ALA president shares experience as person with ASD

As an autistic librarian, I wish to express my appreciation to ALA President Cindy Hohl for sharing her experience as a person who is living with autism spectrum disorder (Spectrum of Leadership, American Libraries, March/April 2025). Autistic library workers still face barriers to being fully visible, fully accepted in libraries, a fact recently documented through Kelley McDaniel’s articles in ALA/APA’s Library Worklife (December 2022 and January 2023). President Hohl’s willingness to openly describe herself as a person with autism, makes it that much easier for autistic people like me to share our authentic selves.

Submitted as a letter to the editor, American Libraries magazine

Author’s note: When writing this letter, while I described myself using “identity-first language,” I made the choice to refer to President Hohl with what seemed to be her demonstrated preference for using “person-first language.”

‘Little Kids, Big Words’ (A response)

I am writing to express appreciation for “Little Kids, Big Words” by Collette Hiller in the Winter 2024 edition of Children & Libraries (official journal of the Association for Library Service to Children). Using “big words” has always been a part of who I am and, on occasion, I have been ridiculed for having a large vocabulary. I’ve had to push back against “vocabulary shaming,” whether the attempt was directed at me or directed at someone else. With those experiences, it was extremely validating to read Hiller’s article. Such a refreshing change, for someone to actually celebrate the use of “colossal” words!

Submitted as a letter to the editor on Feb. 23, 2025

Places of inquiry (Letter to the editor)

As a librarian and reader who is autistic and nonbinary, I wish to express my gratitude for “More than a Month,” for ongoing access to local libraries (“County library: Check out DEI,” Feb. 6). It is immensely validating to see myself in stories and to be able to find informational books about issues that I face. These works of fiction and nonfiction give me much-needed vocabulary to explain who I am and the issues that I face. Thank you to library workers everywhere for making our local libraries safe places for inquiry — where our differences (and our similarities) are celebrated and protected.

Published on Feb. 18, 2025 in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat

Letter supporting Pride displays in libraries

Someone removed all the books from a Pride display at the Rohnert Park library. In solidarity with Sonoma County Library and with other local libraries that help users to #ReadwithPRIDE, I submitted this letter to the editor of the Press Democrat. My ground-rule when writing this letter: not to validate a campaign to remove the books, nor the organization spearheading it, through any mention of their names.

Online discussion of diversity in library profession

Courtney Louise Young

In her column for American Libraries, January/February 2015, American Libraries Association president Courtney Young invites readers to join a “Diversity Membership Initiative Group to advance a commitment to diversity: “not only fostering the diversity of the profession but also working to ensure that we are serving all segments of our populations.”

For reasons that are both professional and personal, I share this commitment to diversity. On Dec. 29, I applied and was accepted for membership in the Diversity MIG.

Fourth of July: Library remains accessible

Thank you to Ashland parade-goers for leaving the mobility walkway clear on Thursday in front of the Ashland public library. I appreciate the unrestricted access to our library amid holiday parade-viewing setup.

Published July 9 as a letter to the editor, Ashland Daily Tidings

Library should be student researchers’ first stop

A report by Angela Hill for the San Jose Mercury News (republished Nov. 19 by the Ashland Daily Tidings) omits an important question.

Why, when history and English teacher Annie Hatch “often” sees students use inaccurate sources or “run wild” with a theory that they found presented as “fact,” doesn’t Hatch educate her students about resources available through their school and public libraries? Why isn’t her class making use of curated databases or eBooks available through libraries’ increasingly digital collections?

Day centered around Jackson County libraries

Saturday was entirely centered around Jackson County Library Services. We caught Rogue Valley Transit’s Route 10 into Medford for Learn-a-Palooza at the Medford library.

Autism: Letters help shape perceptions in media

At TheInvisibleStrings.com, M. Kelter offers perceptive analysis of autism coverage in the media, arguing that a wider range of stories are conveyed through the “new media” of blogs and social posts, but are limited to fragmented audiences.

Parade viewers block access to Ashland library

With the Ashland Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth of July parade behind us, can we talk about access and courtesy? Maybe even -- as we near the 23rd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, can we talk about respect for the law?

On Wednesday afternoon -- the day before the holiday parade in the City of Ashland, Oregon -- several people obstructed the mobility walkway that leads to Jackson County Library Services’s Ashland library.

Bullying: ChoicePoint empowers bystanders

In a letter posted June 27 by the Ashland Daily Tidings, I emphasized the important role of bystanders and adults to combat bullying in schools. So I was gratified to learn about the ChoicePoint bullying prevention and bystander awareness program.

Jackson County schools lag in bullying prevention

I am concerned about news that Ashland, Medford, Central Point and Rogue River schools lag behind in Oregon’s efforts to stop harassment and bullying. As a survivor of childhood peer abuse that included school-wide shunning, I stand in solidarity with students who are bullied today.

Jonathan Donihue responds to question of bully registry

What do you think of Lake County Record-Bee letter writer Frank Carini's suggestions about punishment and deterrence of bullying? Should there be a "bully registry" that becomes part of a child's permanent record? I asked the question across social media and here is guest blogger Jonathan Donihue's response.

I recently saw the movie "Les Miserables." The movie and the play are both based on a book of the same name by Victor Hugo. Hugo was a Christian, a philosopher, and a passivist.

The main story line is of a man living in France at the time of the revolution. The government had become abusive and enforcement of the law had become extremely severe. If a person committed any crime, even petty theft, it followed them for life.

For "the protection of society" all law breakers were required to register themselves with the magistrate of any town they went to. If they stepped out of line at all, the were taken back to prison. And finding a job, especially in a recession, was virtually impossible for a registered criminal.

So their choices were three. They could break the law to live, they could go back to prison to be fed, or they could reform and die trying to please a society that hates them.

While I agree that bullying and violence are wrong, I think we cross a dangerous line when we start labeling people for life. I think the author should ask himself if his desire to punish both parent and child is motivated by a sincere desire to make a positive change in the world, or if instead its motivated by fear, anger, and a deep desire to lash out, to hurt, to take revenge on the perpetrator.

Our current system of dealing with crime isn't really any different than all the other systems of the past. It's a system of retribution: the inflicting of injury or punishment in return for harmful behavior. This could also be used as the definition of revenge.

I think we all need to ask ourselves if continuing the cycle of anger and violence, as we have always done in our legal systems, is really working. Is crime somehow less prevalent because of our system of retribution. If not, then why don't we start using our intelligence and our compassion to start making a permanent change in this world.

Financing district is logical next step for Jackson County libraries

‘Vote for the Library,’ attached by an emissary to
a railing at the Ashland Library

My congratulations to Jackson County Library Services (JCLS) for successfully passing the Ashland Library levy in the November election.

Library professions need greater disability representation

Libraries and Autism: We’re Connected

“Diversity Counts,” a comprehensive study of gender, race, age and disability in library professions, indicates a need for greater recruitment and outreach among people with disabilities.

Voices must speak to be heard

In the spring 2012 issue of Yes! Magazine, Joseph Torres urges support for independent media as part of the issue’s “9 Strategies to End Corporate Rule.”

Articles are not letters are not articles

If I were to update my 2009 Toastmasters submission about submitting effective PR, I would be sure to emphasize: pick a news article format or “letter to the editor.” Don’t submit a mash-up of both.

Observer American, part of county history

The Clear Lake Observer American turned 75 years old on Saturday. I hope that the paper is as integral today to the lives of its readers as it was when it made its debut.

Tie online comments to registered accounts

The Sun Chronicle in Attleboro, Mass. has implemented a policy to discourage obnoxious commenting on its online discussion threads: charge a one-time fee of 99 cents through a valid credit card and attach the user's name as it appears on that card to all comments the user makes, along with the user's community.

Calistoga teachers should promote Poetry Out Loud

I am writing to encourage Calistoga educators to participate in Poetry Out Loud. As a graduate of Calistoga Junior/Senior High School, I would like to see this opportunity made available to CHS students today.

Poetry Out Loud encourages high school students to memorize and perform great poetry. It begins with classroom competitions and the winners advance to school-wide, state and then to national finals.

This spring, I observed the Poetry Out Loud competition in the County of Lake. Three very talented young people competed for the responsibility of representing Lake County in the state competition. The students’ performances were very diverse and showcased the very different styles of poetry that are available through Poetry Out Loud.

I was disappointed to learn that my hometown school was not represented this February in the Napa County competition. I would have loved to have an opportunity like this when I attended CHS.

Kate Demarest with Arts Council Napa Valley has just sent word to arts supporters that Poetry Out Loud launches again in the 2010-2011 school year: “School competitions will take place in the fall, the Napa County finals early in the new year and the California State finals in February.

“If you would like more information on the Poetry Out Loud program please visit the California Arts Council at www.cac.ca.gov where you will find links to both the California and National competition.”

Calistoga educators who would like to participate are invited to contact Kate Demarest with the Arts Council Napa Valley at kate@artscouncilnv.org. Teachers’ guides and other tools are available at http://poetryoutloud.org/.

Published June 17, 2010 in the Weekly Calistogan
and June 18, 2010 in the Calistoga Tribune