on TikTok. Like other reviewers, publishers and authors, especially indie authors, need to tailor their communications to potential reviewers on BookTok. Mass e-mails get mostly ignored (and as a reviewer, I can agree with that. Mass e-mails asking for a random review are e-mails I delete). It is better for authors and publishers to do their own research, find fans of whatever genre they write in or market, and go from there. 
• On publishers reaching into TikTok. (And by the way, let me say again they needed more than one BookTok influencer on this panel.)
• Pay attention to what people are interested in. Making contacts and networking are important. Keep in mind a BookToker may not be interested in your specific book, but they are likely to know someone who does, and if you have a good relationship with the influencer they may be willing to pass the book suggestion on down their network. 
• Overall, BookTok cannot be forced. It needs to be organic. 
• A question I wish they had answered but left "for a later panel" was how to find time for TikTok. (I would have liked the answer now. Managing social media for me to share my blogging and writing takes a chunk of time as it is.) 
• Is TikTok a flash in the pan? The influencer thinks it will stay. (Personally, I am skeptical.) 
• Currently, TikTok is growing, especially BookTok. BookTok is a reviewers' platform mostly. Not all book authors need to be on TikTok, or if they are, they need to do authentic things other than peddling their books; authors already have made that mistake on other platforms like Facebook and Twitter, and they need to learn from that mistake. An author "messing up" is basically a "death sentence" on BookTok (i.e. being racist, homophobic, etc.) as BookTokers will just ignore and block them. Also, an author bitching about a bad review is a big mistake, again, one that will earn an author getting ignored and blocked. 
• Transparency for everyone is essential on BookTok. 

 

 

A couple of books I got from US Book Show 2022

As I mentioned in my short video about this, here are two books I received from the US Book Show event courtesy of Beacon Press. 

Book link information from publisher.

• Kavita Das, Craft and Conscience: How to Write about Social Issues. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2022. I requested this in part for curiosity and my personal use. I am hoping to learn some new things about writing, especially about social issues so I can apply it to my blogging and personal writing. I also requested it to see if we should acquire it for our library. This copy is an advanced reader's copy (ARC). 
• Catherine Ceniza Choy, Asian American Histories of the United States. Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 2022. Requested it mainly for possible library acquisition consideration, but I also intend to read and review it on my blog. This is a finished book copy. 

 Thanks to Beacon Press for the opportunity to read and review these.

 

Additional notes from US Book Show 2022: Libraries are Essential, Part 2 session

This is one of the sessions I watched on demand after the conference. 

 

Session: Libraries are Essential, Part 2. 

Session to look at critical areas, especially in the "post-pandemic" times. 

Access to e-books and digital content:

• Yes, publishers' onerous restrictions on e-book purchases for libraries are inequitable (i.e. nothing new here). Publishers then suing libraries over it is just bullying. The bottom line on this issue is that it is about fair and equitable digital access. Publisher greed is not a good look no matter what lip service they give about libraries being good, etc. 
• On digital lending and e-book demand: 
• E-book usage continues to grow. Foot traffic in libraries fell with the pandemic and is not back to pre-pandemic levels yet in many places. Some libraries in fact encouraged use of electronic resources (my library certainly did). 
• Other libraries do report lower materials circulation. For electronic resources, again, publisher onerous demands and restrictions mean that libraries are less able to meet patron demand at a time when demand is increasing. 
• Defining equitable digital access. Collections bridge content gaps. To provide quality content for all in a safe environment. Equitable access to content that reflects the community. 
• Equitable digital access is difficult given publishers' exploitative pricing on e-books, which is often at least 3 times higher or more than print book pricing. So librarians are more likely then not to "license" more e-books and buy print, but this means many patrons can be left out, thus an inequitable situation. This can be blamed on publishers' greed. 
• Advances in technology have allowed publishers to avoid/refuse to offer fair pricing on e-books and electronic resources. Playing victim for them is a common disinformation tactic in their industry. Meanwhile publishers continue to disadvantage libraries. 
• Despite publishers' clout, some librarians are working to advocate for themselves and their patrons. However, it may be serious time, as stated by the librarian from Maryland, for libraries to withhold funding from publishers, i.e. time for boycotts of certain publishers. 
• Contrary to what publishers say, librarians do defend and support copyright. Libraries and schools teach about copyright. When we help a student cite their sources properly, we are defending copyright. 
• With better terms from publishers (as if, but work with me here), libraries could buy more content, including more diverse authors, debut authors too instead or in addition to just the "usual" bestsellers. Libraries propose digital access should be as access for print resources. Bottom line: librarians need to continue and expand their role as advocates, but also steer themselves and patrons to smaller and indie publishers willing to give libraries a better deal. This means then also to steer away from large exploitative publishers. Libraries need to put contingency plans in place. 

Interview with Jennie Rose Halperin, of Library Futures (advocacy group).  

• Publishers may not see everything libraries do to promote reading, culture, uplift communities, and providing new ways for people to understand their world (this is true as libraries go, but it is a very charitable way to see publishers. I'd say publishers are just willfully blind). 
• On a tech positive future for libraries. There are many reasons we need access and use electronic resources. The world is moving more to digital content, and libraries need to be part of this future. However, libraries, largely due (we are saying it again) to publisher onerous restrictions, face various challenges. 

Panel discussion: "We are still not OK: Protecting library workers after the pandemic." 

 

• (I should mention that I loathe the "after the pandemic" phrasing. At this point, the pandemic is not over no matter how much wishful thinking most of society is doing now.)
• This sessions mostly looks at libraries' work during the pandemic (a lot of this falls under the "we did good" category of library presentation). What many often did not realize was library workers' trauma at the time (and still ongoing). Many library workers remained at work in libraries that stayed open. (I worked even as the campus was, mostly, locked down in the early stages of the pandemic. Personally, I never "went home.) The issue of trauma has an impact on everyone. 
• "Normal" is a problem. The pandemic exposed various critical needs and forms of suffering. 
• Keep in mind that libraries, especially public libraries, had been suffering divestment and defunding before the pandemic. The pandemic just made things worse for libraries. 
• Trauma is endemic at all library levels according to researchers. Yet attitudes in library workers can be cavalier, meaning they may leave the work in libraries, get transferred out of public services, or just "mentally check out." 
• On defining trauma. A key difference is when people feel supported and able to cope they tend to see it more as a "bad experience" than as trauma. 
• The pandemic has disproportionately affected library workers of color (PoC). In addition, issues of low pay, white supremacy, mission creep need to be addressed. Still, the pandemic has shown and exposed changes that need to be done. 
• To library directors: it is a certainty your PoC library staff have endured abuse in some form at the reference desk. You nor the rest of the staff should be OK with that nor just let it slip. Directors, you need to make choices then, including policy changes. As leaders, you need to lead, not tolerate racist or otherwise abusive behavior. Period. Full stop. 
• A question asked: what if nothing changes? (I think that scenario is possible if not very likely.) The speakers believe change will come, even if some need to get out of the way. Thinking in 20th century terms is no longer an option. Overall, the speakers are optimistic (but again, what if nothing changes? As I often say, a magnificent question. I do want to believe.)

Panel on library leadership. 

 

• R. David Lankes, on panel, says library leaders need "radical empathy." However, leaders more than not are NOT in touch with front line workers (not surprising. That is a common situation, and one I have witnessed often. But heaven forbid you point it out if you are like me, i.e. a front line worker with no clout). 
• A lot of healing needs to happen in the profession. Asking your front line workers about "the future of libraries" may not be the best thing for leaders to be doing at this time (yea, you may want to shut up about that topic in the Hard Times, at least in front of your library workers). Instead of trying to speculate about futures take care of your library workers first.
   
• Flexibility is necessary in the Hard Times. Leadership needs to communicate consistently and clearly. It might also help if leaders take the same risks as everyone else (I am definitely not holding my breath on that). 
• Leaders need to do more than give pretty speeches (and this was said without irony given that we are listening to some very pretty speeches).
   

 

 

Some notes from the PW's US Book Show 2022

 Publishers Weekly held their annual U.S. Book Show virtually from May 23 to May 26, 2022. In a nice gesture, they offered free admission for librarians, so I registered and watched the sessions from my desk at work. As I have said before, I do appreciate conferences when they have a virtual option that saves me from traveling and the related prohibitive costs. I wish more LIS and higher education conferences would offer virtual options given they are "relaxing" under the now chic philosophy of "the pandemic is over." For some of us, the pandemic is far from over, but that is another story. 

I did the following sessions during the conference. PW did allow some time after the conference to watch sessions on demand  you may have missed, and I will do that later. I may add notes to the blog from what I see later. 

 

I live tweeted a lot of the event, so if you go on Twitter and search my profile (@bloodravenlib) with the hashtag #USBookShow, you can see more of my notes, which I am using to enhance this blog post. 

Day 1.

• I started with the David Sedaris keynote. Not much memorable here. To be honest, after listening to him I fail to see what the broad appeal is. He is (supposedly) known for humor writing, but this interview with him was seriously lackluster. This was the only event of the first day since they wanted attendees to have time to visit the virtual exhibits. By the way, Sedaris has a new (at this time) book out, but he barely mentioned it.
  

 

Day 2.

• Welcome and Opening Keynote with Ukrainian author Andrey Kurkov. Now this was a good way to start the conference with a writer speaking on a timely issue. Some points from his presentation: 
• The role of writer as a witness to war and history. 
• Writers and intellectuals killed in the war. The war in Ukraine has taken a toll on Ukrainian culture and identity. 
• Russian science fiction has a recent trend of military/combat SF with conflicts between Russia and Ukraine. These books are written in Russia. Some Ukrainian writers respond to this and other Russian writings and propaganda, often with satire
  
• Kurkov urges Americans and others to read books on and about Ukraine. He recommended Gates of Europe. He adds that people may know a lot about Russia but little about Ukraine, so a balance is needed. On a small side note, turns out my library had that book, so I have checked it out to read soon. I will review it in The Itinerant Librarian down the road.
  
• The interviewer commented that Ukraine has a very individualistic culture, something that Americans can relate to. Kurkov adds that yes, they are individualistic, very independent, have their own opinions. In running for politics, a Ukrainian is more likely to form his own political party then join an existing one (a touch of humor here from Kurkov). However, Kurkov states that Ukrainians will unite against a common enemy. 
• In terms of recent writing, Kurkov has published articles in places like The Guardian and The Economist.
• "Libraries are essential program, Part 1." This was a program in two parts. I only managed to listen to the first part at the time. I hope to listen to the second part on demand later. This program was the highlight of the conference for me, and I found it well worth listening to. It is also very timely given the coordinated efforts of certain people to censor libraries and librarians and ban books. The program was divided into major segments. An issue was that this recording laster about 2 1/2 hours with barely a break between the segments. That is a heck of a long time to expect someone to sit at a desk. I think they should have made the panels here about 45 minutes long, spread them out better to allow for breaks. Anyhow, some points from the program: 
• They started looking at key issues. 
• During pandemic times, libraries have needed to adapt rapidly. Electronic resource use and availability are on the rise with more access options for patrons. (So far, this is not not anything I do not know already.)
• American Library Association (ALA) did the semi-obligatory for this event promotion of their annual conference. They claim it could be a moment for libraries to make a statement and "march on DC." At least so says the ALA president (but I am not holding my breath on it). 
• A lot of this is the usual "libraries do good" platitudes. That is fine for non-librarians, but it is not too exciting for us librarians. 
• They mentioned the book banning epidemic in the U.S. Statement made that we can't go back to pre-pandemic "normal" (no shit). The work for accessibility and services continues. 
•  On U.S. book bans. 
• In 2021 ALA saw an alarming rise in challenges according to its Office of Intellectual Freedom (OIF). They went from one or two reports weekly to 3 or 4 reports of censorship and challenges daily. This makes for a significant increase. The trend here is to challenge and/or ban LGBTQIA+ books and materials.
• In a way, the ALA OIF representative basically tip toes over the real issue: we are dealing with flat out bigotry, often fundamentalist religion motivated, along with bad faith bigots. Overall what we got from ALA OIF was mostly platitudes and a relatively mellow response. As I said when I live tweeted, you need to call out the enemy unequivocally. 
• The PEN America spokesperson is a more more honest and direct, pointing out lacks of process and policies in many libraries and often mostly clandestine bans (i.e. bans that happen from ignoring any due process or review procedures that may be in place. ALA was mostly silent on this). Local politics and proposals are getting worse, and to be honest, that is un-American. 
• ALA-OIF states that local organization is crucial to oppose vocal minorities. Silence here is not an option I would say. ALA at this point took a moment to promote their new online initiative: Unite Against Book Bans. Personally I am not sure how much good another "initiative" will do, but there it is. At the end of the day, librarians are doing the best they can. 
• PEN America spokesperson states this is really about showing up. The bigots need to be challenged. But we need to be mindful of privilege (something ALA is notorious for conveniently forgetting or just giving it lip service): who can or not organize, go to meetings, etc.? Who can speak or not? 
• I say the bottom line here is this needs to be treated as going on the war path. PEN emphasizes this will not go away on its own. It needs to be confronted. 
• On library neutrality, or how the phrase is misused. Panelists in this segment are responding to a New York Times column, "The Battle for the Soul of the Library" (link may be paywalled, consider asking your local librarian for possible access if needed. I had someone ask me, and I sent it to them from our library's access).
  
• For one, libraries are more about place and service. 
• Also keep in mind, not all libraries have the same values, and the history of our profession has not always recognized the value of humans, or certain humans.
•  On a side note, the book Libraries: a Fragile History, which I recently read and reviewed, has a whole section on ALA and its historical failures. 
• Note that much of the rhetoric from bigots is to make minorities seem like they are toxic, thus the need to "protect the children" (if you take a moment to think about it, you can see how insidious that rhetoric is).
• A good quote: "One person's or family's norms are not the norms of the country."  
• If you do not want to use and consume certain materials and books, then don't. Who are you to dictate to others? That arrogance is and should be offensive to decent people. What you don't want to read does not mean it is not desired nor valued by others. 
• Information access for all means for ALL. Still, the library profession as a whole needs to keep working on this. 
• Librarians do need to interrogate our work and our processes. Need to think about equity and work towards inclusion. This means libraries need to be representative of communities, country, and even the world. The field needs to take an expansive and inclusive view for everyone. Need to work on it, talk about it in the "nuts and bolts" sense. Like the public at large, there ARE some librarians who need to do their work, serious work not just performative. DEI work is meant to be ongoing, not "trendy." 
• Why now, the bans? This is a bit cyclical, but it is also a backlash. Censorship of books is low hanging fruit in their agenda. It's part of larger a whitewashing agenda erasing history, difference and culture. (I have said this before, the Right Wing in the U.S. is very organized, and they give zero fucks about the rights of others.)
• "Can't point to somewhere else and say it can't happen here." This is why you need vigilance and to stand up and fight against fascists, bigots, fundamentalists, etc. 
• Librarians need to honestly think beyond themselves. So do writers like the author of that column, who in using their kind of rhetoric put librarians in danger. As for us, we need to have empathy in our counter-narratives. 
• One thing librarians can do: read (or reread) and act upon our professional Code of Ethics (see ALA: https://ala.org/tools/ethics), which is pretty clear on things like intellectual freedom and resisting censorship. You may or not agree with ALA, but this is clear.
•  On bans and politics. This session included political activists like folks from EveryLibrary.
  
• The Right Wing in the United States has politicized families and politicians, schools, and libraries. Anti-intellectual, anti-education, anti-funding for public schools. Accusing librarians and educators as porn peddlers, etc. This is the RW attack strategy.
• You need to know your history. History shows that conservatives have spent the 40 years or more attacking government, its institutions, and the public good. Public education is a prominent target for them. It is an assault on the idea of government and institutions. 
• In politics, you have to "message well," and RWNJs do it well. How do decent people counter?
• Debunking is needed, but more needs to be done. You need to learn history, about people and perspectives (as I say, you need to know your enemy). Need to understand others. (The question I have is we do understand them, what next? Empathy is nice and all but it's not going to get you far with certain folks.)
• Books are targeted because they move hearts and minds. Need to talk about the First Amendment but also talk more about the 14th Amendment (the one about due process). Librarians, folks need to hear our story, why we do our work. 
• Librarians need to be defended, and our first defense is us librarians. But we also need to show up with others to listen as well as lead. 
• For some, this may mean running for office, especially at the local level. For the less able, keeping an eye on the community and reporting to watchdog groups. 
• Remember that the library is one of the few places where everyone meets and connects. Librarians need to remember this and highlight it and all we do. 
• For librarians, consider doing readings outside of libraries, make alliances with students doing them.
• You may need to turn to courts, but this may require a brave plaintiff willing and able to sue with some support from lawyers, so on. Also keep an eye out on judges who are elected, especially at local levels. And keep working on making alliances. 
• Important: lift the idea of how librarians expand knowledge, teach, teach to ask questions, so on. Tell these stories. (On a side note, reminds me of a certain college administrator early on my career here now that urged me to tell my story. I need to work on that.)
• Don't get distracted by individual bans, so on. This situation is moving to state government levels. You need to also watch and work to counter broader attacks. 
• The final segment is an interview with R. David Lankes, whose latest book is Forged in War. 
• He spoke on propaganda and how to counter it. 
• The truth is out there,  but it is confused by noise and gets drowned. This ranges from spins of truth to outright disinformation. This is censorship of noise. 
• Technology is not neutral.  You need to build in liberatory structures. 
• Lankes reminds us again that free speech does not mean speech without consequences. It requires responsibility. 
• Of concern are efforts to remove librarians and information professionals from discussion and decisions by certain anti-democratic forces. This is new now. Book bans have always been here. The other big concern is conversations not happening, again due to those anti-democratic forces. 
• After the long libraries segment, I listened to a graphic novels and comics panel. 
• A highlight here was the book Ducks (link to publisher info). At the time, I saw galleys were available on NetGalley, so I requested one. We'll see if the publisher approves the request. 
• After presenting the titles, editors are speaking on their work and how they do what they do to get comics and graphic novels for us. A bit of how the sausage is made. 
• Interesting point about cartoonists: a concern for what they are NOT showing on the page. A degree of restraint is good in their line of work.  

 

Day 3. 

 

• Did the 10am chat with Adult Books Authors session. 
• A highlight were Amber Ruffin and Lamar, authors of The World Record Book of Racist Stories (link to publisher info). I am adding this to my TBR list. Way to look at this book: Better you (white Anglo fuckbagel) learn about these things you are not supposed to do privately, with a good book, than through a meeting with HR.
• Alan Moore spoke about his new collection of short stories, Illuminations (link to publisher info) I will be looking for this one. 
• Thomas E. Ricks spoke on his new forthcoming book Waging A Good War (link to publisher info). This is one we may need to order for our library, in fact, we'll probably order it since we get most everything we can on the Civil Rights Movement.  
• Next, I listened to the interview with John Grisham. He is not really my jam, but still worth a look. He also has a new short fiction book: Sparring Partners (publisher info link).
• Next, listened to the sessions of PW's picks for Thrillers and Mysteries, Biography and Memoir, and Fiction. Nothing here stuck out for me as much, but worth listening to for reader's advisory purposes. On my live tweet, I did highlight some books that, while I may not be interested, may be of interest to other readers. 
• A quote from the Fiction panel, one of the authors: "...every novel written in American now is (or should be) a horror novel." Do what you will with that. Keep in mind by the way fiction here means literary and/or commercial fiction. 
• I also managed to listen to the PW Picks of Current Affairs. I found this more interesting, even if the books likely fall on my self-imposed moratorium on books and materials that are political/social issues/activist. 
• First book highlighted is Surveillance State (link to publisher). This is about the Chinese surveillance state, but should be of interest to anyone interested in surveillance and privacy issues. 
• Another book, this one may be very relevant in these Hard Times, including recent events this week (as of this post, a big event was the school shooting in Uvalde, TX). May need to break my politics/social issues/activist reading moratorium for it.  The book is Raising Them Right (publisher info link).
• Book highlight: Chaotic Neutral (link to publisher info). This is a bit of a history of Democrats in the US, of interest to those who think the party needs to grow an effing pair. To be honest, before my self-imposed reading moratorium, this is a kind of book I might have read. A good point from the editor commenting on this book: "Do not allow for compromise with those who are basically destroying the nation."
• Next book highlighted: Ransomware Hunting Team (publisher info link), and yes, this is nonfiction. This may be one for readers who enjoy books about history, technology, and/or true crime. 
• Book highlight, exemplifying how often white supremacists use racism and xenophobia as scapegoats when it is corporate America effing them over. Possible TBR list add for me.  The book is The Fishermen and the Dragon (publisher info link).
• Some other points from the panelists: 
• What can publishers do better? Find new readers. The field is losing readers, esp. in nonfiction. This because authors do have important things to tell to readers.
• Current Affairs needs to shed a bit that image that it is a field where you have to be an expert in order to read one of those books and/or that those books are dry. Ideally would be good to see these books more all over media, incl. places like TikTok.  On a side note, I do review some current affairs books now and then, but to be honest, at times, they can be on the dry side. In my humble opinion, this category also needs to shed away some of the image a lot of its books are political junkets and politician navel gazing books that will soon go in the remainders bin of a bookstore. 

 

Day 4. 

 

• This day was mostly children's and young adult books, which are not part of what I commonly read. To be honest, I think the organizers needed to spread these panels over the other days too instead of bottling them up on the last day. I mostly listened a bit less on this day.