I'm Interested in Equitable Access and Outreach
Through services, collections, and spaces, library professionals promote equitable access for all people. Learn how library professionals are embracing the diversity of our users at these sessions.
Interested in other topics? Check out the conference scheduler and use the drop down "Subject" search field or visit the interests pages to see other topics.
Saturday
The New Frontier: Hot Topics Engaging Older Adults
Saturday 8:30AM - 10:00AM
Across the nation the Baby Boomer generation are retiring in greater and greater number, representing a critical opportunity for libraries to deepen engagements with seniors. From creative arts to workforce development, this program will focus on design concepts for inclusive library programming based on emerging and relevant hot topics.
Outreach Services - We're Out There
Saturday 9:00AM - 10:00AM
The presentation will talk about the importance of Outreach Services in our communities, showcase success stories from around the country, and discuss the importance of gathering our data for sharing and providing the details people seek about our services through the BOIR Project database tool.
Food for Thought: Nourishing the Mind and Body at Public Libraries
Saturday 10:30AM - 11:30AM
How do you prioritize your children’s learning when you have to put food on the table? How do you craft healthy meals when you live in a rural food desert? What do you do with the many cans, boxes, and mysterious items in the produce section when you can’t read the language, and everything is unfamiliar? Food insecurity is tied to uncertainty in people’s lives, impacting their health, how they learn, and their work. In the US, 41 million people are living with food insecurity. What’s a library to do?
Talking with Kids about Race: A 'How to' Workshop
Saturday 10:30AM - 11:30AM
Move from the “what” to the “how” of talking with kids about race in this dynamic workshop. A panel of facilitators, with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, workplaces, and experiences, will lead an examination of how to talk about and address race and racism with young people.
Keep it LOCAL: Designing Effective Outreach for Children and Families in Your Communities
Saturday 1:00PM - 2:00PM
Libraries are increasingly focused on partnerships and outreach to children and families in underserved communities and support literacy, STEM, and family engagement. What steps are you taking to connect with your underserved communities and understand their needs and aspirations? ALSC’s newest white paper presents findings from Project LOCAL, an IMLS-funded study, that examined outreach programs from across the country at small, medium, and large libraries in rural and urban areas to construct a roadmap for outreach program development and delivery.
Telling Stories, Expanding Boundaries: Drag Queen Storytimes in Libraries
Saturday 1:00PM - 2:00PM
This session will explore the public library as a site for the intersection of gender expression/identity and intellectual freedom, by discussing the phenomenon of Drag Queen Storytime (DGS). The session will consist of a panel featuring both originators of the DGS concept and librarians whose institutions have been involved in DGS. The DGS program has been immensely popular with many audiences at libraries across the country, but it has also produced its share of resistance and controversy.
Will They Stay or Will They Go? ‘Sense of Belonging’ as a Foundation for Creating Inclusive Library Services for International Students
Saturday 2:30PM - 3:30PM
International students bring diverse perspectives that are essential to U.S. colleges and universities. However, they face more barriers than domestic students. In this program we will explore research on ‘sense of belonging’ as it relates to international students as a basis for creating inclusive library services. Theories of culture shock and student development in an international student services context will provide a perspective for attendees to develop inclusive services appropriate to their unique user populations.
Accessibility and Creation of Online Library Materials: Applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Saturday 4:00PM - 5:00PM
Libraries are tasked with serving a diverse group of patrons; this includes providing equal access to materials to all patrons, regardless of disabilities and demographics. Creating and managing accessible materials is not just ethical, it’s also the law under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), “which prohibits the discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all areas of public life, including jobs, schools, transportation, and all public and private places that are open to the public” (https://adata.org/learn-about-ada). In order for materials to be accessible to all, librarians need to create and acquire online materials that are ADA compliant, as well as follow Universal Design for Learning. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is an approach that calls for multiple means of representation, action and expression, and engagement that can be applied to creating online materials.
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee: Recognizing Children’s and Young Adult Books and Demonstrating an Appreciation of African American Culture and Universal Human Values for 50 Years
Saturday 4:00PM - 5:00PM
The Coretta Scott King Book Awards Committee is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, so join us to learn about the committee’s illustrious history and practical and effective ways to use Coretta Scott King Award-winning books to enrich both programming and instruction. Led by a team of educators, you will leave this session with resources and creative ideas that can be implemented immediately in public, school, and academic libraries to create more inclusive environments for children.
Inequity and the Disappearance of Reference and User Services
Saturday 4:00PM - 5:30PM
Libraries value providing equal access to information. Librarianship has finally acknowledged that we must keep equity, diversity, and inclusion at the forefront. But what happens when we change service models without examining how library systems are used by those not in the majority? First generation college students, English language learners, previously incarcerated youth and adults, and others may experience a range of emotions, reactions, and practical barriers to asking for information and help. The disappearing human element of library services may privilege highly independent users who know how to ask questions and when to seek help.
Social Unrest, Democracy and Librarianship in the 21st Century
Saturday 4:00PM - 5:30PM
With the ever-growing number of cases of police brutality, voter suppression, hateful incidents, and other social injustices, librarians have tapped into their expertise by creating guides/syllabi centered around these events. Significantly, there has been a rise in the creation and promotion of the “anti-oppression,” “social justice,” and "voter suppression" libguides that in general, aim to provide a starting point to learn about key social issues and provide resources to communities. Moreover, these “social justice” libguides send a clear message about the current political climate and its impact on the communities they serve. Is this how librarians protest? Are we doing enough? How are these libguides impacting intended audiences?
Sunday
Accessibility for All: Screen Readers
Sunday 9:00AM - 10:00AM
Over 25 million Americans are blind or have low vision and would benefit from access to a computer equipped with screen reading software. There are many different options available to libraries when choosing which screen reading software to make accessible to their patrons.
Unlike Others: Developing an Online Face for a Lesbian Pulp Fiction Collection Through the Lens of Social Justice.
Sunday 9:00AM - 10:00AM
To engage interested students and visitors with the issues of power and marginalization embedded in the lesbian pulp fiction collection books, we evaluated our collection through a social justice framework. Subsequently, we created an online exhibit that expands access beyond ‘neutral’ bibliographic elements (author, title, and publisher). It includes features that help the user understand the relevance of the items.
Building Equity From the Ground Up
Sunday 1:00PM - 2:00PM
Addressing equity issues in our communities with a results-based approach can be challenging and overwhelming. Where does an organization even start? This was the problem faced by Los Angeles County Library leadership. LA County is one of the largest and most diverse jurisdictions in the country and faces daily challenges with race inequity, homelessness, immigration struggles and more. With 87 libraries, the Library is strongly positioned in its communities, but wanted to elevate their efforts to make a lasting impression on customers' quality of life. To accomplish this goal, the iCount @ the Library initiative was created. iCount: Removing Barriers to Equity @ Your Library is Los Angeles County Library's innovative service model that ensures the Library is making a conscious effort to design services and programs that address the needs of the diverse community it serves, which includes customers of different age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, socio-economic status, physical ability, nationality, legal status and more.
Everyone, Everywhere, Every Time: Universal Design as a Best Practice for Accessing Abilities
Sunday 10:30AM - 11:30AM
This interactive workshop will share results from recent research exploring the impact of course accessibility and the integration of tools and resources that facilitate multimodal learning for all students.
Not a Kid Anymore: How and Why to Serve Adults with Disabilities in the Adult Department
Sunday 1:00PM - 2:00PM
When groups or individual adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities visit the library, librarians may make ableist assumptions about them when deciding where in the library they belong. Because of misperceptions about their social and emotional needs, interests, learning potential, and cognitive abilities, they have often been served in and by the children's department. But, is reading picture books to them in a room also used by toddlers or allowing them to attend your music or art programs for kids really the best way you can serve these library users?
Looking Back, Moving Forward: The Brown Bookshelf Shines a Light on Black Children’s Literature
Sunday 1:00PM - 2:00PM
When Black children are invisible in books, the message is that they are not valuable enough to be seen. But thanks to the words and art of generations of Black authors and illustrators, all kids can enjoy a different view. The Brown Bookshelf’s program will showcase titles that center Black children, affirm the beauty of their lives, celebrate every-day joys and flights of fancy, explore struggles, and send readers on journeys to the future and the past.
Authentically Celebrating African American Culture with Coretta Scott King Nonfiction Books In Your Library and Classroom
Sunday 2:30PM - 3:30PM
Celebrating 50 years in 2019, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards has selected the best books by and about African Americans since 1970. Join this session to learn about the superb nonfiction books that have been recognized by this award, and take back to your library ready-to-use materials that make it easy and culturally relevant to feature them in your library program and/or classroom instruction.
The Best in New Tech for Readers with Blindness, Visual Impairments, and Physical Disabilities
Sunday 4:00PM - 5:00PM
The number of Americans experiencing blindness and visual impairment is expected to double by 2050. Thankfully, readers who live with vision loss can use new technology to continue their lifelong love of books and learning. Improvements to technology and distribution networks are helping to close the inequitable divide between the amount of content available to the visually impaired and their sighted peers.
Minority-Serving Institution Academic Libraries: Responsive Leadership, Transformative Services and Radical Inclusion
Sunday 2:30PM - 3:30PM
Most of California’s public higher education systems are minority serving institutions (MSIs) so they have a critical role in educating and graduating students from traditionally underserved communities. The demographic shift and the direction of these public systems will likely influence, nationwide, student retention/success initiatives, hiring practices, faculty RTP, and transition the campus DNA to one of radical inclusion with social justice as a core value. The changes, challenges and opportunities faced by California’s public colleges and universities and their academic libraries are a model for what higher education nationwide might look like in the near future.
Closing Equity Gaps in School Libraries: An Inquiry-based Approach
Sunday 4:00PM - 5:00PM
Equity is a core value for school librarians, but how do you determine if you have equity gaps in your program? In this interactive session, participants will experience an inquiry-based approach to exploring what equity means in a school library environment, reflecting upon and evaluating their program through a student perspective, and identifying a change idea to implement that could address a potential equity gap. Equity gaps in opportunity, access, or attainment for students can be addressed effectively through intentional school library practices. The student perspective on policies, the library environment, and access to resources and meaningful learning experiences inform librarians as they develop change ideas. The AASL shared foundation INCLUDE acts as a connector to school and district goals supporting inclusive and equitable outcomes for all.
Monday
Transforming Communities through Health Outreach and Programming
Monday 9:00AM - 10:00AM
Are you interested in offering or increasing health outreach and programming at your library? Whether you are a small rural library with limited staff, part of a large library system or somewhere in between there are ways that you can help to create a culture of health in your community. This session will provide you with examples of both active and passive outreach and program ideas for youth, adults and seniors using freely available and reliable health information resources.
Beyond Collection Development: Creating Queer-Inclusive Elementary School Library Programming
Monday 9:00AM - 10:00AM
Advocating and planning for queer-inclusive elementary school library programming is frequently limited to collection development efforts. Often, librarians feel constrained or unprepared to implement services and programs that support queer children and their families. In addition, these professionals may face challenges from community members, fellow educators, or school administration when attempting to deliver these services. In this presentation, we will define queer-inclusive programs and services, describe creative initiatives, identify potential barriers, and offer strategies and resources to face these challenges.
Difficult Discussions: Diversity in Digital Collections and Archives
Monday 9:00AM - 10:00AM
Ensuring broad and diverse representation in digital archives and collections is crucial. Diversity can involve a number of factors, including diversity of opinion, ability, ethnicity, race, gender, culture, socioeconomic status, religion, language, and sexual orientation. Unless digital archives and collections are able to include materials representing a wide spectrum of human experience, they can only tell partial and incomplete stories. Unfortunately, a number of barriers, such as the cost of, and access to, technology, can limit the scope of digital collections and prevent them from being truly inclusive. Diversity among those creating and maintaining these collections is particularly vital, both for its own sake and in order to avoid perpetuating “blind spots” in the selection of materials for acquisition and digitization projects.
Sensory Screenings: Movies for Everyone at the Library
Monday 9:00AM - 10:00AM
How can libraries make movie screenings more accessible to everyone, including viewers with sensory issues, attention disorders and other special needs, for whom visiting traditional movie theaters can often be difficult and alienating? To make the fun of movie viewings more accessible, autism advocates and educators have begun encouraging movie theaters to host "Sensory Movies," with moderate lighting and sound, where audience members are welcome to walk and talk during the film.
ALCTS President's Program
Monday 10:30AM - 11:30AM
Marcia Chatelain, Associate Professor of History and African American Studies at Georgetown University, will discuss her forthcoming book, Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America. The days of black-owned funeral homes, insurance companies, and banks anchoring the central business district of the once labeled ‘colored sections’ of cities are long gone. In their places: McDonalds, KFC, Taco Bell, and other fast food joints in the now simply segregated quarters of our cities, suburbs, and exurbs. We think we know the story of what the presence and impact of fast food in communities of color means. Poor people eat too much of it. The jobs it provides pay too little. Children are too enticed by it. But, as the food revolution looks to eradicate trans fats from American diets and enthusiastic, do-gooders plant gardens in inner city schools, few have stopped to ask the most important question: How did we get here? How did fast food outlets spread across the South Side of Chicago, the central core of Los Angeles, and the southeastern quadrant of Washington, D.C.? How did a concept borne in the suburbs become a symbol of urban deficit—nutritional and economic?
ALSC Charlemae Rollins Presidents Program: Subversive Activism: Creating Social Change Through Libraries, Children’s Literature, and Art
Monday 1:00PM - 2:30PM
This high energy presentation examines activism and social change through multiple lenses: first from two scholarly leaders, Dr. Nicole Cooke from Library & Information Science, and Dr. Janina Fariñas from Pediatric Neuropsychology, then from acclaimed children’s book author/illustrator Yuyi Morales, and finally, from Dr. Karin Perry’s sketchnoting that will document this dynamic event.
Connect the American Indian Youth Literature Award to the Curriculum
Monday 2:30PM - 3:30PM
A quality school library program must reflect the linguistic and cultural pluralism of our country. Empowering Learners asserts that librarians will offer diverse collection materials and services to accommodate the needs of all children. Yet, according to the CCBC, in 2015, out of 3400 books received from US publishers, only 8 books were written by Native Americans and a mere 28 were written about Native Americans.
Minds Unlocked: Supporting Intellectual Freedom Behind Bars
Monday 2:30PM - 3:30PM
Come fill your toolkit with strategies to support intellectual freedom for those you serve with jail or prison outreach. Learn about the realities of correctional censorship, how to develop a policy to answer the toughest challenges, and how you can be a powerful and articulate advocate for your community.
The Quick and Dirty Guide to Avoiding Disability Faux-Pas, Building Your Awareness and Library Know-How, and Getting all Your Awkward Questions Answered
Monday 4:00 PM - 5:00PM
Did you ever wish you had a chunk of time to really focus on learning about disabilities, disability cultures, and the library experiences and needs of these community members? To talk honestly with peers and get real practical tips and answers? Join us at this workshop for concrete, practical information, library accessibility and programming tips, own-voices pieces (written and video) for small group discussion, and open Q&A with self-advocate representatives.