Organize Your Library! Developing the Collective Power of Library Workers

Authors: Angelo Moreno, Kelly McElroy, Meredith Kahn, Emily Drabinski Speaking directly to library workers, this book demonstrates the power and fulfillment that comes from actively participating in shaping both the conditions under which they labor and the conditions that govern the library itself. Interest in unions and the real, day-to-day benefits they secure for employees is on the rise—including among library workers, who are beginning to realize that on their own they have little leverage. But with a union they have the power of numbers, and their working conditions are decided by a collectively negotiated agreement rather than by the malleable judgement of an individual administrator or library board. This handbook will equip readers with the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary for organizing and maintaining a union at their library. Peppered throughout by illuminating stories from successful library union leaders and members, this book discusses why library workers need unions and explores some of the benefits that a collective bargaining agreement can assure, such as job security, increased salaries, codification of the rules for overtime pay and time off, and protection from harassment by patrons;explains why a contract won't limit employees' autonomy;walks readers through how to launch a union drive, including the basics of talking with co-workers, combating apathy and fear, and running a campaign;offers an overview of the steps involved in building a new union, from forming an organizing committee to getting recognition and setting up a governance structure; sketches out the key issues relating to contracts, the details of bargaining and negotiation, and arbitration;lays out approaches and strategies for dealing with supervisors and administrators in the context of your union work, including effective communication between labor and management, contract enforcement, and handling bad behavior such as unfair labor practices and retaliation; gives advice on pursuing changes in your workplace in a right-to-work state; explores the constructive roles that bosses can play to support the union efforts of the workers who organize them; and provides an Action Plan at the end of each chapter with suggested readings, questions for reflection, and activities designed to help deepen your knowledge, broaden your network, and practice important skills.

Human Rights Day online panel -December 4, 2024

On Wednesday December 4, 2024, at 3 p.m. eastern, the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), the Law Library of Congress, the US Copyright Office, and the Library of Congress John W. Kluge Center will host a Human Rights Day online panel to discuss efforts to create legislation, regulations, and treaties that govern accessibility standards in the United States and around the world.

Panelists will be:

• NLS Director Jason Broughton
• Aslihan Bulut, the Law Librarian of Congress
• Dr. Kevin Butterfield, director of the John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress
• Rep. Debbie Dingell, who represents Michigan’s 6th Congressional District in the US House of Representatives
• Elin Hofverberg, Senior Foreign Law Specialist, Law Library of Congress 
• Andrew Foglia, Deputy Director of Policy and International Affairs, US Copyright Office 

To attend the online event, register at https://loc.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_y0hH6pVtTc6Hd6yFyYOzag#/registration

2024 Theme: Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now. Human Rights Day-2024

This Human Rights Day we focus on how human rights are a pathway to solutions, playing a critical role as a preventative, protective and transformative force for good.

Human rights impact everyone, every day and in this campaign, Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now, we will show the tangible impact of human rights by focusing on relevant global issues, showcasing impact, successes and practical solutions. 

 Human Rights Day 2024 | OHCHR

The Role of the Law Library in Serving Incarcerated Individuals (8/2/2024)

 Access to legal information is both a legal right and crucial need for people who are incarcerated, yet little comprehensive data exists regarding how that information is provided or about the quality or accessibility of services available to individuals in prison. While anecdotal evidence suggests that law librarians are playing a key role in bridging this service gap, there is a lack of information about best practices and models, as well as about the state of the profession’s capacity to meet the incarcerated population’s need for access to legal information. How and where are people who are incarcerated able to access legal information? And how can we develop more robust and nimble service offerings to meet their needs?

In a new project funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), we will examine the national landscape of access to legal information for people who are incarcerated and the current state of the field of law librarianship in facilitating access to the law for the justice-impacted population. This project will build on exploratory research to document the different types of libraries involved in providing services to incarcerated patrons and the challenges and opportunities they face.

Press Release:

The Role of the Law Library in Serving Incarcerated Individuals - Ithaka S+R

Ithaka S+R helps academic and cultural communities serve the public good and navigate economic, technological, and demographic change. Our work also aims to broaden access to higher education by reducing costs and improving student outcomes.

Homelessness- Denver Basic Income Study (2024).

 

The Denver Basic Income Project (DBIP) is studying the impact of providing a guaranteed income (GI) to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The project is the first and largest of its kind in the United States to study the impact of guaranteed income on unhoused individuals and families at this scale.

FINAL_DBIP+Year+One+Executive+Summary.pdf (squarespace.com)

library services and incarceration.

 Hello-

San Francisco Public Library's Jail and Reentry Services staff have created a 10 video training series on topics related to library services and incarceration.* Each video is approximately an hour long and is opened by a formerly incarcerated person. Topics include direct and indirect services, digital literacy, discussing incarceration in the LIS classroom, and more.

You are invited to utilize these materials in your courses!

All videos are freely available on the Expanding Information Access for Incarcerated People grant page at

https://sfpl.org/services/jail-and-reentry-services/expanding-information-access-incarcerated-people-initiative.

You can also access the videos on our YouTube channel at

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGpyI74Nnel5466NFubfyUg8RfpIwqPR3.

Videos are available with English or Spanish captioning. Each video description contains a link to the full transcript.

Please email jailandreentryservices@sfpl.org with any questions about these resources.

All Best,

Jeanie Austin
pronouns: they/them/their

End Poverty in America.

Poverty

 

End Poverty in America