Big and Uncomfortable Conversations: Urban Librarians Conference 2018

On Friday, April 13th, I attended the Urban Librarianship Conference, a one-day conference at
Brooklyn Public Library’s majestic Central Branch. The conference, which is hosted by Urban
Librarians Unite, provides an opportunity for librarians who work in urban environments to
exchange resources and ideas.

Under the theme “Library Revolution,” presenters shared programs, policies, and endeavors
that are pushing libraries to become more equitable places. These discussions often push
librarians into an uncomfortable - but necessary - space of self-examination; for example,
keynote speaker Jessamyn West reminded us of the importance of creating a space that
reflects our community, not a place that seeks to indoctrinate a community with “correct” values.
(Jessamyn West created a webpage for her talk; it’s jam-packed with resources about justice,
inclusion, and library neutrality.) What signals are we sending to patrons with seemingly-
inoculate gestures?

Here are some of the thought-provoking resources and ideas discussed:

● Collections: Collection development librarians at Oakland Public Library examined their
children’s books containing portrayals of police. They found that almost all of these
books depicted police as “community helpers” who keep communities safe from “the bad
guys.” Recognizing that many children in their community have had poor experiences
with the police or have family members who have been incarcerated, selectors realized
they needed to create a collection showing a wide range of experiences and reactions to
police. In response, they created a toolkit with best practices on how to evaluate and
select books about police.

● Programs: Children’s librarians at Brooklyn Public Library created Genderful!, a two-
hour program inviting kids (ages 6-12) and caregivers to a safe place to discuss and
explore gender identity. Activities included button-making, zine-making, quiet reading
corners, storytelling, and musical performances. The program was well-attended, but
presenter Leigh Hurwitz hopes to make it even more inclusive next year for children with
a wide array of sensory needs and for families of color.

● Visibility: Asata Radcliffe and Jennifer N. Shannon introduced 2040 Review, a
forthcoming review journal that centers authors and reviewers of color. Asata, who is a
seasoned book reviewer, discussed the many barriers authors of color confront when
getting their book into readers’ hands; as they state on their website, “It is the mission of
the 2040 Review to provide an avenue of accessibility for authors of color within the
world of literature reviews.”

The Urban Librarianship Conference provided a great opportunity to explore how other libraries
are examining and challenging our normal operations. It also offered opportunities to learn
about other resources we can use to make Enoch Pratt a safe and welcoming space for all.

Rebecca Starr
Info. Services