The following is a summary of the event by Traci Mark, Program Manager - Equity, Archives, and Media Preservation, METRO, published onAugust 5, 2020. This webinar was moderated by Davis Erin Anderson, Assistant Director for Programs and Partnerships at METRO Library Council. The panelists included Stephanie (Cole) Adams, Lawyer at the Law Office of Stephanie Adams; Timothy Furgal, Procurement Consultant, Southern Tier Library System; Lauren Comito, Neighborhood Library Supervisor at Brooklyn Public Library; and Halley Eacker, Director of NYSED’s Safe and Supportive Schools Technical Assistance Center. It was presented in partnership with Urban Libraries Unite. See a transcript of this conversation at the link at the bottom of this post. Creating a sustaining diverse workplace brings numerous benefits. When teams value and give voice to different perspectives and support multiple modalities of thinking and interacting, they derive strength in their collective knowledge and participate in more effective decision-making and innovation. In this online panel discussion, panelists shared their lived experiences, offering guidance for staying on task when everything is urgent and important, giving advice on providing environmental support for neurodiverse colleagues, and discussing the ways in which neurodiversity comes into play when working in public service settings. The discussion started with our panelists sharing their personal definitions of neurodiversity. “For me, neurodiversity acknowledges and recognizes that everyone’s brain works in a different way,” Lauren Comito said. Halley Eacker echoed this by saying, “we’re all built differently and there’s a lot of different ways in which our brain can function in terms of how we learn, how we communicate, and even how we process sensory information.” Our panelists agreed that there is no universal way of thinking, feeling, or reacting; the idea of neurodiversity is meant to explore this and embrace it.  “Neurodiversity asks that you be able to listen attentively to the person who’s sharing their experience with you and to sit in that shared humanity for a while. When there are bridges or gaps, it’s up to you to do the work. No matter what shows up, it doesn’t diminish the value of the person sitting in front of you.” -Timothy Furgal Our panelists acknowledged from the outset that neurodiversity is challenging for everyone, though it gets even more complex at the intersection of race, gender, and socioeconomic standing. This is particularly challenging when it comes to the diagnosis of any type of neurodiversity within BIPOC kids and adults. Systematic oppression and environmental factors play a huge role in exacerbating the ways we are different, and this can cause a negative impact in how we live our everyday lives. However, when neurodiversity is highlighted in a positive way, it can unlock an abundance of creative potential.  Each of our panelists took time to speak about their personal experiences with neurodiversity and discussed how this has shaped their work and daily lives. All of our panelists talked about communication: how do we want to communicate with our staff or peers? What are our communication preferences? It’s important to have open and honest conversations about preferred methods of receiving information. An example of this could include teaming up with a staff member who is more task oriented (e.g. works well with charts, spreadsheets, lists) or one that needs more space and freedom to develop ideas (e.g. someone who needs creative time to think and process). This starts with cultivating real relationships, practicing empathy, and rejecting a rigid approach to “success.” This could happen in a multitude of ways; everyone has something to offer. This continual process requires us to take a deep look at ourselves. Our panelists recognized that library systems have a real opportunity to improve when it comes to nurturing neurodiversity in the workplace. Neurodiversity and environment are inextricably linked. This includes the physical space at cultural centers (including libraries). Stephanie (Cole) Adams emphasized this by urging cultural workers to challenge architects to design spaces that encourage neurodiversity. “[Architects] need to design something that meets the functions that your organization demands. Those functions are going to be evolving rapidly in the next few years. Demand the best from them and be relentless,” she said. Adams gave the example of having one board room with brighter colors, another with white walls, and another in earth tones, or allowing your co-worker to decorate their desk however they want. These important decisions consider your staff and peers’ personal needs and temperament on a daily basis.  At the end of the webinar, the panelists offered advice for staying on task when everything feels urgent and important. This is a topic we can all relate to. Our panelists advised keeping a notebook, making priorities, making deadlines (if you need them), and making lists if that’s reinforcing for you. Sleep more. Drink more water. Self care is essential when the world feels like it’s changing nearly constantly. Lastly, and most crucially for those of us in the world whose brains work a little differently, practice radical acceptance. As Furgal said, sit in that chair of humanity and realize that being able to bridge the gaps between us humans is a true gift. Many thanks to our panelists for sharing their time and insights with us. Please join us at one of our future events; a full listing can be found at metronyc.wpengine.com/events.

Universal Design for Learning is an educational framework that builds on the concept of Universal Design to ensure that learning spaces and materials are accessible and inclusive for all learners. Its principles can be applied in all sorts of library settings from children’s programming at public libraries to the design of learning spaces and materials at institutions of higher education. While UDL has a lot to offer in any instructional setting, it can be particularly useful as a means of focusing on accessibility and inclusion when planning remote and online educational programming whether this is a one-shot instruction session, a full semester class, or another type of program with educational goals. In this session, you will learn the principles of Universal Design for Learning and how these can be applied in various library settings. Carli Spina is an Associate Professor and the Head of Research & Instructional Services at the FIT Library. She regularly publishes, presents, and teaches on topics related to accessibility, Universal Design, and inclusivity in libraries.

The following is a summary of the event by Davis Erin Anderson, Assistant Director for Programs and Partnerships, METRO, published on July 22, 2020. The latest pandemic stalled regular public library operations. In what ways were we able take advantage of this time to consider real change in operations and services that might benefit our communities? What might change for the good? This webinar addressed a variety of areas of services, functions, staffing considerations, community role, and building design. Participants had an opportunity to contribute some of their own thoughts and observations. Maxine Bleiweis joined us on Thursday, July 2, 2020 for a big-picture conversation. Within the context of both a global pandemic and historic protests in favor of racial justice, libraries are in a position to think deeply about how we’d like to emerge from this ground-altering period of time. As she began her presentation, Bleiweis encouraged us to step back to observe this moment from a wider lens. “Libraries have made it through difficult times before. We are more important than ever,” she said, noting that libraries have survived the Great Depression, 9/11, and other crises. We are not operating within business as usual; this is a time to implement changes. And this pandemic can be an accelerant to get things done that have been in the wish list. Using the philosophy of “looking for the library in everything,” Bleiweis centered her presentation on four themes: community and civic leadership, rethinking spaces, rethinking technology and service, and rethinking staffing. Let’s take each subtopic one by one. Community and Civic Leadership Bleiweis reminds us that your library is relevant to everyone in your community. She encourages library staff to reach out to key people to see what’s on their mind. Listen hard and make suggestions as to what sorts of collaborative efforts may be helpful. In particular, Bleiweis recommends thinking of economic solutions that may be helpful at this time, from hosting online meetings connecting entrepreneurs to acting as a hub that connects local businesses to the community. Importantly, libraries have a mandate to work with communities to achieve racial justice. We have resources to share, and (hopefully) resources to buy. Community-wide reads are a great way to open dialog, and finding skilled facilitators is key for these conversations. Rethinking Spaces Covid-19 will be with us for the foreseeable future. We must reconfigure our spaces to accommodate our new physically distant reality. Let’s start by seeing your space with only what’s load bearing. Beginning from a blank page will allow you to create a library space that supports community health. Safety is, of course, paramount. Much of the guidance on reducing community spread includes ensuring good ventilation. So, start outside your building. It’s safer. Put up banners, put up tents. Make sure your wifi extends as far as you need it. Rethink your programming to make use of the outdoors. Outdoor movie nights offer one potential area for building community safely. Indoors and out, service points offer plenty of opportunity to interact with our community to help them embrace new modes of engaging. Place staff at the library’s entrance, near places of “confusion”, and near places that have new ways of operating. It’s important to minimize movement of library users so as to help reduce contact between community members. Other space considerations include setting up self-service points wherever possible, introducing flexible furnishing, and figure out how to offer computer use at a distance (i.e. provide mobile devices not fixed computers). As you make these alterations, be sure to reach out to your community. Bleiweis suggests sharing drafts of communication with folks outside the organization so as to set the right tone. Helpful communication includes assurances of what community members will find when they return to the library (clean spaces, temperature checks for staff, mandatory face coverings), what you expect from them, changes made to library spaces, how interactions with library staff will proceed, and any changes to library services. Rethinking Technology and Service Bleiweis suggests finding ways to use technology to enhance our services even while we aren’t able to work face-to-face with library patrons. Potential routes include ensuring WiFi access throughout the building (and as far as possible outdoors), making use of RFID tags, installing software that allows library staff to take over screens while providing education, and making sure that library websites and check-out systems are easy to use. The presenter also suggests implementing as much touchless contact as possible. Bleiweis notes the many technical options for doing so, from using laser pointers for communication to providing remote printing services. Going cash-free helps keep germs away, as do services like locker pickup stations, near field technology for cards and materials. Even the bathroom provides an opportunity for upgrades; many restrooms now offer touch-free water activation, soap dispensers, and a hand dryer all in one station. Engaging with our communities will continue to require use of technology. We can view social technology as a way to meet people where they are, whether through Zoom, Facebook Live, or Instagram TV. Programming ideas include taking your users through the stacks on a virtual basis, pairing programming with library resources. Think cooking lessons, crafting demos, and poetry readings. Bleiweis also notes that this would be an ideal time to reconsider our classification systems, given the suspect ideologies of Melvil Dewey. Rethinking Staffing Practices Bleiweis anticipates staff vacancies due to retirement and, perhaps, a reluctance to return to work during a pandemic. This opens up opportunities for rethinking hiring, where possible. (Be sure to adhere to union rules.) Organization charts for most libraries have not changed for decades. This is a time to rethink that. Bleiweis encourages us to think about the opportunities that exist, and then determine who you’d like to hire: what gaps exist now, in the pandemic? What skills lend themselves to this moment? Who is best positioned to fulfill these needs? Answers could lie in a need to enhance cleaning crews, hire performers, bring on a community liaison, or find technical people to help enhance our virtual environments. Bleiweis suggests seeking out and hiring folks with the characteristics helpful to challenging times: flexibility; ability and eagerness to learn; empathy; desire to try, fail, and try again; and comfort in a digital setting are all winning attributes during this time. Crucially, this is the time to consider what the MLS means in terms of creating barriers for people of color in the library industry. What can we do to build and sustain and nurture diverse teams? What can we do to bring on folks who may not have the MLS and who are nevertheless qualified to provide excellent service to our communities? We must acknowledge that our community members are likely suffering hardships. Empathy is critical. We can help establish a safe space by practicing new scenarios: how are we going to deal with folks who are grieving? What kinds of dispensations can we allow for things like overdue or lost books? If your library has not yet gone fine free, this is the time. People are going to manifest all sorts of different fears; be kind and patient and loving, and encourage your staff to do the same. Existing staff members are not immune to mourning, grieving, and fear. We’re facing a number of challenges: difficult situations that existed before Covid might get worse and staff may be inclined to be judgmental of one another. Set up structures to support them. Create a healthy environment by taking time for walking, stretching, and meditation. Fill your vending machine with healthy snacks. Act on toxic work situations; situations that are left unattended are likely to get worse. Each of us can try to focus on navigating these tricky situations calmly and with grace. Remember: nothing is written in stone. See if you can be guided by cataclysmic events rather than reacting to them. Adopt a mindset that is focused on a continuous improvement frame. Remember that good things can come out of this time, too. Consider that collaboration is our secret weapon. Seek out positivity to get you through this. Above all else, return to the question, “Why do libraries exist?” Let it be your guiding star.

Recent events have more than demonstrated that our city, our state, and our country have a lot of work to do to ensure that basic freedoms extend to all. It’s imperative that everyone shoulders part of the work toward creating a better reality for all marginalized groups. We’re hosting our first Anti-racism Book Club Meeting on Monday, June 29 at 4:00pm. We will be reading So You Want To Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo. Our book club will focus on guided discussion questions and will take place in breakout rooms so that everyone has a chance to share. If you’d like to participate more deeply, please consider volunteering to be a small group discussion lead. Please fill out this form if you are willing to assist in this way.

Queer library workers and LIS students are invited to come informally network with us on June 5 @ 4 p.m. We’ll start out with a quick introduction and a few rules and break into smaller groups to do ice breakers, hang out, and make connections with library folks across the gender/orientation spectrum. Pride Month might not look like we remember, but we can still be here, queer, and proud of our careers. This event is open to library workers, students, and aspiring library workers/students who are trans, bisexual, lesbian, gay, queer, ace, pan, nonbinary, two-spirit, or who are otherwise not straight and/or cisgender. We respectfully ask allies to sit this one out. More networking events are coming!

In March 2020, due to the inaccessibility of library spaces and print books, the Mina Rees Library at CUNY’s Graduate Center launched its first-ever E-book Detective Agency. Through a coordinated effort, the program helps faculty, staff, and students to locate e-books available to them — both freely accessible copies (from repositories, publisher websites, the open web, etc.) and copies that are available but sometimes not so discoverable through our subscription resources. In this webianar, Kate Angell, Elvis Bakaitis, Jill Cirasella, and Adriana Palmer demonstrate their search process and share the guides they’ve created. To view a recording of this presentation, please click on the link below.

Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen uprisings triggered by state-sanctioned violence against Black people including George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, and many others, but our suffering goes back further than the present moment. We are living through a time in which BIPOC are more likely to be victims of police violence, more likely to die from Covid-19 and more likely to hold essential jobs that endanger their health and the health of their loved ones. These stressors impact our lives and our work. Despite this harsh reality, it’s important that we take moments to hold space and be in community with one another as we’ve seen in moments of joy during protests. Join us in a BIPOC Community Call in celebration of Juneteenth as we discuss how we’re experiencing both joy and frustration in our work and everyday lives. We kindly ask allies and comrades who identify as non-BIPOC to sit this one out. The call will take place on June 19th from 2-3PM and will be facilitated by Traci Mark (METRO) and Zakiya Collier (Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture).

This webinar offers an easy guide to protecting your online privacy. Presented by Gary Price (Library Journal’s INFOdocket) and Daniel Alaya (Secratic), topics include: privacy concepts and terms that every librarian should know a review of open tools to increase transparency and to reduce your digital footprint when using various web browsers and technology systems a demonstration of how websites collect, use, and share user information the use of social media and ways that using social media can impact the privacy of the library user tools and resources to stay current on digital privacy issues To view a recording of this presentation, please click on the link below.

PLEASE READ!! Unlike our previous book clubs, this is a capped (limited registration) remote event, which will be held via Zoom. Registered attendees will receive a Zoom link the day before the book club. Because we are limiting attendance, please DO NOT RSVP for this event unless you are certain you can attend. On Thursday, June 18th at 6:00pm, the Prison Abolition Book Club returns to discuss the Session 5 readings from the Black & Pink prison abolition class syllabus. Peculiar Institution: America’s Death Penalty in an Age of Abolition, David Garland (The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press: Harvard, 2010) **Please note that this is a complete book, which can be borrowed electronically with an Internet Archive account here: https://archive.org/details/peculiarinstitut0000garl/mode/2up "The Death Penalty in Black and White: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Decides," Richard C. Dieter Report from Death Penalty Information Center June 1998 "Death Penalty, Still Racist and Arbitrary," David R. Dow Op-Ed in New York Times July 8, 2011 "Homophobia, Gender Deviance, and the Death Penalty" in Queer (In)justice: The Criminalization of LGBT People in the United States Joey Mogul, Andrea Ritchie, and Kay Whitlock (Beacon Press: Beacon Press, 2011) pages 79-90 Find pdfs of the articles at https://we.riseup.net/plsn/black-pink-prison-abolition-syllabus About PLSN's Prison Abolition Book Club Want to learn more about prison abolition but not sure where to start? Looking to explore the role of information in the prison industrial complex? Excited to discuss ways we can collectively offer information skills as resources to address violence caused by mass incarceration? Join the club (literally)! Prison Library Support Network (PLSN) is holding a book club (in conjunction with METRO), where we meet to discuss readings from the Black & Pink prison abolition class syllabus (https://we.riseup.net/plsn/black-pink-prison-abolition-syllabus). This is a space for anyone looking for collective support in learning about these ideas, regardless of familiarity with prison abolition.

Back in 2016, METRO and XFR Collective created an audio/video digitization rack for community use. In this webinar, we discussed our partnership model with XFR Collective. We talked about XFR Collective’s origin story, digitization partnerships, and community education initiatives. We also screened excerpts of a digitized tape from the Monday-Wednesday-Friday Video Club collection, a 1980s downtown New York underground video art distribution org. XFR (pronounced "transfer") Collective partners with artists, activists, and community organizations to lower the barriers to preserving at-risk audiovisual media – especially unseen, unheard, or marginalized works – through digitization, screenings, educational workshops, and pop-up events. Operating through a non-hierarchical model, XFR Collective works to create an inclusive environment in which to explore practical methods for media preservation, archiving, and access. To view a recording of this presentation, please click on the link below.

This workshop helped instructors translate one-shot instruction into an online space. It included the basics of planning a lesson, capturing and keeping your students’ attention, and leveraging technology for student engagement. Participants had the opportunity to workshop their ideas, including their learning outcomes, activities, and strategies for managing a group online in an equitable, participatory, and dynamic way. Jessica Hochman, PhD, has 20 years of experience working in education as a teacher, professor, researcher, and consultant. She has taught workshops and courses, and facilitated professional development for parents, teachers, librarians, and kids. Dr. Hochman holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a PhD from Columbia University Teachers College. To view a recording of this presentation, please click on the link below.

How have your digital preservation activities changed since lockdown? Are you collecting and processing? Have you had to modify workflows? Have you even been able to perform any digital preservation task? Is digital preservation even a priority during this crisis with accompanying eroded budgets and staff shortages. Are there things you would like to share or are there things you need assistance in or would like to brainstorm about? In the next Metro Digital Preservation meetup, we will have an informal chat over Zoom of what you have been doing and or thinking about in terms of digital preservation during lockdown. I will send the Zoom link the morning of. Looking forward to see you!

Meeting Items for Thursday, June 11, 2020 Welcome & Introductions Announcements — Call for future agenda items / moderators — Upcoming METRO events can be found at https://metro.org/events/ — METRO event summaries can be found at https://metro.org/news/ Check-in Featured speakers / guided discussions — Discussion on your library’s response in support of the Black Lives Matter movement — Jessie Daniels on being a public scholar when everything goes online, the far-right wants to come for you, and you want to protect yourself Closing

Join our Economics & Business METRO community for our Spring/Summer Townhall event—we want your input! We’ll be sharing updates from our member libraries, debriefing our poster session event, brainstorming future directions for our group, and discussing plans for fall reopenings. Please share this event with colleagues who may be interested in attending, and join our new mailing list: https://lists.metrolists.org/mailman/listinfo/econbiz

This workshop aimed to help you focus your goals and plan with purpose. Whether you plan to host meetings, lead discussions, or teach small classes, you will create an online space where everyone can participate, learn, and engage. Jessica Hochman, PhD, has 20 years of experience working in education as a teacher, professor, researcher, and consultant. She has taught workshops and courses, and facilitated professional development for parents, teachers, librarians, and kids. Dr. Hochman holds a BA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a PhD from Columbia University Teachers College. To view a recording of this presentation, please click on the link below.

Racism and oppression won’t come to an end until we all engage in the process of educating ourselves and taking action. This webinar seeks to open a discussion on de-centering our own whiteness as we work toward a just and equitable city, state, and country. Join panelists Jessie Daniels, Jessica Hochman, Maura Smale, and Polly Thistlethwaite as we discuss how white supremacy pervades our systems, how to do anti-racist work in all areas of our lives, and what it means to join in the fight — both online and in person — in ways that amplify the voices that must be heard.

Welcome & Introductions Announcements This is week twelve of working from home for METRO Census Shelter in Place Grant Process Call for future agenda items / moderators Let us know if you’d like to present or facilitate a conversation METRO event write-ups can be found at https://metro.org/news/ Upcoming METRO events can be found at https://metro.org/events/ Check-in Featured speakers / guided discussions Charlotte Price on news literacy Danny Sabol on resources for retooling your skillset Closing

The following is a summary of the event by Traci Mark, Program Manager - Equity, Archives, and Media Preservation, METRO, published on June 18, 2020. As society moved into lockdown, everyone who could do so collectively turned to online platforms like Zoom for our social sustenance. We flocked to Libby and OverDrive for access to ebooks and audiobooks. And, of course, we spent our shopping money on Amazon. How did the safety and protection of our data privacy change in this new environment?  Erin Berman, Division Director for Alameda County Library System’s Learning Group, William Marden, Director of Data Privacy and Compliance at the New York Public Library and Gary Price, Co-founder and Editor of Library Journal’s infoDOCKET, joined Davis Erin Anderson, the Assistant Director for Programs and Partnerships at METRO Library Council, on Tuesday, May 26, 2020 to discuss the changes in privacy that have accompanied a massive shift to the internet for nearly every aspect of our lives. They talked about the challenges to privacy that came with "the new normal" and how digital providers—both large and small—came under increased scrutiny as libraries and their patrons were impacted by the closure of physical facilities while increasing the use of online services. Privacy issues have come to the forefront now that many of us are spending more time online. Our work days often revolve around Zoom calls and adapting different software to our personal and professional needs.  One of the first steps for our panelists during shelter-in-place was to figure out safe ways for their patrons and staff to work online without compromising their privacy. For William Marden at NYPL, this included creating workflows for software that were tested by staff within their Digital department. Deciding which program fit with the right content was part of this process. He uses the example of having author Neil Geiman do a reading, and using YouTube instead of Zoom for this purpose.  Erin Berman mentioned that, understandably during this time, many libraries have favoured access over privacy. But does it have to be one or the other? “Generally speaking, we are people who got into this profession because we wanted to help people,” Berman said. She acknowledged that it’s difficult to not act immediately to help during this time, even though it might be beneficial in the long run, even in a state of emergency, to take a moment to assess the ways in which we might protect privacy and provide access at the same time.  Gary Price echoed this by speaking about the library community immediately turning to Zoom as a primary platform. He stressed the importance of transparency in how personal information and data are being shared online through platforms and vendors, particularly within library systems. If personal data is being shared through online services, then the patron should be alerted before they choose to continue. Price proposes that an important initiative could include educating library staff about digital safety and teaching their patron base how to remove their personal data from third-party services.  All of our panelists emphasized how important it is to read privacy policies before giving your personal data. The more you read, you’ll start to notice patterns in language that obscures important information about keeping your personal data safe. Berman spoke about the value in urging vendors and online services to use plain language in their privacy policies to ensure accessibility.  Our panelists offered many suggestions to ameliorating these issues, including creating our own standards to which vendors should adhere, or using a variety of open tools to create our own software. Libraries could work with technology companies to create products that are safer and less invasive. “I think what we’re getting at is the word trust. How well do you trust third parties who are providing these services?” Price asked. As librarians, archivists, and cultural workers, we have the public’s trust; it is up to us to ensure that their private information stays private instead of being tracked and monitored by third party companies.  Helpful Links https://chooseprivacyeveryday.org/ – Choose Privacy Everyday. ALA’s privacy-related initiative https://nycdigitalsafety.org/ – NYC Digital Safety. Privacy curriculum developed by New York City’s three library systems Plainlanguage.gov – Guidelines on using plain language in privacy policies. http://privaseer.ist.psu.edu/about/ – Subject-specific database of over 1 million privacy policies. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/privacy/guidelines/vendors – Library privacy guidelines for vendors. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/Privacy%20Audit%20Presentation.pdf – “A Practical Guide to Privacy Audits”. Powerpoint Presentation by Erin Berman and Julie Orborny Many thanks to our panelists for these excellent insights and considerations. Please join us at one of our future events; a full listing can be found at https://metro.org/events.

The following is a summary of the event by Davis Erin Anderson, Assistant Director for Programs and Partnerships, METRO, published on June 16, 2020. With facets of our everyday life constantly shifting as the pandemic continued, it was critical to document our feelings, thoughts, and experiences. Despite the challenging times we faced, institutions and community organizations continued to collect recordings even when we couldn't be in close proximity with one another. We admire their efforts and hope to learn from them. We hosted a webinar on May 19, 2020 for presentations about the creation and maintenance of oral history projects during COVID-19. This webinar was moderated by Traci Mark, Studio Manager at METRO Library Council. Panelists included Meral Agish, Community Coordinator for Queens Memory Project at Queens Public Library, and Kimberly Springer, Curator for Oral History at Columbia University.  Sharing Memories: Oral History Projects During COVID-19 opened with ten-minute presentations from both panelists. Meral Agish kicked things off by sharing the ways in which Queens Memory Project operated both before and after the pandemic. During “normal times,” the project employed two full time staff, two part time staff, and twenty volunteers. Before the pandemic, most Queens Memory Project operations took place in person, where staff and volunteers collected resident’s memories of Queens. As libraries began to close in mid-March, Agish wondered “what does Queens Memory Project look like when we can’t do anything in person?” Her initial shock and grief soon gave way to the grim understanding that the borough of Queens had become an epicenter. In Partnership with Urban Archive, Queens Memory Project launched the Covid-19 project, where people can submit oral histories, drawings, photos, and any other material they’d like to share. Kimberly Springer spoke about the structure of Columbia Center for Oral History. Established in 1948, the initiative now works across the Oral History Archives at Columbia (OHAC, which runs out of the library at Columbia) and the Columbia Center for Oral History Research (which runs out of the University’s Arts and Sciences division). The former has between ten and fifteen thousand interviews, many of which are now available in the new Digital Library Collection. OHAC is currently working to process a backlog of three thousand unprocessed interviews. The Columbia Center for Oral History Research, meanwhile, collects oral histories around 9/11, Covid-19, and other ground-altering events that impact New York City. Springer shared three guiding ideas for thinking about oral histories. First, we know that archives have their own biases for whose stories are told and collected. This is clear in the archive Springer works with: early interviews focus on captains of industry, leaders in business. In the 1960s, interviews focused on people who organized grassroots movements. Springer advocates for collecting community stories and finding appropriate homes for oral histories so that they can be accessible to their own communities. Second, Springer noted that “oral histories are jointly authored between the narrator and the interviewer.” The interviewer acts as a guide for the narrator, having come from a place of research in order to understand the context for the interview. Relatedly, Springer’s third point advocated for narrators; they have a right to be heard, the right to place restrictions on interviews, and the right to withdraw their interview. Narrators also own the right to a copy of the interview for their personal archives. During the moderated conversation, both panelists shared their average workdays before and after libraries closed to mitigate the spread of the virus. Springer’s work shifted from working on multiple projects each day, along with reference requests, meetings, and similar diversions. Working from home, she said, means that Springer has refocused her work around self care; these days, she manages one or two tasks per day. Agish has shifted her focus away from an ambassadors program at ten branch libraries, which will resume at a later date, toward figuring out new ways of collecting oral histories now that social distancing orders are in place. For both panelists, the erasure of “home” and “work” has impacted their productivity. Panelists discussed the impacts of physical distancing on the art of collecting oral histories, noting the outreach has shifted along with the interviewing process. Agish acknowledged that both aspects have been a big hurdle, even for those with a background in oral history interviewing. A few colleagues have been able to keep practices from “before,” like using Google Voice to record interviews and returning to narrators with whom they already had built a rapport. Even so, “there’s no one perfect system,” Agish noted, adding that staff are testing out a wide variety of platforms and tools. She shared that there are access considerations here, too: not everyone has access to an iPhone, for example. For this reason, Springer advises focusing on audio interviews so there’s less tech to manage. During this time, as in the “before,” establishing a rapport with narrators is an important part of this process. Springer recommended setting up a pre-interview with narrators, reinforcing that they are the experts of their own lives. Agish added that it’s important to ensure narrators have the right to reschedule or even end interviews; collecting oral histories is far less important than the well-being of the people who are sharing their stories. If you’re interested in collecting oral histories at a distance, our panelists shared their recommendations: Create a recording workflow that’s comfortable for you and your narrator Be flexible with tools and workflows; tech problems are inevitable Be aware of the emotional tenor of the narrator; these are difficult times for all Audio interviews may be more manageable at this time; audio files are smaller and easier to deal with, and we may be experiencing Zoom fatigue Establish a rapport by conducting a pre-interview that establishes ground rules and establishing the narrator as an expert of their own experience Here are a few resources if you’d like to go further, courtesy of Springer: Resources for Covid-19 interviewing Documenting the Now’s Documenting Covid-19 list Oral History Archives at Columbia Research Guide Many thanks to Meral Agish and Kimberly Springer for their compassion, wisdom, time, and energy. We hope to see you at an upcoming event; please see our calendar at https://metro.org/events.

As many worked remotely during the pandemic, social media became an even more important part of libraries’ outreach strategies. In this session Carli Spina, Associate Professor-Librarian, Head of Research and Instructional Services at Fashion Institute of Technology, discussed best practices to make a library’s social media content accessible and inclusive of people with disabilities. In addition to best practices to that apply to all social media platforms, the session also included specific discussions of several social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram and advice about how to evaluate new social media platforms for accessibility. To view a recording of this presentation, please click on the link below.

The following is a summary of the event by Traci Mark, Program Manager - Equity, Archives, and Media Preservation, METRO, published on June 3, 2020. Libraries were hard at work for months preparing for the U.S. Census. We learned how to keep patron data safe when completing the census at our libraries, became intimately familiar with the ways in which census data affects funding throughout the states, and trained staff on how to best accomplish a complete count. Just when we thought we’d cleared so many hurdles, library facilities closed in an effort to stop the propagation of a life-threatening virus.  This webinar was held on May 18, 2020, and was moderated by Davis Erin Anderson, Assistant Director for Programs and Partnerships at METRO Library Council. Panelists include Jeff Behler, Regional Director of the US Census Bureau; Jay Brandon, Civic Engagement and Community Partnerships Manager at The New York Public Library; Dana Hysell Alongi, Census Coordinator for the Westchester Library System; Amy Mikel, Manager of Civic Engagement at The Brooklyn Public Library; and Nayelli Valencia Turrent, Census Supervisor at Queens Public Library. Every ten years, the United States conducts a Census report that shapes how the federal government allocates funding for social programs that are imperative to our infrastructure, including public education, hospital funding, and affordable housing.  In response to Covid-19, the U.S. Census Bureau requested statutory relief from Congress from the original deadline for their report from December 31st, 2020  to April 30th, 2021. The pandemic has drastically shifted Complete Count timelines. For example, door-to-door visits scheduled to begin in mid-May are now set to start on August 11th. Self-response was supposed to conclude by the end of the July, and that date has been pushed to October 31st. The Census Bureau is hoping that ideally most will self respond by August.  During the time of this webinar, the national response rate was 59.6%. New York State’s response rate was 54.2% with New York City coming in at  just over 50%. Through these statistics, we can see that, despite the challenges of being unable to gather and give people the tools to respond in person, the public is still submitting their census reports. Libraries are vested in Complete Count efforts because the results of the census will directly impact the communities and patron base that each library serves. “We are cornerstones of our communities and we want to play a role in the continued health of those communities. We know that we have a role to play in sharing the importance of the census,” Amy Mikel says.  In order to do this, our panelists acknowledged the need to repeat census-related information numerous times, in addition to the advertisements throughout the city. However, being unable to access the library space due to Covid is challenging for many; often hard-to-count communities rely on library services for access to the internet and other vital resources.  Adjusting complete count efforts during shelter-in-place restrictions  has required a bit of creativity and a grassroots approach. Our panelists shared ideas for updating complete count efforts, including working with vendors and partners, mentioning the census while networking, and attaching information in your email signature. All four libraries have also used social media and using posts and hashtags to get the word out. In addition, our panelists found it critical to mention the census in virtual programming for any age as well.  Westchester Library System has been hosting weekly census chats to connect with representatives from all of the member libraries to discuss strategies. This led to DJ Census nights of Facebook Live where 2000+ people attended. Queens Public Library is developing a direct mail campaign to target hard-to-count communities and putting posters and flyers around those neighborhoods. The Census Bureau itself is working with schools and community-based organizations that provide meals and groceries to hand out flyers that advertise the census. They are also working with food delivery organizations, gas stations, grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essential services to spread the information about the census. This health crisis has magnified the need for everyone to be counted. It is more important than ever to consider everyone in our communities and fill out your census form.  We thank each of our panelists for their insights and hard work during this crucial time.  Learn more about the census here: How to Respond to the 2020 Census | The State of New York Please join us at one of our future events; a full listing can be found at https://metro.org/events.

Welcome & Introductions Announcements Call for future agenda items / moderators Let us know if you’d like to present or facilitate a conversation METRO event write-ups can be found at https://metro.org/news/ Upcoming METRO events How Libraries Are Updating their Complete Count Efforts During a Pandemic Monday, May 18 at 4:00pm Social Media Accessibility with Carli Spina Tuesday, May 19 at 4:00pm Sharing Memories: Oral History Projects During COVID-19 Wednesday, May 20 at 4:00pm Check-in Featured speakers / guided discussions Mary Bajika on graduating from library school into a pandemic Group chat on re-opening libraries What have you heard from your administration about reopening policies and procedures? What have you heard re: timelines for re-opening? How are you feeling about these issues? Have you heard from colleagues around the country who are already starting to work on re-opening? Closing

The following is a summary of the event by Traci Mark, Program Manager - Equity, Archives, and Media Preservation, METRO, published June 3, 2020. This webinar was a co-production with Urban Librarians Unite and was moderated by Davis Erin Anderson, the Assistant Director for Programs and Partnerships at METRO Library Council and Lauren Comito, Neighborhood Library Supervisor at Brooklyn Public Library. The panelists included Marzena Ermler, Career Services Manager at New York Public Library, Djaz Zulida, Job Information Resource Librarian at Brooklyn Public Library and Steven Davis, Managing Director at Renaissance Solutions Inc. It took place on Zoom on May 12, 2020. As of this writing, 14.1% of Americans are unemployed, and that only counts those who are actively looking for a job. This is staggering and historic and we want to acknowledge the suffering that people are going through during this moment in history.  Our panel discussion focused on two aspects of the employment crisis: the library and archives workers who are directly impacted by furloughs and job losses, and our patrons who are looking at similar challenges. Our discussion with Djaz Zulida, Marzena Ermler, and Steven Davis started with first aid for library workers who are facing a disruption in employment. If you’re facing job loss, our panelists advocate to give yourself a few days to mourn. In the midst of chaos, it helps to re-ground yourself as much as you can. Perhaps we’ve left people or communities who we’ve grown close to during our time at that job. Looking for a new position is incredibly emotional; accepting what happened is difficult at best. It can be challenging to remind ourselves that we are not our resumes. Give yourself time and space to go through the grieving process.  When you’re applying to the next opportunity, begin to rework your resume. Change your resume slightly everytime you apply to a new position to fit the needs and skills required. Our panelists suggest creating broader types of resumes to tweak as necessary.  Zulida noted that content and format in a resume does not reflect the way we speak in our everyday lives. Davis added that the goal of your resume is to secure an interview. For this reason, it’s important to  keep your resume direct; aspects of your personality can be added to a cover letter instead. It’s especially important to try to match the skills located in the “must-have” qualifications sections of job ads.  Library and archives workers have an abundance of transferable skills that can be used in many professions relating to data and records management and research (to name a few). Think about what you’re qualified for first and then think about what you’re passionate about. And if you’re currently in a stable position, it’s still a great idea to be proactive and revise your resume whenever you’ve learned a new skill or accomplished a new task.  Another facet of this crisis involves the patron and student base that we serve. This employment crisis is not limited to librarians/archivists; many industries have been hit hard by the lasting effects of Covid-19. Brooklyn Public Library (BPL) created a resume help email address in order to give patrons written feedback on their resumes. BPL also  schedules  Zoom calls for “in-person” advice from a librarian. Ermler shared that New York Public Library (NYPL) has a similar model with career and resilience coaches available through phone, email, Zoom, and Skype.  Both public library systems are trying to reach as many people as possible by using platforms patrons have access to and are familiar with. However, our panelists  acknowledge that this could serve as an obstacle to those who may not have access to the Internet and devices to access it. These are often the patrons that need this service the most.  Virtual networking during this time can be beneficial to a job search. Our panelists suggest  joining a happy hour or a movie club with fellow librarians/archivists as an example of reaching out in an informal way that keeps your connections strong. This is a stressful time for many. Finding balance between meeting the needs of others and processing our own emotions is important. It’s a work in progress! We thank all of our panelists for their insights and advice for us during this time. Practical Tips Our panelists recommend creating a file naming convention that includes information like your name, the word “resume,” the month, date, and year. If there’s a specific job title, or company name, you can include that too. Either way, it’s going to be a long title, and that’s fine.  If you want to be even more organized, make a job log with links to each resume and job listing. LinkedIn is made to network with others and compel a recruiter to ask you for your resume. Don’t include your entire resume on LinkedIn; only add pertinent information and relevant job experience. Another tip for LinkedIn: focus on your headline. This is the only section of your profile that is initially searchable by recruiters by keyword searches. Include your job title or the type of job you want and relevant skills.  Give yourself time to grieve. Losing your job is difficult and emotional. Network, network, network! Find a fun way to keep your work connections intact if possible.  Be proactive! Keep adding to your resume as you achieve more. 

In light of the effects on COVID-19 on New York State, we felt it was necessary and important to host a community call for BIPOC librarians, archivists, educators, and library and cultural workers living/working in New York City and the surrounding areas. The purpose of this call is to provide a compassionate space, free of judgment, where we can share our thoughts, feelings, and insights on the current situation and provide mutual support. Anyone is welcome although we ask that you join the call with a spirit of empathy and respect for one another. For more information please refer to the METRO code of conduct. The Community Call will be facilitated by Traci Mark (Studio Manager of METRO) and Zakiya Coller (Digital Archivist at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture) and will take place on Wednesday, May 6th from 2-3 PM. This event will not be recorded. If you’re unable to attend, please feel free to email Traci Mark at tmark@metro.org with your thoughts ahead of time.We will try to include them into our discussion. There will also be a written summary of the call (without names) that will be published on metro.org on a later date. If you would prefer to participate anonymously, consider using a pseudonym during the call and/or elect to join without video.