LJ Report "JCLC 2006"-Better Together: The Joint Conference

A successful first conference of librarians of color builds solidarity

By Rebecca Miller & Aída Bardales -- Library Journal, 11/15/2006

A spark of an idea eight years ago made history in Dallas, October 12–15, when the first Joint Conference of Librarians of Color (JCLC) drew over 1100 librarians and exhibitors, exceeding the planners’ expectations—and the print run of the final program. “We are finally here,” steering committee cochair Gladys Smiley Bell proclaimed with relief at the opening session, after “eight years of carrying a baby.” Referred to repeatedly as a “historic” gathering—and, indeed, that sense was palpable—the meeting was sponsored by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), American Indian Library Association (AILA), Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), Chinese American Librarians Association (CALA), and National Association To Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking (REFORMA).

ALA was present via past, current, and future presidents, including Carol Brey-Casiano and Carla Hayden, Leslie Burger, and Loriene Roy. However, ALA was most influential, perhaps, in the person of Satia Orange, director of ALA’s Office for Literacy and Outreach Services, who has pushed for JCLC. “In this conference, everybody is somebody,” she said. “It’s not that they’re not valued at the other conferences, but it’s different when it’s your family.”

The family embraced more than three days of programming on issues such as diversity in the workplace, cultural literacy, recruitment and retention, multicultural leadership, multicultural programs and materials, and equity of access. Attendees expressed solidarity, exchanged experiences, and were further spurred by high-profile speakers.

On-target speakers

Land-mine activist and author Loung Ung (First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers, HarperCollins) opened the conference with a description of her acclimation to American culture. “I was one of the only brown girls in a sea of white and pink girls,” she said, explaining how as an adult she transformed the stares she received into ones of admiration. “I finally realized they were staring at me because I was hot!”

At a luncheon, Mayra Montero (Son de Almendra, Alfaguara; Dancing to Almendra, Farrar/Picador) powerfully described the complexities of multiculturalism, empathizing with librarians: “[A]ll of you who are of different ethnicities know better than anybody [what it is like] to be in one place and belong to another.” The wildly popular Bertice Berry (When Love Calls, You Better Answer, Random) encouraged librarians to keep doing what they do. “[Librarian] Atlanta Brown handed me a book even though I was a tough kid who didn’t want anyone to know that I read,” she recalled. “In the library, I found more than a place, I found the dream to do more.” Her daughter, she said, classified librarians as “abolitionists because they set my mind free.”

The keynoter was NPR’s Juan Williams (Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements, and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America and What We Can Do About It, Random). He told a receptive audience that “this conference represents the triumph of the Civil Rights Movement” and encouraged attendees to remember the strength they have together to address needed social change. “It’s your role to stand up and say that schools matter, that libraries matter,” he said. “You now have this coalition available, so use it, use it, use it.”

Varied programming

Many of the panel discussions were politically charged and focused on one caucus or another. A notable exception, “Who is NOT Welcome at the Library, and Why Would They Come? Equity of Access to Underserved Populations in Libraries,” engaged a cross-caucus crowd of 100. San Francisco PL’s Luis Herrera starkly noted that the future of libraries depends on getting equity of access right, because if disenfranchised groups don’t see the library as essential and use them, libraries will suffer. Andrew Jackson of Roosevelt Public Library, NY, defined the underserved in terms beyond ethnicity, notably those who aren’t inspired and informed to use the library. He suggested tapping every source for good information on what these underserved communities need, including quizzing staff, from techies to custodians. ALA’s Orange seconded that. “You can talk to the mayor, but the mayor doesn’t always have the scoop,” she said. Several panelists noted that LIS education must better prepare new librarians for the multicultural society they’ll face.

At another panel, Kathleen de la Peña McCook (Univ. of South Florida, Tampa) reflected on a dearth in cross-organization work. Within ALA, the creation of the various groups—feminist, gay and lesbian, ethnic, and the Social Responsibilities Round Table—“may have divided us up too much,” she said. Then she argued that librarianship is human rights work and suggested displays on subjects such as secret detention and rendition, enforced disappearances, the meaning of habeas corpus, and more. She and others encouraged the librarians present to, in McCook’s words, “commit to more active involvement in social issues.”

That sentiment was echoed in programs like “After 9/11: Latino and Asian Immigrants & the Public Library.” California State University–Long Beach’s Susan Luévano said current anti-immigrant attitudes “demand librarians take an active part in defending [immigrants’] use of the public library.” Luévano pointed to efforts, since reversed, at Gwinnett County Public Library, GA, to halt purchase of Spanish materials, calling it a “new...anti-immigrant tactic.” “Libraries are being put on the defensive, having to justify the collections we worked so hard to put together over many years,” she said. The new “American xenophobia,” she argued, targets legal immigrants as well.

Queens Library’s, NY, Loida García-Febo expanded on whether service should be limited to legal residents. “For those immigrants trusting enough to [request] a library card,” said García-Febo, “[librarians should] actively ensure [libraries] are still the heart of the community. Keeping doors open to all validates the common [belief] that this is the land of the free.” Emily Sheketoff, executive director of ALA’s Washington Office, urged librarians to “communicate regularly with legislators” so politicians “understand the impact” of immigration reform on public libraries.

Several programs focused on creating culturally sensitive programs and services, such as multilingual virtual reference or determining readiness for serving diverse communities. Donna Gilton, University of Rhode Island GSLIS, tuned listeners in to the issues that students from other cultures might have with library service. Factors that influence a student’s comfort include everything from the use of body language or slang to how the library operates in the person’s home country.

Will there be another?

The conference buzzed with the potential for the next JCLC. Steering committee cochairs Bell and Kenneth Yamashita told LJ that “with the success of JCLC 2006, we would like to plan on a JCLCII.” However, they noted, the five ethnic caucuses must make the decision together and commit new leadership to the planning. A five-year time line has been suggested, as has a JCLC meeting within an annual ALA conference, they said. In the meantime, the individual caucuses will continue to plan their national meetings. Exhibitor support is no doubt in play. Response from the show floor was supportive but reserved, owing to slow traffic. Under consideration may be a shorter exhibit schedule and substantive no-conflict times so participants can break away from programs and conversations to engage with vendors.

Still, one thing is certain in dreaming up the next JCLC: people were wild about this one and in no doubt that the individual caucuses benefit from closer ties to their siblings. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait another eight years for the next one.