OVERDUE: Weeding Out Oppression in Libraries

In this episode we talk with Dr. Sandy Littletree (Navajo/Eastern Shoshone), Assistant Professor at the Information School at the University of Washington, whose work focuses on Native North American Indigenous Knowledge. 

Dr. Littletree shares background about Indigenous systems of knowledge, and practical application as it pertains to Indigenous information science, Indigenous librarianship and the intersections of triba...

*There were technical issues during the recording of this episode. We apologize for any minor disruptions*

In this episode of Overdue, we talk with Jody Redifer, Program Specialist at Multnomah County Library; Enrique Rivera, Library Outreach Specialist at Multnomah County Library*, and Trevor Walraven, Associate Director of Policy and Prison Outreach for the Oregon Justice Resource Center, about their work with patrons ex...

In light of the continued fight against book banning and censorship, we are re-releasing a conversation from last fall with the 2022 School Library Journal School Librarian of the Year, K.C. Boyd, and the two 2022 School Librarian of the Year finalists, Pia Alliende and Andy Spinks.

Amid book challenges, political and cultural attempts to staunch access to books that reflect the history and lives of our youth, and funding ...

In this episode, we talk with Chantel Walker, Director of the Marin County Library Foundation and change management consultant with the County of Marin and other government organizations, and Patricia “Patty” Wong, City Librarian for the Santa Clara City Library and immediate past president of the American Library Association.

These two dynamic leaders share challenges and successes from their own lived-experiences, as we...

In honor of Tracie D. Hall having been named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2023, we are excited to re-release this conversation with Tracie from last spring.  This is a recognition very well deserved, and we are so very thankful for the effort and passion Tracie exhibits daily to make libraries a welcoming and safe place for everyone. 

In this episode, we talk with Tracie D. Hall, Executive Di...

On this episode of Overdue, we speak with filmmaker and owner of JJML Productions, Jon Osaki; State Law Librarian and Access to Justice Coordinator for the Hawaiʻi State Judiciary, Jenny Silbiger; and Professor Emerita and Director Emerita of the Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality at Seattle University School of Law, Lorraine Bannai, about Osaki’s documentary Alternative Facts: The Lies of Executive Order 9066, and how r...

In this episode, we talk with Sherry Antoine (Executive Director of AfroCROWD), Laurie Bridges (Instruction and Outreach librarian at Oregon State University), and Diana Park (Science Librarian at Oregon State University) about their work to RIGHT history by writing Black history into Wikipedia. 

Learn about what is happening in libraries and partner organizations to further representation of Black folx (and all Black, Indigenous, a...

In part 2 of this two-part episode, we talk to the creative team behind the Librarians with Spines  book series calling for radical librarianship, Yago Cura, Max Macias and Autumn Anglin. This trio of "information agitators" share the origins of this series, the need for necessary boundary-pushing in the library profession, and the importance of having a strong support system when doing antiracism work.

Hear abou...

In Part 1 of this two-part episode, we talk to the creative team behind the Librarians with Spines  book series calling for radical librarianship, Yago Cura, Max Macias and Autumn Anglin. This trio of "information agitators" share the origins of this series, the need for necessary boundary-pushing in the library profession, and the importance of having a strong support system when doing antiracism work.

Hear abo...

*There were technical issues during the recording of this episode. We apologize for any minor disruptions*

In this episode, we talk with leadership from REFORMA Oregon about centering equity work as the foundation of library work, how to begin shifting Oregon library culture to better serve diverse communities as well as how a culture shift can support library workers of color. We also talk about how REFORMA Oregon support...

In this episode, we talk with Loida Garcia-Febo – a Puerto Rican American librarian, International Library Consultant expert in library services to diverse populations and human rights and the 2018-2019 President of the American Library Association – about the importance of getting out of the library and into communities, mentoring staff, in particular nurturing Black and Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC), and equipping all with e...

In this special episode, we talk with the School Library Journal School Librarian of the Year, K.C. Boyd, and the two  School Librarian of the Year finalists, Pia Alliende and Andy Spinks.

Amid book challenges, political and cultural attempts to staunch access to books that reflect the history and lives of our youth, and funding cuts to school libraries, these courageous library heroes talk about their grit and determinat...

In this episode, we talk with Roland Barksdale-Hall, Branch Manager at the Stey-Nevant Branch Library in Farrell, PA and an author, activist, historian, and griot. Our conversation touches on forging deep community connections, confronting biases, being true to oneself, active listening and making people feel seen, and the huge impact we can have on others. Roland shares his own inspiring story and the active work it took to truly ...

In this episode, we talk with librarians Nicole Rawlinson, Priya Charry & Leah Larson about the intricacies of navigating conversations around equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The trio emphasizes the importance of holding space for these conversations, the challenges of doing so as marginalized individuals, and why libraries should be working on the retention, not just hiring, of BIPOC employees. 

This...

In this Dear Abby-style episode, Christina Fuller-Gregory — facilitator of the Libraries of Eastern Oregon EDI Cohort, and principal consultant with Fuller Potential Consulting— offers advice for library workers faced with inequity, microaggressions, and racism in the workplace. The following experiences are true, and they were curated from library workers across Oregon and the U.S.
 
 Date of interview: June 15, 2022
 ...

*There were technical issues during the recording of this episode. We apologize for any minor disruptions*

In this episode, we talk with Tracie D. Hall, Executive Director of the American Library Association, about how diversifying library staff is essential to the future of the library profession and how individuals can advocate for themselves and find opportunities to work with mentors or to mentor others. Hall discusses...

In this episode, we talk with Star Khan, Outreach Services Librarian at Driftwood Public Library, about outreach as a core library service, how she sees herself and her work as part of a larger community, and the role that outreach plays in equity work. 

Since the recording of this interview, Star was elected as the incoming 2022-2023 OLA President, to begin in August. 

Date of Interview: May 18, 2022
Hosts: M...

In this episode, we talk with Dr. Debbie Reese – Nambé Pueblo writer, scholar, and author of the American Indians in Children’s Literature blog – about her work, the importance of accurate representation in literature for children, and what library workers can do to support Native children with collection development, displays, cataloging, and more.

Date of interview: April 1, 2022
Hosts: Ericka Brunson-Rochette & Kristen Cu...

In this month's episode, we have a discussion with Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney, Library Director at the Driftwood Public Library in Lincoln City, OR,  and Adrienne Doman Calkins,  Library Manager at the Sherwood Public Library, about implementing EDI and Antiracism tool-kit training for their library staff as an attempt to combat racism and oppression.

Date of interview: March 16, 2022
Hosts: Brittany Young & Yeli...