Actively Anti-Racism Service to Readers, with Robin Bradford and Becky Spratford
Actively Anti-Racism Service to Readers, with Robin Bradford and Becky Spratford
Circulating Ideas 233
As a white guy in a predominantly white profession, I am sometimes unsure of where my place is leading discussions on anti-racism, but anti-racist work requires action so I continue to challenge myself to make changes. I am privileged to have the podcast and this newsletter as platforms to act as conduits and promote conversations on these topics in the wider profession. Recently, I facilitated a conversation on conducting diversity audits with Sarah Voels, and then in Circulating Ideas, Episode 233, I chatted with Robin Bradford and Becky Spratford, who are the creators of the Actively Anti-Racist Service to Leisure Readers course for Learn with NoveList (transcript of the conversation is available here). This was Robin’s first time on the show, but Becky has been on many times over the years.
I hope the episode stimulates your thoughts on this subject and that you follow up and continue to learn - and act - more.
CI233 Show Notes
Robin Bradford
Robin Bradford has earned a BA and MA in English, an MS in Library Science, and a JD, but has found a home in building reader-focused, popular collections in public libraries. She was recognized as RWA’s 2016 Librarian of the Year, and Emerald City Library Conference's Librarian of the Year in 2022. She is addicted to books and dedicated to helping others discover a love of reading. She has worked with authors to help get their titles into these collections, and wrote the forthcoming ALA’s Guide to Romance Fiction to further help libraries with their romance collection. She also worked with libraries to push for equal treatment of genre fiction, and worked with readers so that they can find their favorite authors on their library's shelves.
Becky Spratford
Becky Spratford [MLIS] is a Readers' Advisor in Illinois specializing in serving patrons ages 13 and up. She trains library staff all over the world on how to match books with readers through the local public library. She runs the critically acclaimed RA training blog RA for All. She is under contract to provide content for EBSCO’s NoveList database and writes reviews for Booklist and a horror review column for Library Journal. Becky is a 21 year locally elected Library Trustee [still serving], a Board member for the Reaching Across Illinois Library System, and on the Executive Board of the Illinois Library Association. Known for her work with horror readers, Becky is the author of The Reader’s Advisory Guide to Horror, Third Edition [ALA Editions, 2021]. She is a proud member of the Horror Writers Association and currently serves as the Association’s Secretary and organizer of their annual Librarians’ Day. You can follow Becky on Twitter @RAforAll.
Mentions
LibraryReads in Conversation: Actively Anti-Racist Readers' Advisory
Use the code CIRCULATINGIDEAS at checkout for 20% off any self-paced course at learnwithnovelist.com. Offer ends February 28, 2023!
An Interview with Librarian Robin Bradford [Library Love Fest podcast]
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