The Overachieving Archivist: July 2015

E. J. Josey speaking at a Conference circa 1970, The American Library Association Archives

I've been inspired by activist librarian E.J. Josey since I was first introduced to his work and legacy in library school at North Carolina Central University. I've incorporated this quote in almost every diversity program I've applied to since that time:

“It has been my professional goal to promote cultural diversity, not only in the profession of

librarianship and in libraries, but in American society as well.” ~Dr. E.J. Josey

I was compelled to embody the spirit of Dr. Josey at ATLA this year. Maybe FORCED is more appropriate.

This post has taken me almost a month to write and I still don't feel up for the task. Therefore, this post won't be as comprehensive as it could've been had I not procrastinated so long. I don't really feel like retelling the story because since the Emanuel 9 Massacre, another mass shooting by a white supremacist has occurred, the Confederate Flag at the State Capital in South Carolina has been removed and at least 20 additional unarmed African Americans have been murdered by police in America. Surely, I'll be leaving a lot out to preserve the reputations of some of my colleagues. I am happy that ATLA is committed to working towards diversity and encouraged by the support of many #STAYWOKE theological librarians who clearly believe that #BLACKLIVESMATTER and diversity is not about numbers.

I'll preface by saying the conference was great, however it was emotionally exhausting. I appreciate how receptive, timely and accommodating the ATLA Board of Directors were to myself and Jessica Bellemer's (Director of Library Services, Hood Theological Seminary) call to action. Special thank you's to ATLA President Beth Bidlack. Director of Library Services, Burke Library, Union Theological Seminary and Chris Anderson, Methodist Archivist, Director of Special Collections, Drew University. This post will be organized into three separate sections for clarity of narrative: Diversity Committee Pre-Conference Workshops, Emanuel 9 Board Response, and Self-Care.

Diversity Committee Pre-Conference Workshops

Back in January at our committee meeting we decided to hold a series of workshops and discussions about Racial Equity in Theological Librarianship at annual conference.
The day was divided into two learning environments: a morning session provided by The Denver Inclusiveness Project to help us better understand the value of inclusiveness and identify steps needed to create diversity, including training in the awareness of the impact of racism on institutions.
The afternoon session included a panel of ATLA members and guests who shared their personal experiences with racial equity issues and a discussion of how to address these issues in the context of theological librarianship
Both sessions were exceptional. There was rich, honest, vulnerable dialogue and a resolve among the small number of attendees to continue the conversation within the larger professional association and back home in there practices at home libraries.

Handout Shared by Denver Inclusiveness Project

One of the creative works circulating Tumblr within hours of the story hitting mainstream media

Emmanuel 9 Board Response

I checked my phone the evening of June 17th after a full day of diversity training to find Tumblr (the story was a bit slow to hit national news, social media is more and more showing itself to be the better tool for "breaking news") flooded with stories about 9 members of the Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina who had been shot to death by a young white man they welcomed into their usual evening Bible Study
The President of ATLA announced at the plenary session that 9 had been murdered at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church
The crowd of librarians, many holding tablets and smart devices GASPED. Audibly. LOUDLY.
I was surprised and disappointed that so many hadn't heard. I understood we were a bit isolated by travel and attending the conference, but these we librarians, who I believed were responsible for being aware of what's going in the world (its part of the job description).
After the session I ran into my mentor and Methodist librarian, Chris A. We commiserated together.
I ran into fellow millennial and AMEZ librarian, Jess A. in the vendor hall. We came up with a plan of action.
We organized a lunchtime chat at the hotel restaurant with the ATLA President and Director of Member Programs for those who wanted to talk about the tragedy. They graciously covered the meals of all attendees.
Quite a few members of the Board of directors attended and were extremely active in the conversation.
Jess and I worked throughout the afternoon to petition the Board to formulate an official response to the act of terrorism. Which I read aloud at the end of the Business Meeting. (see video below and resolution below)
The Board convened. There were concerns raised and relayed from other members about where ATLA stood as far as politics, activism and diversity in relation to ALA.
A proclamation was written and read at the ending plenary session.
Conversation continued after the conference via email among ATLA librarians via the ATLANTIS Listserv. Some of the responses made my stomach turn and hand shake, others (many sent directly to me off list) made me proud and optimistic about my membership in the organization and recent political act.

We petition the board to convene to discuss an appropriate ongoing response for ATLA as an organization which builds upon the lunchtime discussion organized and attended by ATLA members about the religious and racial terrorism act, a dialogue that was inspired by the recent act which victimized the congregation at Mother Emmanuel AME Church’ in Charleston, SC, the victims of which ‘include alumni of ATLA member institutions and a professional librarian.
Whereas the board has been petitioned to make an appropriate ongoing response to the recent act of “religious and racial terrorism” that occurred at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC; and

Whereas this act occurred in a sacred religious space and impacted clergy, librarians, and their communities; and

Whereas the work of ATLA contributes to the formation of religious leaders and librarians; and

Whereas the victims included prominent leaders in the African American community; and

Whereas one victim (Cynthia Hurd) was an influential public librarian; and

Whereas two of the victims (The Rev. Clementa C. Pinckney and The Rev. Dr. Daniel L. Simmons, Sr.) were alumni of Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, an ATLA institutional member; and

Whereas one of the victims (The Rev. Clementa Pinckney) was a D.Min. candidate at Wesley Theological Seminary, another ATLA institutional member; and

Whereas these tragic events directly speak counter to our core value of “Hospitality, inclusion, and diversity”;

Therefore be it resolved that we the board condemn this act of racially motivated violence that emerged out of a larger environment of social injustice;

Be it further resolved that the board commend its members for leading this discussion;

Be it further resolved that the board encourage continued member input into how to live into our core value and contribute to a change in the larger social environment;

Be it further resolved that the board encourages members to make appropriate resources available to their communities; and

Be it further resolved that the board expresses its grief and its solidarity with those affected by this tragedy.

After returning to Ohio and reading the responses of my colleagues on our ATLANTIS listserv I sent out the following email about the #Charlestonsyllabus shared by a Society of American Archivists Archives and Archivists of Color Roundtable:

Greetings Fellow ATLA Colleagues,

Following up on our post Annual Conference ATLANTIS Listserv conversations and Board’s encouragement that we “make appropriate resources available to [our] communities”, I am sharing this incredible guide created by the African American Intellectual History Society #CharlestonSyllabus

Here is a list of readings that educators can use to broach conversations in the classroom about the horrendous events that unfolded in Charleston, South Carolina on the evening of June 17, 2015. These readings provide valuable information about the history of racial violence in this country and contextualize the history of race relations in South Carolina and the United States in general. They also offer insights on race, racial identities, global white supremacy and black resistance. All readings are arranged by date of publication. This list is not meant to be exhaustive–you will find omissions. Please check out #Charlestonsyllabus and the Goodreads List for additional reading suggestions.

http://aaihs.org/resources/charlestonsyllabus/

Program given to Payne Theological Seminary by surviving ministerial staff member and Payne MDiv Student Rev. Michelle Frayer

Inside program
My apologies that Blogger won't let me rotate the image

Self-Care

I attended all the workshops on diversity during the conference and fantastic sessions on outreach in special collections, best practices for writing collection development policies and EBooks for small libraries. These workshops directly supported the work I would be doing in my new role as Director of Library Services at Payne Theological Seminary.
Friday I decided I had enough and needed a real break from everything and everyone so I went out on the town, alone.
My good friend librarian Katie who interned with me at the National Transportation Library is a native of Denver and directed me around the city via cellphone.
The wealth disparity is evident as soon as you walk downtown. There is a serious homelessness problem in the city. All throughout the week native Denver(ians?) were telling me about how expensive housing is (condos upwards of 200K).
My impression of the city: A walkable, beautiful city with good food, eccentric people with a few obvious class issues.
Here are pictures of what I did: