Diversity in publishing : WNDB scholarships address barriers to entry

An effort by authors, readers, librarians, educators, and others to diversify publishing is a major issue affecting Library and Information Science. In its June 1 issue, Publishers Weekly reported that authors are taking matters “into their own hands” to address the lack of diversity in publishing (Maher 2020).

‘Cancel culture’ and diversity in children’s and Young Adult publishing

Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Created by David Huyck and Sarah Park Dahlen. See full citation in Bibliography.

This semester, for SOC 2 at Santa Rosa Junior College, I compiled a Literature Review that examines: How does “cancel culture” affect efforts toward greater diversity in children’s and Young Adult publishing?

SOC 2: ‘Cancel culture’ in children’s and Young Adult publishing

At Santa Rosa Junior College, for Spring 2020, I am taking Sociology 2, Modern Social Problems. For this class, I am exploring the question: How does “cancel culture” affect efforts toward greater diversity in children’s and Young Adult publishing? Today, I submitted an annotated bibliography.

SOC 1: Diversity in children’s books, ideology and structural strain

For Sociology 1 at Santa Rosa Junior College, I am exploring a social movement, including its identifiable ideology and possible structural strains. For this assignment, I have chosen the topic, “Diversity in children’s books.”

Scholastic Book Fair, planning box arrives

Among this past week’s highlights: the Scholastic Book Fairs planning box arrived at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts. Just a few more weeks, and the library will be transformed into a bookstore for the duration of fair. I’m looking forward to the book fair and accompanying “Literacy Week.” And I appreciate the hard work of the many volunteers that make these events possible.

Copperfield’s ‘Money for Schools’ fundraiser

If you’d been thinking about buying books, this is a special weekend to do it, because your purchases can support Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts. Copperfield’s Books is holding a special “Money for Schools” fundraising weekend at all of its locations from Nov. 2 through 4. Mention the name of our school at the register and Copperfield’s will donate 20 percent of your purchase to the school.

Libraries versus Amazon subscription

Here’s a text-graphic that compares monthly costs to subscribe to Amazon Prime versus the average cost in taxes to support a library.

The graphic was compiled by EveryLibrary​ in response to an opinion piece in Forbes. In it, contributor Panos Mourdoukoutas argued that Amazon should open its own bookstores “in all local communities.” Amazon could supposedly “replace local libraries and save taxpayers lots of money.”

‘Reading Rangers’ at Copperfield’s Bookstore

Over the summer, I like to highlight activities and resources that promote reading. Copperfield’s Books is offering young people the chance to become “Reading Rangers.” From now through Aug. 1, pick up a Trail Map at any Copperfields location. Earn badges by reading books from each of 12 categories and get a sticker “badge” for each category completed. Readers who complete all 12 categories will receive a special prize.

New books for library via Scholastic ‘warehouse sale’

Our campus continues to be enriched by Scholastic Book Fairs proceeds; here’s Lissa Provost checking titles at a Scholastic “warehouse sale.” (A downloaded app let her search the library catalog for Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts, verifying that a book for-sale was not already in the collection.) To everyone who has bought a book through this year’s or previous book fairs ... YOUR purchases made possible more than $2,000 in new books for the school.

Book Fair dollars purchase new books for library

Are you interested in knowing what Scholastic Book Fair dollars can support? On Feb. 27, this book cart was laden with books newly cataloged and barcoded for the library at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts.

Well, the cart is less full now, as I’ve continued to process books. As needed, I applied protective covers and got the books shelved in the library. By now, some of these books have even found their way into readers’ hands! But while the books were all together on the cart, they made for a dramatic picture.

There are a few books here that were donated from other sources, but most were purchased with dollars raised through Scholastic Book Fair. I’m deeply appreciative to everyone who made Book Fair and “Literacy Week” a reality.

At SRCSA: Cataloging for classrooms and for library

This week was enjoyably characterized by cataloging and barcoding new materials. First up were textbooks and educational resources from Santa Rosa City Schools, which I processed and delivered to classrooms as Instructional Materials Technician. Next, I cataloged books for the library as the school’s Library Technician. The beautiful green decorations shown are for Literacy Week; volunteers worked tirelessly today to set up for Scholastic Book Fair in the library. As of Friday afternoon some $300 in books, purchased with book-fair dollars, had already enriched the library, and I’m truly grateful to past and present support that made the purchases possible. I wish even more success to book fair during the coming week.

School library transformed into Emerald City for Scholastic Book Fair

At Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts today, a team of volunteers transformed the library into a bookstore for Scholastic Book Fair and “Literacy Week.” Under the artistic vision of parent-volunteer Lissa Provost, the library now resembles the Emerald City of Oz. It opens for business on Monday bright and early for parents to preview its wares.

Scholastic Book Fair merchandise arrives at SRCSA

Excitement is building for Scholastic Book Fairs at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts. Eleven cabinets arrived today, as well as a multitude of boxes. Here’s Scholastic driver Norman Miranda, bringing them into the library. Parents, check for recent communications about Book-Fair preview on Monday morning; each adult who drops in will receive a raffle ticket for each of your children who attends the school. And if school staff catches students reading ... I for one hope to give out many more tickets between now and start of fair.

SRCSA ‘Literacy Week’ needs volunteers

“Literacy Week” and the Scholastic Book Faire are almost here, and parent-volunteer Lissa Provost put up this attention-grabbing banner today at Santa Rosa Charter School for the Arts.

Publishers need input from people with disabilities

A while ago, I wrote that library staffing diversity needs to include autistic perspectives to help identify trouble-areas when evaluating materials for the library. Well, mainstream publishing houses are a frequent channel for disssemination of these resources — but a Diversity Baseline Survey conducted by Lee & Low stated that 92 percent of publishing-industry staff do not have a disability.
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Canceled book-contract lawsuit draws attention to editing’s significance

An editor’s markup of a conservative media pundit’s manuscript — now part of a lawsuit’s documents — draws attention to the craft of editing and its role in publishing books.

‘The Road Virus’ mobile bookstore

Image credit: The Road Virus on Facebook

I’ve long been intrigued by bookmobiles’ capability to expand a library’s physical reach — and so, The Road Virus was an especially memorable aspect of our stay in Sacramento.

Banned Books Week: 2016’s ‘Top 10’

Each year, the last week in September is observed as Banned Books Week, an annual expression of support for “the freedom to seek and express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular.”

Rudine Sims Bishop honored for lifetime achievement

Rudine Sims Bishop

Among notable recognitions during a recent presentation of the ALA Youth Media Awards: Rudine Sims Bishop received the Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement.

From American Libraries Magazine, “2017 Youth Media Award Winners Announced“:

“Bishop is a winner of numerous awards and has served as a respected member of many book awards committees over the course of her long and distinguished career. Her influential writing, speaking, and teaching articulates the history and cultural significance of African-American children’s literature. Her globally cited work, Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors, has inspired movements for increased diversity in books for young people, and provides the basis for the best multicultural practice and inquiry for students, teachers, writers and publishing houses.”

‘Racebending’ challenges literature’s ‘default’ race

Hermione Granger, via dellbelle39.tumblr.com

How do you envision the characters in a book when no description is explicitly given? Do you “by default” attribute white race? Who you are and how you answer reveals whether or not your identity is “mirrored” by the literature you read. At Huffington Post, Zeba Blay highlights “racebending” — where fan artists portray Harry Potter characters as black and other non-white ethnicities.

(Social sharing credit to We Need Diverse Books)

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