New ALA Poll Shows Voters Oppose Book Bans; American Libraries, March 24, 2022

 American Libraries; New ALA Poll Shows Voters Oppose Book Bans

"A new national poll commissioned by the American Library Association (ALA) released on March 24 shows that seven in 10 voters oppose removing books from public libraries, including majorities of voters across party lines. In addition, 74% of parents of public school children expressed confidence in school libraries and librarians to choose which books are available to children and said books that have been contested should be available on an age-appropriate basis.

The poll, conducted March 1–6, surveyed 1,000 voters and 472 parents of children in public schools. It is the first to view the issue of book bans through the lens of public and school libraries. The poll’s results demonstrate that voters have a high regard for librarians and recognize the critical role libraries play in their communities. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate that book bans are far from being a partisan issue; they are opposed by large majorities of voters regardless of personal political affiliation.

“The survey results confirm what we have known and observed: that banning books is widely opposed by most voters and parents,” said ALA President Patricia “Patty” M. Wong in a March 24 statement. “As a career librarian who began in public libraries working with children, I’m thrilled to see that parents have a high degree of confidence in school libraries’ decisions about their collections and very few think that school librarians ignore parents’ concerns. This truly validates the value and integrity of library professionals at a time when many are feeling burned out because of accusations made by small but loud groups.”

More than 330 cases of book bans and challenges were reported to ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) between September 1 and November 30, 2021. The total number of challenges in 2021 was more than double the number of reports from 2020 (156 challenges) and exceeded the overall number of challenges from 2019 (377 challenges).

OIF will announce the full 2021 book challenge totals and its annual Top 10 List of Most Challenged Books on April 4, during National Library Week (April 3–9). Additionally, the annual accounting of book censorship in the US will be released as part of ALA’s State of America’s Libraries 2022 report.

More data points from the poll:

• 71% of respondents oppose efforts to have books removed from their local public libraries, including majorities of Democrats (75%), independents (58%), and Republicans (70%)
• Most voters and parents are confident library workers can make good decisions about what books to include in collections and agree that libraries in their communities do a good job of offering books with broad and diverse viewpoints
• Voters across the political spectrum have a sense of the importance of public libraries (95% of Democrats, 78% of independents, 87% of Republicans) and school libraries (96% of Democrats, 85% of independents, 91% of Republicans)

The poll was conducted by Hart Research Associates and North Star Opinion Research on behalf of ALA. It included 1,000 voters and 472 parents of children in public schools. The sample is demographically and geographically representative of voters and parents in the US. Additional survey findings and methodology can be found on the ALA website.""

War in Ukraine underscores need for 'ethical leadership ... doing right thing,' WSU professor says; The Detroit News, March 3, 2022

Mark Hicks , The Detroit News; War in Ukraine underscores need for 'ethical leadership ... doing right thing,' WSU professor says

"As the Russian invasion of Ukraine sparks more bloodshed and alarms people around the world, Wayne State University at a rally Thursday heard messages about the global implications of the war. 

Wayne State University professor Alisa Moldavanova teaches a course on ethics. She said the conflict helped underscore the concepts for her students in real time.

"Ethical leadership is about doing the right thing," she told a crowd gathered on campus. "And I think the world should be doing the right thing. All of us here should be doing the right thing. Much like my family and other people in Ukraine are doing the right thing."

The Trauma of Library Work; American Libraries, January 22, 2022

Carrie Smith , American Libraries;  The Trauma of Library Work

Study looks at how to better support mental health on the job

"Fisher is now the principal investigator for “Trauma in the Library: Symptoms of PTSD Among Staff and Methods for Ensuring Trauma-Informed Care,” an Institute of Museum and Library Services–funded study of the effects of workplace trauma exposure on library workers. She and Lauren Alexa Gambrill, research manager of the study, presented their preliminary findings during the Ideas Xchange session...

As the study moves into later phases, Fisher and Gambrill are looking to identify where people are most vulnerable. “We definitely need more representation from survey participants,” said Fisher. The study is particularly looking to identify how those who have corresponding or overlapping identities, such as LGBTQIA+ or minority status, are impacted by their experience of trauma and their rate of trauma, Gambrill added.

More information on the study and a link to the survey can be found on the Trauma in the Library website."

LJ Talks to the 2023–24 ALA Presidential Candidates; Library Journal, March 15, 2022

 Lisa Peet , Library Journal; LJ Talks to the 2023–24 ALA Presidential Candidates

"Voting for the American Library Association (ALA) 2023–24 presidential campaign opened on March 14, and ALA members in good standing can cast their ballots through April 6. Results will be announced following the Election Committee’s count on April 13.

LJ invited candidates Emily Drabinski, interim chief librarian at The Graduate Center, City University of New York (CUNY); and Kelvin Watson, executive director of the Las Vegas–Clark County Library District (LVCCLD), to weigh in on some key issues; further information can be found on ALA’s Election Information page...

LJ: Along with a lot of other frontline professions, we’re seeing a librarianship backlash lately, with people leaving in frustration, anger, and fear. What can ALA do to help combat that sense of dissatisfaction? 

KW: I see overlap in these two questions and will answer them in the following response.

At the branch level, we must first acknowledge the toll that the pandemic has taken on our staff and encourage our employees to take advantage of health and wellness resources available through employment benefits and in our communities. As a profession, we need to look at creating a library workforce of the future by better aligning training and education with the new normal in mind, and create a career path that will better serve our library workers. I believe this could include broadening our library science degrees through courses in business, technology, the sciences, social work, and public policy, to name a few, to expand our knowledge base and build advocacy from a variety of life experiences and perspectives.

ED: Solidarity with each other as we act to change our working conditions is the only way forward. Libraries and library workers are under siege, and we must connect our struggles with those of other public sector workers who, after decades of disinvestment, are asked to perform Herculean efforts on behalf of our communities. ALA must continue to use its power and voice on behalf of library workers, telling louder public stories about what those of us on the ground need to make good on our commitments to our communities."

Mid Continent Public Library’s Steven Potter on the Digital Shift, Partisanship, and Retirement; Library Journal, March 18, 2022

 Lisa Peet , Library Journal; Mid Continent Public Library’s Steven Potter on the Digital Shift, Partisanship, and Retirement

"At the end of February Steven Potter, CEO and director of Mid Continent Public Library (MCPL), Kansas City, MO, announced his plans to retire after 34 years with the library—12 of them as director—effective June 30. LJ caught up with him shortly before the PLA Conference to talk about his tenure at MCPL and his plans on retirement (spoiler alert: nothing)."

Bangor Public Library dealing with unprecedented spike in crime; WABI5, March 2, 2022

Brian Sullivan, WABI5; Bangor Public Library dealing with unprecedented spike in crime

"In January and February, Bangor police have had to respond to the library 38 times.

“Everything from fights to drug overdoses, drug possession, some drug dealing, some drug trafficking that appears to be going on right out in open in the open inside the library. We’ve also had some sexual type crimes, sex in public taking place in the bathrooms, suspicion of prostitution,” said Betters.

Officials tell TV5 the increase in these instances at the library have followed the closing of a nearby daytime warming shelter and the end of the funding that utilized the Ramada Inn.

“Think there is a higher level of those experiencing homelessness within the library clearly during the day, and I think we all know that many of them are facing significant substance use disorder issues, mental health issues, and many times cooccurring at the same time. So, it is a challenging population. So, I’m not surprised that there is that number,” said Debbie Laurie, Bangor City Manager.

Organizations that work with this population to try and help find a path forward visit the library multiple times a week.

“Have people who are coming in here because they’re escaping a dangerous situation at home. They don’t have their social security card. They don’t have their ID. They’re going through the bureaucracy of rebuilding their life, and they’re not here causing trouble,” said Treat. “Like if we had 40 people in here at a given time who are experiencing homelessness, I would guess it was probably three, four, or five people who are, you know, a cluster of people who are causing trouble, and we need to respond to that three or four or five people.”"

Head of security at FSU's Strozier Library charged with theft of thousands of rare comics; Tallahassee Democrat, February 7, 2022

Karl Etters, Tallahassee Democrat; Head of security at FSU's Strozier Library charged with theft of thousands of rare comics

"There are only four keys to the lock protecting a half-million dollars worth of comic books housed in Florida State University’s Strozier Library.

Todd Peak, the library’s head of security, had access to one of them.

Peak, 38, was arrested by FSU Police on Friday on charges that, in 2020, he stole nearly 5,000 comics from the Robert M. Ervin Jr. Collection. Throughout the next two years, police said, he sold them to private buyers and comic book stores throughout the area."

Wake County Library Makes It Harder to Ban Books; IndyWeek, March 16, 2022

 Jasmine Gallup, IndyWeek; Wake County Library Makes It Harder to Ban Books

"Wake County’s Community Services program manager Frank Cope replied that if a book was challenged on the grounds of “obscenity” or another First Amendment concern, the library would consult the county attorney’s office. Leaders plan to add a provision to the policy clarifying how and when a lawyer will be involved in book challenges.

The American Library Association advises that libraries have a lawyer on retainer to consult on legal issues, Caldwell-Stone says. But there are some potential snags in using the county attorney to fill that role.

“There’s a conflict of interest, especially when there are elected officials arguing a book should be pulled and you have the county attorney make a decision,” Caldwell-Stone says. “It should be independent legal counsel that doesn’t also represent the police department and the county government.”"

U.S. News Ranked Columbia No. 2, but a Math Professor Has His Doubts; The New York Times, March 17, 2022

Anemona Hartocollis, The New York Times; U.S. News Ranked Columbia No. 2, but a Math Professor Has His Doubts

"The rankings have driven colleges to make relatively benign changes in culture, but there has also been some fraud, Mr. Diver said. “There’s been repeated evidence of not just gaming the system,” he said, but also “outright misrepresentation, outright lying.”

Last year, a former dean of Temple University’s business school was found guilty of using fraudulent data between 2014 and 2018 to improve the school’s national rankings and increase revenue. The school’s online M.B.A. program was ranked best in the country by U.S. News & World Report in the years that he falsified data.

Over the years, other schools like Iona College, Claremont McKenna College and Emory University have been found to have falsified or manipulated data."

Violence against women in politics marks ‘moral and ethical failure’ - General Assembly President; United Nations News, March 15, 2022

United Nations News ; Violence against women in politics marks ‘moral and ethical failure’ - General Assembly President

As a former Parliamentarian, and a lifelong politician, violence against women in politics is an issue near to my heart. It is a moral and ethical failure on us as a society,” said the President of the General Assembly, Abdulla Shahid, whose office organized the event on the sidelines of the Commission on the Status of Women. 

The event brought together Vice-Presidents, Government Ministers and senior officials from more than 20 UN Member States – some of whom spoke from personal experience about the barriers to running for office as a woman candidate."

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says US businesses should pull out of Russia, calls for more aid; USA Today, March 16, 2022

 Joey GarrisonCelina TeborLedyard KingJohn BaconRick RouanMatthew Brown, USA Today; Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says US businesses should pull out of Russia, calls for more aid

""Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace," he Zelenskyy said in remarks livestreamed at the U.S. Capitol. He added, “I call on you to do more."

The Ukrainian War and Ethical Leadership; Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, March 15, 2022

Ann Skeet, Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University; The Ukrainian War and Ethical Leadership

"Throughout these choices, the ethics of care are at play. Each leader is balancing the primary interests they serve and the commitments that have been made, on behalf of those interests, to alliances like NATO and the EU. It is a moment in history when relationships matter deeply.

Individuals are making personal choices centered on some of these same tradeoffs. How do I prioritize taking care of myself and my family versus meeting a collective call to protect my country? Ukrainian leaders helped make this choice, requiring men to stay and protect the country, permitting women to leave and care for children.

The global response to the plight of the Ukrainian people is grounded in commitment to fundamental human rights. Diplomats and NATO leaders are running a utilitarian calculus, pursuing diplomacy and defense simultaneously. Business leaders are prioritizing the common good over corporate short-term profits. As with Covid, the world is running a real time ethics simulation. Only it's real."

In the War Over Ukraine, Expect the Unexpected; The New York Times, March 15, 2022

Thomas L. Friedman, The New York Times; In the War Over Ukraine, Expect the Unexpected

"I am always amazed by the courage that seemingly average people manifest in war — in this case, not only by Ukrainians, but also by Russians who refuse to buy Putin’s lies, knowing that he is turning them into a pariah nation. So I marvel at the breathtaking courage demonstrated on Monday evening by Marina Ovsyannikova, an employee at Russia’s Channel 1, a state-run television channel, who burst into a live broadcast of Russia’s most-watched news show, yelling, “Stop the war!” and holding up a sign behind the anchorwoman saying, “They’re lying to you here.” She was interrogated and, for the moment, released — probably because Putin feared making her into a martyr.

Marina Ovsyannikova — remember her name. She dared to tell the czar that he had no clothes. What courage.

And finally, wars also reveal extraordinary acts of kindness."

Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Kelvin Watson; American Libraries Magazine, March 1, 2022

American Libraries Magazine; Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Kelvin Watson

Two candidates appeal to ALA members for their vote

Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Emily Drabinski; American Libraries Magazine, March 1, 2022

American Libraries Magazine; Meet the Candidates for ALA President: Emily Drabinski

Two candidates appeal to ALA members for their vote

Ukraine's libraries are offering bomb shelters, camouflage classes and, yes, books; NPR, March 9, 2022

Bill Chappell, NPR; Ukraine's libraries are offering bomb shelters, camouflage classes and, yes, books

"Libraries are playing vital roles in supporting Ukraine's war effort from giving families shelters during Russian bombing raids to making camouflage nets for the military and countering disinformation. 

"It's really scary when schools, libraries, universities, hospitals, maternity hospitals, residential neighborhoods are bombed," Oksana Brui, who is the president of the Ukrainian Library Association, told NPR...

Even in peacetime, Ukraine's libraries try to counteract the influence of disinformation, training people in media and information literacy. But this is war, and everything about life in Ukraine is now different. The country's librarians are hard at work trying to keep their collections safe — and making sure people can access books and other materials.

"Today Ukraine is fighting not only for its own independence and the future of its children," Brui said. 

She stressed that Ukrainians are fighting — and dying — for European values. She urged everyone to support Ukraine, to establish a no-fly zone, and unite to stop the war started by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Today it is destroying Ukraine, and tomorrow it could be any other country," Brui said." 

Keyboard warriors: Ukraine’s IT army switches to war footing; The Guardian, March 12, 2022

Mark Sweney, The Guardian; Keyboard warriors: Ukraine’s IT army switches to war footing

"Sensing the threat, the IT Ukraine Association tested the sector’s readiness at the start of February with a survey question that would be unthinkable coming from a trade body in most countries: “Does your company have an emergency response plan for such cases as large-scale combat operations, lack of internet access, power outage etc?”

More than 90% said they already had, or were developing, plans to keep Ukraine’s tech sector able to continue to service domestic and international clients.

“It is about measures and actions to protect and make operations safe and able to continue,” says Konstantin Vasyuk, the association’s executive director. “Relocating vulnerable workers, ensuring data is in the cloud, alternative internet connections, transferring staff and specialists to western parts of Ukraine and countries in Europe. Things that can, and have, to be implemented very fast.”

And so far, the plans to maintain digital resilience have helped defy expectations about the level of disruption expected from the full-scale invasion by Russian forces...

“Not everyone is good with a gun,” says the IT Ukrainian Association’s Vasyuk. “People should be used as efficiently as they can. We are fighting with guns, with laptops, we will keep on going.”"

What to do if you're struggling with your mental health at work; NPR, March 10, 2022

Jordan-Marie Smith, NPR; What to do if you're struggling with your mental health at work

"When you're not in the right headspace, being at work can be difficult. 

Whether it's depression, burnout, anxiety or something else, struggling with your mental health while you're waiting tables or sitting behind a desk can disrupt your life and your job. 

But there's a stigma to taking time off to care for your mental health that's not present with physical health. The mindset is, "Just work, work, work, push through it and get to the other end and deal with it," says Jody Adewale, a Los Angeles-based psychologist and medical advisor for the mental health advocacy foundation, Made of Millions. 

Addressing your mental health needs is important — and human. "It's not a character flaw or a character defect or a sign of weakness," says Adewale. "It's something that everyone I think on this planet will experience at one point or another in their life."

Life Kit asked mental health professionals how to spot an issue and what the options are when you do. 

While we know there's no such thing as the perfect job, there are tools for both employees and managers to make work a better place to be...

Resources

Here's a non-exhaustive list of resources for workplace mental health:

• The CDC offers a wealth of resources, including a glossary of terms and suggestions for managers.
• Did you know you can train in mental health first aid? Here's where to find training and mental health aid resources. 
• Made of Millions is a global mental health advocacy group that offers lots of training and resources. Here's their letter to your manager, and here's their global directory of resources.
• Not 9 to 5 is a global non-profit focusing on mental health advocacy in the foodservice and hospitality sectors. Their website offers a lot of great workplace mental health resources.
• Here's a breakdown of how to implement psychological safety in the workplace, from ShiftCollab, a therapy collective

Opinion: Here’s the difference between Jeff Bezos and me; The Washington Post, March 6, 2022

 Bradley Graham, The Washington Post; Opinion: Here’s the difference between Jeff Bezos and me

"Even through the pandemic of the past two years, most independent bookstores have managed to survive. Doing so has meant doing what indies do best, which is adapting, innovating and staying focused on community. At P&P, we started offering curbside pickup and local delivery services, moved our author talks and literary classes online, and expanded our Web order capabilities, all while keeping staff employed and protected from covid-19.

But Amazon remains a major threat to us and to independent bookstores everywhere. Though it’s now shuttering its physical book outlets, the company persists as a dominant presence online, choking competition and engaging in unfair practices."

How to be less indecisive about everyday decisions; NPR, March 8, 2022

 FRANK FESTA, CLARE MARIE SCHNEIDER; How to be less indecisive about everyday decisions

"Holding on to the idea of a perfect choice can keep us from actually choosing. When in reality, the worst-case scenario for me at the diner would be that I order pancakes and end up wishing I had gotten an omelet instead."

Serving on a Nonprofit Board: Basics and Ethical Responsibilities; PBI, April 6, 2022

PBI; Serving on a Nonprofit Board: Basics and Ethical Responsibilities

Wednesday, April 6, 2022, Live Webcast

3 substantive CLE credits | 1:30 pm to 4:45 pm

"Thinking of serving on a nonprofit board? We’ve got you covered.

Many attorneys get the chance to join a nonprofit board. This can be a very rewarding experience to improve your skills and make valuable connections while helping a cause that is meaningful to you. This CLE will explore the role of the Board of Directors and the laws governing nonprofits. You will get training on the basics of nonprofit board service, including charitable issues raised under state and federal laws for current board members.

Explore the nuts and bolts of serving on a nonprofit board

Some topics covered will include:

• Proper due diligence: what questions to ask and documents to request before joining
• Understanding your role as a board member
• Board member fiduciary duties
• Board member limited liability, D&O insurance, and indemnification
• The basics of nonprofit financial information
• Ethics of serving on a nonprofit board
• And more!"

U.S. Copyright Office Joins Message on International Women’s Day 2022; U.S. Copyright Office, Issue No. 948, March 8, 2022

 U.S. Copyright Office, Issue No. 948 ; U.S. Copyright Office Joins Message on International Women’s Day 2022

"The U.S. Copyright Office has joined with national and regional intellectual property offices from around the world as well as with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to issue a message in support of women creators and innovators. This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is “Gender Equality for a Sustainable Tomorrow.”"

15 Ways Leaders Can Get Comfortable With Not Always Having The Answer; Forbes Coaches Council, Forbes, March 7, 2022

Forbes Coaches Council, Forbes ; 15 Ways Leaders Can Get Comfortable With Not Always Having The Answer

"Below, 15 members of Forbes Coaches Council share advice on how senior business leaders can intentionally work on getting more comfortable with not always having the answer."

ALA Announces $7 Million in Grants to Support Accessibility; American Libraries, March 3, 2022

 American Libraries; ALA Announces $7 Million in Grants to Support Accessibility

"On March 3, the American Library Association announced that its Libraries Transforming Communities initiative will be distributing $7 million in grants to support accessibility efforts at small and rural libraries. The statement reads as follows:

The American Library Association (ALA) announced today that its Libraries Transforming Communities project will offer more than $7 million in grants to small and rural libraries to increase the accessibility of facilities, services, and programs to better serve people with disabilities.

“[The] Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities [grant] represents an important next step in ALA’s commitment to serving small and rural libraries as well as emphasizing the essential connection between accessibility and our work in spreading the values of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI),” said ALA President Patricia “Patty” M. Wong. “Made possible by a generous grant, this project will also allow ALA to strengthen our staff by providing accessibility training and other professional development around EDI issues. We are also grateful for the opportunity to bring on ALA’s first accessibility officer to oversee our work on this important core value.”"

D.C. activists once wrote letters to name MLK Library. They did it again to push out Jeff Bezos.; The Washington Post, February 11, 2022

Ellie Silverman, The Washington Post; D.C. activists once wrote letters to name MLK Library. They did it again to push out Jeff Bezos.

"“It’s a special thing to have a public bridge or a library or street named after you,” said Ann Bartow, a professor at the University of New Hampshire’s law school, who has researched the intersection of trademark law and naming rights. “Are we going to celebrate the people who made the most money? Are we going to celebrate people who gave their lives in the military? Are we going to celebrate teachers who worked hard and were underpaid for 30 years? That’s an expression of values.”...

“It’s more than just a library,” said Kaplan of American University, who remembers getting her start as a researcher in high school in MLK Library’s archives. “For many of us, it’s a place for safety, a place of pride, a place of promise for the future, a place where our history has always been celebrated, documented and displayed. And that raises the stakes.”...

The backlash, Reyes-Gavilan said, showed that the naming process “is flawed.” He said that the library system sent the Morrison family a letter about the naming and that it was unclear what their wishes are at this time.

Apologizing for “the aggravation the naming process has caused,” Reyes-Gavilan said during the meeting that “whatever happens next will be taking place in a much more public way.”"

‘Good Place’ creator Michael Schur asks: How can we live a more ethical life?; The Washington Post, March 4, 2022

 Michael Schur , The Washington Post; ‘Good Place’ creator Michael Schur asks: How can we live a more ethical life?

"For every conscientious citizen, there’s a whole bunch of cheaters and liars and Wolf of Wall Street maniacs who see ethical rules as annoying obstacles to getting whatever they want — not, you know, once a month, but literally all the time. Perhaps we can break down this whole confusing morass into four simple questions that we can ask ourselves whenever we encounter any ethical dilemma, great or small:

What are we doing? Why are we doing it? Is there something we could do that’s better? Why is it better?...

“Trying to do the right thing” means we are bound to fail. Even making our best efforts to be good people, we’re gonna screw up. Constantly. We’ll make a decision we think is right and good, only to find out it was wrong and bad. We’ll do something we don’t think will affect anyone, only to find out it sure as hell did, and man are we in trouble. We will hurt our friends’ feelings, harm the environment, support evil companies, accidentally help an elderly Nazi cross the street. We will fail, and then fail again, and again, and again. On this test, which we take daily whether we want to or not, failure is guaranteed — in fact, even getting like a C-plus often seems hopelessly out of reach. All of which can make caring about what we do seem pointless.

But that failure means more, and has more potential value, if we do care. Because if we care about doing the right thing, we will also want to figure out why we failed, which will give us a better chance to succeed in the future. Failure hurts, and it’s embarrassing, but it’s also how we learn stuff — it’s called “trial and error,” not “one perfect trial and we nail it and then we’re done.” Plus, come on — the alternative to caring about our ethical lives is really no alternative at all. We’re supposed to just ignore all questions about our behavior? Phone it in, morally speaking? I can’t believe that’s the right move. If we care about anything in this life, we ought to care about whether what we’re doing is good or bad."

40 Best Maya Angelou Quotes to Live By; Good Housekeeping, February 23, 2022

KARLA POPE, Good Housekeeping; 40 Best Maya Angelou Quotes to Live By

"When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time."

The Manhattan Project Shows Scientists’ Moral and Ethical Responsibilities; Scientific American, March 2, 2022

George Iskander,  Scientific American; The Manhattan Project Shows Scientists’ Moral and Ethical Responsibilities

"Collective action has power, but it starts with the individual." 

Statements of Solidarity with Colleagues in Ukraine by Archive, Library, and Other Organizations; Info Docket, Library Journal, February 27, 2022

 Gary Price, Info Docket, Library Journal; Statements of Solidarity with Colleagues in Ukraine by Archive, Library, and Other Organizations

"Statements of Solidarity and Support (Latest Entries in Bold)

• American Historical Association: Historians Condemn Russian Invasion of Ukraine (February 2022)
• AUPresses: On Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
• 15 Member Societies (ACLS) Sign On to American Historical Association Statement Condemning Russian Invasion of Ukraine
• American Library Association (ALA) Stands with Ukrainian Library Community
• Association Research Libraries (ARL) Statement on Ukraine
• Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) Statement on the Situation in Ukraine
• Canada: On Behalf of the Ex Libris Association: Statement of Solidarity With Our Professional Colleagues in the Ukraine
• Canadian Library Community Expresses Support for Ukraine (via CFLA)
• Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) Statement on Ukraine
• Danish Library Association: Libraries Can Help Ukraine in the Fight for Truth
• Committee on Data of the International Science Council (CODATA) Statement on the War in Ukraine
• Digital Preservation Coalition Statment (DPC) on the Invasion of Ukraine, February 2022
• Elsevier Condemns Russian Invasion of Ukraine
• European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA) Statement on Ukraine
• Federation of European Publishers (FEP) Condemns Russia’s Attack on Ukraine
• International Association for the Humanities (MAG) Statement on the Russian Invasion (via ACLS)
• International Council on Archives (ICA): Solidarity with Ukrainian Archives and Records Professionals
• International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Statement on Ukraine
• International Council on Museums (ICOM) Statement Concerning the Russian Invasion Into Ukraine
• International Publishers Association (IPA) Response to Ukrainian Publishers and Booksellers Association
• International Science Council (ISC) Statement on Ukraine
• Joint Statement by the National Academies of the G7 States on Russia’s Attack on Ukraine
• Library Association of Latvia Statement to Ukrainian Librarians and Citizens
• Metropolitan New York Library Council (METRO) Statement of Support for Ukraine
• NASEM: ‘We Stand With Our Colleagues in Ukraine,’ Say U.S. National Academies Presidents
• OCLC Stands in Solidarity With Ukraine
• ORCID: A Special Message About Ukraine
• PEN Statement on Ukraine (PEN America)
• Society of American Archivists (SAA): Solidarity with Ukrainian Archives and Archivists
• Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) Statement of Solidarity With Library Professionals in Ukraine
• SPARC Europe: Ukraine, We Stand With You
• Springer Nature Condemns Russian Invasion
• Taylor & Francis Statement on the Russian Invasion of Ukraine
• UK Community of Librarians, Archivists and Information Professionals Issue Statement of Solidarity and Support with Ukrainian Colleagues (via CILIP)
• UMass Libraries Stand with Ukraine
• Wikimedia Foundation Calls for Continued Access to Free and Open Knowledge as Ukraine Crisis Continues
• The Wiener Holocaust Library’s Statement on Ukraine)"

KC-area library leader quits after trustees rejected diversity, condemned LGBT program; kansascity.com via NewsBreak, February 27, 2022

kansascity.com via NewsBreak; KC-area library leader quits after trustees rejected diversity, condemned LGBT program

"Steven Potter, director of the Mid-Continent Public Library in Independence, Missouri, is resigning after more than a decade at the helm, and a wrong-way shift to the hard right in library board ideology has something to do with it."

Ronn Torossian Admits To "Ethical Lapses" Amid News Site Controversy; PRovokeMedia, February 23, 2022

 Diana Marszalek, PRovokeMedia ; Ronn Torossian Admits To "Ethical Lapses" Amid News Site Controversy

"After finally admitting to owning Everything-PR, 5WPR founder and CEO Ronn Torossian apologized for his lack of transparency on the issue, acknowledging making “missteps including ethical lapses and errors in judgment” during the 20-year history of his firm...

Torossian’s apology comes following Crain’s New York Business’s report last week that he does indeed own Everything-PR, despite years of denial, and used the site to boost his own firm while slamming other agencies...

“In addition to being a cowardly and blatant violation of PRSA's Code of Ethics, Ronn’s actions are a stain on our profession and undermine our role as guardians of facts and integrity for those we serve. We strongly condemn his and his firm’s direct role in perpetrating disinformation while pretending to be a legitimate industry news site," said PRSA-NY's board said in a statement."

ALA Stands with Ukrainian Library Community; American Libraries, March 1, 2022

American Libraries; ALA Stands with Ukrainian Library Community

"On March 1, the American Library Association (ALA) released a statement in support of the Ukrainian library community. The full statement reads as follows:

ALA and its divisions support our Ukrainian colleagues and will work with the global library community to answer the appeal from the Ukrainian Library Association to provide accurate information as a means to support democracy and freedom of expression.

ALA has adopted into its policies Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media regardless of frontiers.”

ALA continues to encourage our members to help raise public consciousness regarding the many ways in which disinformation and media manipulation are used to mislead public opinion in all spheres of life, and further encourages librarians to facilitate this awareness with collection development, library programming, and public outreach that draws the public’s attention to those alternative sources of information dedicated to countering and revealing the disinformation.

American Library Association Executive Board

American Association of School Librarians Board of Directors

Association for Library Service to Children Board of Directors

Association of College and Research Libraries Board of Directors

Core: Leadership, Infrastructure, Futures Board of Directors

Public Library Association Board of Directors

Reference and User Services Association Board of Directors

Young Adult Library Services Association Board of Directors

United for Libraries Board of Directors"

The Battle for the Soul of the Library; The New York Times, February 24, 2022

Stanley Kurtz, The New York Times; The Battle for the Soul of the Library

"Ultimately, librarians who work to balance a library’s holdings will be far more persuasive advocates for intellectual freedom than those with a political ax to grind.

There is a lesson here for the professions upon whose trustworthy refereeing our society depends for its stability: judges, government bureaucrats, journalists and more. These occupations should work to recapture lost neutrality. As our political conflicts deepen, we need our traditionally fair and impartial referees far more, not less, than before."