Improving Technology Training (WSL webinar)

• The webinar titled "Improving Technology Training" is sponsored by the Washington State Library and presented by Stephanie Gerding.
• The webinar includes a training coordinator, Jennifer Fenton, and a technician named Joe to assist participants.
• Participants are encouraged to ask questions, provide feedback, and engage in interactive learning through chat.
• The importance of evaluating training in libraries is discussed, including reasons such as improving training quality, identifying weaknesses, and demonstrating value.
• The speaker highlights the need to measure the impact, cost, and effectiveness of technology training and collect stories and feedback from participants.

The Washington State Library conducted a webinar on improving technology training, presented by Stephanie Gerding. The focus was evaluating the library technology training and empowering staff and volunteers to strengthen it. The session also discussed difficult library training situations that can help improve training. The training cycle was discussed, including planning, needs assessment, workshop learning, and evaluation. The session emphasized the need for planning and evaluating to save time in the long run and utilize resources effectively. The goal is to ensure that the training program meets the community's needs. Different learning styles were highlighted, and practical technology training was discussed, including training for public staff and answering reference desk questions.

Improving Technology Training (WSL webinar)

• The webinar is titled "Improving Technology Training" and is sponsored by the Washington State Library.
• The presenter is Stephanie Gerding, and the training coordinator, Jennifer Fenton, and the technician, Joe, are also mentioned.
• Participants are encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback through the chat feature.
• The importance of evaluating training at libraries is discussed, including reasons such as becoming a better trainer, identifying weaknesses, and demonstrating value.
• Outcome-based evaluation and different levels of measurement, such as reaction and learning, are mentioned as important aspects of evaluating training.
• Share Prompt

The Washington State Library recently hosted a webinar on enhancing technology training featuring a presentation by Stephanie Gerding. The webinar evaluated library technology training and empowered staff and volunteers to strengthen it. The session also delved into challenging library training situations that can aid in improving training. The training cycle was thoroughly discussed, encompassing planning, needs assessment, workshop learning, and evaluation. The session emphasized the importance of planning and evaluating to save time in the long run and utilize resources effectively, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that the training program meets the community's needs. The webinar highlighted different learning styles and practical technical training, including staff training, the public, and answering reference desk questions.

Technology Training Best Practices (WSL webinar)

• The webinar is about technology training best practices, facilitated by Stephanie Gerding from the Washington State Library.
• Participants from different states, including Washington, Nebraska, Marilyn, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, South Carolina, and New York, are present.
• The webinar is part of a series on external technology training, and some participants have attended all three webinars.
• The facilitator introduces a game where participants answer questions whenever a specific icon appears on the slide.
• The webinar covers topics such as using handouts, creating PowerPoint presentations, and engaging participants through interactive activities.

Planning and Promoting Technology Training (WSL webinar)

• The webinar is titled "Planning and Promoting Technology Training (WSL webinar)" and is hosted on YouTube.
• The trainer for the webinar is Stephanie Gerding, an independent library consultant based in Seattle, Washington.
• The webinar is part of a series for the accidental technology trainer, and this is the second of four webinars.
• The training objectives include organizing, designing, and planning technology training, using a lesson plan template, creating learning objectives, and promoting technology training.
• Participants in the webinar come from various states, including Washington, Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, Oregon, and Maryland.

Protecting Intellectual Freedom in Rhode Island: The Debate Surrounding Censorship

Racial Microaggressions in Academic Libraries: Results of a Survey

Phenomenally Black

The article titled "Racial Microaggressions in Academic Libraries: Results of a Survey of Minority and Non-minority Librarians" by Jaena Alabi sheds light on a critical issue in the library profession - the prevalence of racial microaggressions experienced by academic librarians of color. The study provides empirical evidence that these subtle yet harmful forms of racism are often overlooked and unrecognized by non-minority librarians, leading to a hostile work environment for minority colleagues. 

Addressing racial microaggressions is crucial to creating a more inclusive and equitable society. By acknowledging and actively working towards eliminating these microaggressions, we can create a more welcoming and respectful environment for all. Therefore, it is essential to educate ourselves and others on the impact of microaggressions and to take steps to ensure that all community members feel valued and supported.

The study's findings have significant implications for academic libraries and the broader field of information science. First, it highlights the need for further research and action to address these issues. It emphasizes the importance of creating spaces for open and respectful discussions about race and racism in the workplace. In addition, library leadership must acknowledge and address the systemic issues contributing to these experiences of racism, including implementing inclusive hiring practices, establishing mentoring programs for minority librarians, and creating safe spaces for reporting and addressing racial microaggressions.

Training on diversity and inclusion should be essential to any organization's agenda. It should include discussions on racial microaggressions, their impact on individuals and the workplace, and strategies to counteract them. Ongoing education, training, and dialogue are necessary to prioritize diversity and inclusion within the organization.

Future studies in the field could focus on the experiences of specific racial and ethnic groups, using qualitative research methods to gather in-depth narratives and perspectives. By taking a more nuanced approach to studying these issues, researchers could gain a deeper understanding of the complex social and cultural factors that shape the experiences of different groups.

Ultimately, the goal should be to create academic libraries that not only value diversity in their collections but also in their staff. This means actively seeking and hiring individuals from diverse backgrounds and creating a welcoming and inclusive work environment. By doing so, academic libraries can better serve their communities and provide patrons with a more comprehensive range of perspectives and experiences. In addition, library leaders must prioritize creating inclusive environments that foster a sense of belonging for all staff members, leading to increased usage of library resources and a stronger connection between the library and the community it serves.

Academic libraries have the potential to promote inclusivity, equity, and social justice within their organizations by fostering greater awareness and understanding of subtle forms of racism. This can be achieved by providing resources and educational materials that address the issue of racism in all its forms. By doing so, academic libraries can create a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all community members, regardless of race or ethnicity. Academic libraries must actively promote social justice and equity, and addressing subtle forms of racism is crucial to achieving this goal.

Librarians of color are an essential part of the academic community they serve. Promoting diversity in the library profession benefits these librarians and the academic community. A diverse group of librarians brings a broader range of perspectives and experiences, which can lead to more innovative and effective solutions for the academic community's challenges. Therefore, supporting and promoting librarians of color is essential to create a more inclusive and effective academic environment.

A diverse and inclusive library staff can provide more affluent and culturally responsive services, helping to create a more inclusive and equitable academic community. Libraries are important institutions that serve a wide range of people with different backgrounds, experiences, and needs. Therefore, having a staff that reflects the diversity of the community it serves is crucial. By doing so, libraries can better understand and respond to the unique needs of their patrons. Additionally, a diverse staff can bring various perspectives and ideas, leading to more innovative and effective solutions. Finally, a library prioritizing diversity and inclusivity can create a more welcoming and supportive environment.

Rethinking Library Practices: Reflections on Racism and the Role of Music Libraries

Confronting Racism and Social Injustice in Music Libraries

 #AcademicLibraries #RacialJustice #DiversityInLibraries #MusicLibraries

The problem this article addresses is twofold

First, it interrogates the role of music libraries within the framework of systemic racism and social injustice; and second, it explores how music libraries can become active agents of change, promoting diversity, inclusion, and racial justice. 

Social Impact of Music Libraries

Music has always been a powerful tool in shaping cultural narratives and promoting social justice. It can transcend language barriers and connect people from different backgrounds. In addition, it has always been a powerful tool for activism, as it can convey messages and emotions that inspire change. 

Music libraries are an essential tool in preserving and promoting socially conscious music. They provide a platform for artists to showcase their work and ensure it is accessible to a broader audience. 

By curating collections of socially conscious music, these libraries can help to raise awareness of important issues and inspire positive change. Additionally, they can serve as a valuable resource for researchers and educators, providing information about socially conscious music's history and cultural significance. Music libraries play a crucial role in preserving and promoting this vital genre of music.

Libraries that curate music collections addressing critical social issues play a crucial role in preserving these messages for future generations. By collecting and organizing music that speaks to social justice, equality, and other vital issues, these libraries help to ensure that these messages are preserved over time. In addition, it provides a valuable resource for researchers, historians, and anyone interested in exploring the intersection of music and social issues.

Furthermore, making music accessible to the public can significantly impact spreading awareness and inspiring action towards creating a better world. Music can connect people and evoke emotions that motivate individuals to act. By sharing music that promotes positive messages and encourages social change, we can create a ripple effect that inspires others to join the movement toward a better world. Therefore, it is essential to continue to make music accessible to all so that we can continue to spread awareness and inspire change.

The Music Library Call To Action

 Avery Boddie's call to action to the Music Library Association (MLA) following George Floyd's murder sparked conversations on the roles and responsibilities of libraries in challenging racism and systemic injustice.

The murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, by a white police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota, sparked global outrage and a renewed call for racial justice. Within this broader context, Avery Boddie, a music librarian at the University of Nevada—Las Vegas, challenged the Music Library Association (MLA) to confront racism and police brutality (Music Library Association, 2021). His plea emphasized the connection between such tragic events and the professional lives of librarians of color and became a clarion call for substantive changes within the profession.

The Moving Train

Historically, academic libraries, including music libraries, have been considered neutral entities dedicated to collecting and preserving knowledge. However, as Boddie's message suggests, the materials libraries choose to preserve. Moreover, the broader social, political, and cultural contexts influence the narratives they support and the voices they amplify or suppress. The question thus arises: Can libraries be neutral in a society riddled with systemic injustices?

Boddie's call to action highlights a growing discomfort with the perceived neutrality of libraries. This discomfort arises from the realization that a library's collection, though seemingly neutral, can inadvertently perpetuate societal power structures and inequalities. The authors call for examining these issues critically, exploring how power structures influence the construction of musical understanding and how libraries may unconsciously perpetuate bias.

Libraries and Race

The question of representation within music libraries also arises. The authors note that most works held by academic libraries are by white composers, leading to the underrepresentation of non-white composers and the systemic exclusion of diverse voices.

Critical information literacy can serve as a tool for understanding how power structures influence the construction of knowledge. At the same time, adopting anti-racist practices can lead to more equitable library policies and structures.

Abbazio, Boddie, and Ogihara echo the call for more diverse collections in their article "Music Libraries and an Expanding Canon: Strategies for Building Diverse Music Collections." They argue for intentional and conscious efforts to diversify library collections and to make them more reflective of a broad range of musical traditions and voices (Abbazio, Boddie, & Ogihara, 2023).

An examination of the historical record of the MLA reveals slow progress in achieving racial and ethnic representation. The persistent underrepresentation of people of color in the U.S. musical academia and music libraries highlights the necessity for urgent action. In addition, the dominance of works by White composers in the collections of academic libraries serves as further evidence of systemic racism within the field. However, music libraries have the potential to challenge these biases by becoming proactive agents of change.

A critical approach toward these issues raises several vital questions. 

• For instance, how can libraries, as institutions supported by society, provide unbiased information? 
• How do structures of power influence practices within the realm of music libraries?
• Can music libraries, which have been part of the social structure allowing marginalization and extrajudicial killing of people of color, contribute to some form of reparative action?

Boddie and others have proposed several topics for further exploration in response to these questions. These include the role of music libraries in creating a society where Black lives matter, the exploration of "vocational awe" and music librarianship, and an examination of discourses on race and ethnicity within the MLA's documentation.

In conclusion, the role of music libraries in addressing racial injustice extends beyond mere statement-making. It calls for critically reassessing practices, policies, and structures contributing to systemic racism. By embracing diversity in collections, championing critical information literacy, and promoting equitable workforce representation, music libraries have the potential to foster social change and contribute to a more just society.

References:

Music Library Association. (2021). MLA

"MLA Statement Opposing Racism and Police Brutality," Music Library Association, accessed September 9, 2021, http://blog.musiclibraryassoc.org/mla-statement-opposing-racism-and-police-brutality/.

David Lesniaski, "A Profile of the Music Library Association Membership," Notes 56, no. 4 (June 2000): 895–96.

Susannah Cleveland and Mark Puente, "Survey of Music Library Personnel Characteristics, 2009," Notes 67, no. 4 (June 2011): 686–715; Jonathan Sauceda and Joe Clark, "MLA Personnel Characteristics, 2016: Continuity, Change, and Concerns," Notes 74, no. 3 (March 2018): 359–71.