On July 1 of that same year at the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Detroit, MI, the “Task Force on Gay Liberation” met for the first time. In 1992, the Task Force sponsored its first ALA pre-conference program, a half-day session titled “When Sex is the Question, Who Answers?” Task Force members marching in the San Francisco Pride Parade were featured on the front cover of the July/August issue of American Libraries. In 1995, the Task Force changed its name to the “Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Task Force” and on June 30, 1999, it was promoted to round table status and became the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Round Table. In 2019, it was renamed to the Rainbow Round Table.

According to the LOC, the purpose to the commemorative Pride month is to “recognize the impact that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally.” June Pride celebrations at libraries include a variety of programs for all ages, all aimed at educating the community about LGBTQIA+ topics and interests and inviting everyone in the community to participate. Many libraries provide special LGBTQIA+ displays, events, and programs in June in honor of the history of Pride. There are also physical signs of welcome and support such as banners and flags. Many libraries keep these flags up year-round. Since Drag Queen Story Hour burst on the scene in 2015 in San Francisco and then New York, many library systems have also added the popular programs to their Pride offerings.

Anne Arundel County PRIDE Celebration
Skip Auld, CEO of Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) in Maryland shared that although there have been complaints and protests, AACPL has stood firm in their commitment to Pride programming and providing materials that are valuable to the LGBTQIA+ community. “Our libraries have presented LGBTQIA+ programs for many years, and of course we provide books and other materials related to Pride themes. I’m especially proud myself that we carry copies of Gender Queer, the most challenged book of the past few years. Community focus on our LGBTQIA+ programming intensified in 2018 and 2019 when we presented our first drag queen Storytimes. In general, our community rallied around their library system. This support led to a transformed Board of Trustees and expansion of programs and other resources.  Those years also saw the founding of Annapolis Pride and One Pasadena, whose motto is “Building a Safe and Inclusive Community.” We’ve had presence at all the Pride parades and festivals ever since.”

Pride offerings continue to expand every year. This June, AACPL will offer Rainbow Storytimes at many locations; Pride Art Nights; a Library Lock –in, Pride Edition; Pride BinGLOW; LGBTQ+ Trivia nights; and some educational programming including “From Twilight to Sunshine: LGBTQ+ History in Maryland” and “The First Pride Was a Riot: The Enduring Legacy of Stonewall.”

The partnership with Annapolis Pride, established in 2018, was solidified when the organization advocated for AACPL during a public controversy regarding Drag Queen Storytime. The group rallied support from the LGBTQIA+ community to testify at library board meetings and publicly support the library. Many who testified shared how meaningful it was to see themselves reflected in books or attend programs celebrating the queer community.

“We are proud to partner with Anne Arundel County Public Library and appreciate their commitment to serving everyone in our community,” said Annapolis Pride Board Chair Joe Toolan. “They recognize that Pride is a year-round celebration, and they continue provide materials and programs that recognize the diverse stories of the LGBTQIA+ community.” Auld was honored to be selected as the Grand Marshal of the Annapolis Pride parade in 2020 to publicly acknowledge the partnership with the library.

More Public Library PRIDE Celebrations
Joslyn Dixon, interim director of New Rochelle Public Library in New York shared that one of their main Pride events will be featuring a Tween Book Club with local author Phil Stamper. Since the program is for young teens, they will alert the caregivers about the content a week before the program. They are also hosting a Drag Queen Story Hour in mid-June. The event has received complaints and attracted protestors in the past, so they will have administration and board members in attendance.

At Virginia Beach Public Library in Virginia, Director Kimberly Bray Knight said they will offer a variety of Pride programming, booklists and displays throughout June. Program topics vary with examples including STEM programming like Cubetto Pride Parade, Love Makes a Family Storytime, and art-based programming like Glowing with Pride. They are also holding two large scale Pride events in August this year, a time when there are fewer programs for the LGBTQIA+ community. These events are LGBTQIA + Family Pride Day and Teen Pride Night and will be designed to provide support for kids going back to school.

Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, Maryland, has a statement on their website that says, “Authenticity/Love/Inclusion/Respect. That’s what PRIDE means to the Pratt.” They also state that “PRIDE is a time we set aside to collectively honor our LGBTQ+ community’s past, to celebrate our shared humanity, and to reflect on our country’s movements to advance equal rights for all.”

Pratt and most major urban library systems offer an extensive array of Pride programs. New York Public Library has an extensive collection of over 100,000 LGBTQ books, magazines, newspapers, and archival materials They also provide booklists such as “New Books for Kids to Celebrate Pride” and “Stand Against Book Banning: LGBTQ+ Titles Targeted for Censorship.”

Although June is a focus of Pride celebrations, many libraries also promote LGBTQ interest books and provide programs to celebrate LGBTQIA+ History Month and Coming Out Day in October and Transgender Day of Visibility Day on March 31.  Of course, LGBTQIA+ collections, programs, and services are not limited to June, but provided throughout the year as part of regular operations.

It’s clear that the movement to celebrate Pride has swept libraries across the country, however every library representative I spoke with about Pride and LGBTQIA+ offerings also mentioned complaints, protests, and even threats. Smaller, more conservative communities have not embraced Pride activities to the same extent, especially as many are also fighting book challenges. The battle for equal representation and free expression continues.

Libraries are committed to providing a safe space for everyone. This is even more true in June when Pride flags can be seen adorning libraries across the country. The activists from 1970 would be so very proud but would recognize they still have more battles to fight!

The post Public Libraries Celebrate Pride first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The branch, part of the Anne Arundel County Public Library system, has always had a few plants scattered around the building. Like most workplaces, there were always a few somewhat neglected ones in the staff lounge, and for several years there were a few huge, donated plants in the lobby that looked great at first, but slowly withered away due to lack of attention.

Fast forward to 2020, and the library is preparing to reopen for appointments after the COVID shutdown. They procured acrylic shields known as “sneeze guards,” but the desk design left large gaps in between the panels, and so to discourage folks from sticking their heads through the gaps, they put a couple of the larger plants in the space. This was the first time they had plants at the information desk, and they found that they were practical and added a nice touch. And so, they stayed, and then winter came, and they stayed. People commented on them sometimes, and they gave away a couple of spider plant babies, and life went on. The plants stayed, and the staff made sure they were watered and nurtured.

Then came October 2021, Catherine Jellison, Library Associate at the Crofton Library and the leader for this project had several large tropical plants on her deck at home that needed to come inside, but she had no room at her house. It seemed a shame to throw them away, so she asked the manager if she could take them to the library for the winter, to live in one of the large windows in the main part of the branch. She gave the okay, and the rest is history. Catherine shared that she was nervous when a new manager arrived. “Not everybody likes plants, so I was THRILLED when she was on board!’ She said that she appreciates that staff have been given space to innovate and expand what the library can be.

The plants loved it at the library (all that light!), and the customers loved the plants. In early 2022, the staff put up a display of forsythia branches at the info desk along with a sign explaining how to force blooms indoors. People really liked that too, and so they added more, similar educational displays throughout the year. Gradually, more and more plants from staff members made their way to the library. They tried to bring the most interesting, strange-looking ones that they had, to show people that there is more to houseplant life than spider plants and peace lilies (though they do have five peace lilies at the branch!).

Library Connection
As the plant collection grew, staff members wanted to make it an educational experience for the customers, so they created and attached laminated, attractive signage to each plant giving the botanical name, common name, and a QR code leading to care information for the plant. Although the initial inspiration came from one staff member, everyone enjoyed this project, and they all pitched in to care for the plants. They take great pride in the beauty of the branch and enjoy talking about the plants to the customers all the time. The QR codes on the plants make this part easy – staff don’t have to be experts on every plant, they just have to show the QR code to the customer.

It’s not surprising that there is a spreadsheet listing the proper names for all the plants and their location in the building – librarians keep good records. The most popular plants with the customers are the pencil cactus, the mistletoe cactus, the curly locks cactus, and the ponytail palms. They also have a 14-foot Ficus that gets a lot of attention. Not an hour goes by when someone doesn’t mention the plants or starts a conversation with staff about them. Caregivers and their kids read the names together, and people are finally able to name the plant they’ve had at home for years that looks just like the one on the desk. There is a plant on every study table so it’s an easy conversation starter.

A gardener from The Capital building in Washington, D.C. returned a book the other day and was SO impressed with the plants and the QR codes. He even took pictures of each one. Another customer brought her sister to the library who was visiting from California JUST for the plants.

Inspiration for Programs
In July 2023, the library started a monthly Houseplant Club, which has produced great attendance at all the meetings so far. They have a plant/cuttings/pots/etc. swap at the end of each meeting. One library programmer created seek and find terrariums for the kids to find little hidden creatures. The staff also sometimes gives out clippings to customers who are interested – the customers are always so excited and thankful to be getting a free clipping.

At just over 100 in total, the number of plants looks great without being overwhelming. The branch is exploring the concept of plants that customers could “check out,” like a plant library of sorts. Caring for a plant can be a wonderful experience for a young person, or a person of any age who has an interest and wants to learn more.

Opportunity for Partnerships
Over the past year, the Crofton Library staff members have also worked with a partner named Farm Unity to create a vegetable garden on library property for the community. Farm Unity provided the volunteers, the Library Foundation also provided some financial support, and the garden produced over 600 pounds of vegetables that were distributed to the community free of charge. Farm Unity is now working to create a pollinator garden next to the vegetable garden in the coming year. As spring approaches there is now a mobile greenhouse in the library with some seedlings that will be transplanted into the garden, so the community can see the process from seed to produce. Local non-profit EnSprout hosted a harvest festival in the fall and provided some crafts and activities for kids to learn about where their food comes from and how to take care of seedlings and plants. Another partnership that has flourished is a Farmer’s Market sponsored by the county that uses the library parking lot every Saturday weekend from May to November, giving local farmers and artisans a way to promote their businesses and sell their goods. The library has come a long way from dying houseplants in the lobby to a blossoming atmosphere of growth, learning and cooperation within the branch and community.

The post Houseplants in the Library – Beautiful and Educational first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

This year’s PLA Conference, in Columbus, Ohio, from April 3 – 5, boasts over 100 in- person programs across a wide spectrum of topics. There are also over 20 programs available via the virtual conference. Educational programs, author events and mindfulness videos will also be recorded and available on demand for a full year, but the rest of the sessions are only available at the live conference. There is a separate
registration for each conference (in person and virtual) so participants can register for both or just one or the other.

The featured speakers are always a highlight. This year’s speakers, as described in the conference program include Dr. Joy Buolamwini, the founder of the Algorithmic Justice League who is also a groundbreaking MIT researcher; a model, and an artist, Ta-Nehisi Coates, an award-winning author and journalist; Mary Annaïse Heglar, a writer who works at the “intersections of climate change, climate grief, and climate justice” and Dulcé Sloan, one of the “sharpest, fastest rising voices in comedy.” Registration also includes access to the popular exhibit hall with hundreds of vendor booths and many free books and other giveaways. Despite the rise of digital books, physical copies of new books, sometimes in pre-release format, and opportunities to get the book signed by the author attract a lot of attention and foot traffic at the event. Be sure to pack an extra suitcase or plan to ship some conference trappings home!

The Tuesday workshops all require payment of an extra charge. Depending on your budget to pay for extra sessions and stay an extra night, there are few workshops that stand out. Libraries have been in the news a lot this year, so there are two programs that are particularly relevant. The first is “In the Driver’s Seat: Proactively Protecting Your LIbrary and Staff in Challenging Times. This panel presentation will focus on how to react to everything from book bans to bomb threats. The second is “Media Training: When Your Library is the Headline” presented by the Richland Library, will give tips and tricks on how to talk to the media and try to impact the narrative.

Wednesday, April 3 is the first day of the full conference. The first program that deserves a highlight is “Community Librari-Aid: Providing Wraparound Social Service Support through Partnerships,” presented by the Akron Summit Public Library. The summary notes that “20-
50% of households that are eligible for safety net programs do not utilize them.” Helping customers understand what support is available to them can have a profound impact on a community.

Another innovative program scheduled for Wednesday is “Creating Youth Opportunities: Libraries Serve Youth at Risk of Incarceration.” The information about this panel presentation by Michelle Hamiel, Chief of Programs at Urban Libraries Council and three colleagues from urban library systems notes that “library buildings significantly outnumber juvenile detention centers” positioning libraries as “meaningful reformative and transformative programs and services.” We often talk about re-entry but it’s important to also put emphasis on how to help young people stay on track and avoid incarceration in the first place.

It is a little-known fact that Black men hold less than 1% of all MLIS degrees. The program “Black Men in Public Libraries” will introduce a panel of Black male librarians from Dayton Metro, Cleveland Public Libraries, and Las Vegas Clark County Public Library who will
share their suggestions for diversifying the profession and supporting this population to attain leadership positions.

Over the past few years, information about trans identities has been all over the news and much more accessible than previously. Join Morrill Memorial Library staff’s presentation of “Debunking Mis-Information about Trans Identities and People to learn fact from fiction
and how to understand the research and separate opinion about transgender people from concrete scientific information.

Day 2: Thursday, April 4, 2024
Many libraries have embraced the approach of trauma informed services when working with customers. This has led some staff to ask, “What about the trauma of the staff?” The program “Stronger Together: Trauma Informed Methods and Models to Support Library
Staff,” presented by Pima County Library staff will discuss changes that can be made to bring work culture into a trauma informed model which will bring healing to staff who have been impacted by the stress of public library work. Stars in the public library world, groundbreaking Librarian of Congress, Carla Hayden and PLA President, Sonia Alcantara–Antoine, will be joined by colleagues Shauntee Burns-Simpson of the New York Public Library and Roosevelt Weeks of the Austin Public Library to share their journeys and the “legacy of Black public library leadership and opportunities ahead.”

Public libraries are committed to providing diverse programming that is representative of their communities and educates customers about people they may never meet but would like to understand. Los Angeles County’s staff panel will present “Amplifying Programming
around Culture, Faith and Diversity,” sharing how to create a place for people who may be underrepresented or forgotten in traditional library programming.

Day 3: Friday, April 5, 2024
Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents challenges and opportunities for public libraries. In this panel presentation, “Activating AI Education and Algorithmic Literacy” by Toronto Public Library, attendees will learn about a variety of public programs and staff learning
opportunities around AI and how it will influence our future. Mothers who are struggling with isolation and postpartum depression often visit the library looking for a safe place to find connections for themselves and for their children. In the program “Mamas Matter: Creating Restorative Spaces in Public Libraries for all Mothers” Abby Black of Allendale Township Library discusses how to create a mom’s support group using restorative practices. As libraries continue to look for ways to meet the needs of their customers, many have turned their attention to food deserts and access to healthy, fresh and affordable food. Partnerships with food banks and other non-profits have helped address these needs. An Urban Libraries Council panel will present their white paper “Food is a Right: Libraries and
Food Justice” by explaining the “state of food insecurity and the strategic role libraries play in responding to local needs.” For a fun change of pace, consider attending “Read Romance/Fight Patriarchy” by Lincoln High School teacher/librarian Lori Lieberman. Find out why readers of romances (the most popular genre!) are often shamed and stigmatized for their reading choices, how to push back against those negative stereotypes and how to start a romance book club reading books that are feminist and diverse!

Registration is still open for the workshops, special ticketed events, full conference, single day conference, virtual conference or exhibits only. Visit placonference.org to register and for more information.

The post 2024 Public Library Association Conference Preview first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

After the conference, I told my supervisor, library Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Skip Auld about this program and he was curious and open to exploring the idea. He could see how it would align with the creative programming we were doing and how it would appeal to some of our customers.  One of the branch managers was interested in hosting a similar program in our library, so I put that in the monthly report I shared with our Board of Trustees in April. I thought I was being transparent, but it turned out that I wasn’t doing nearly enough to set the stage and prepare for the upcoming challenges.

In June, a staff member shared that they knew someone who performed in drag, who worked at a library, and was willing to present a Drag Queen Storytime for us. This was a win/win because the presenter was personally known to the staff member, they were trained in library storytime practices, and they were used to working with kids. The staff member submitted their program proposal, and it was approved up the chain of command, as is our usual practice. The social media post promoting the program hit Facebook in June, and I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say that all hell broke loose! We immediately started getting calls, messages, and emails from elected officials and customers demanding that we cancel the program. While we knew there would potentially be some pushback, we did not expect what happened next!

Our public library system is a quasi-county organization, which means we get most of our funding from the county, but it is overseen by a Board of Trustees made up of community members. Our CEO immediately called the board chair to explain what was going on and set to work on getting the board up to speed and doing damage control. The CEO and board chair agreed that we didn’t want to cancel the program, but we had to figure out how to handle all the pushback and provide support for the staff, supportive board members, and our customers who wanted this program.

The next few months were a blur of difficult conversations, navigating conflict and controversy, determining and articulating our values, but we persevered. The program went off without a hitch that August, but we did have to make some changes. The controversy ended up extending past Drag Queen Storytime to how we select our programming, and who is welcome at the library. We learned some lessons about how to introduce a program that may be controversial, and how to stand by our values in times of diversity and challenges.

Educate your Board, Friends/Foundation, Governmental Leaders

In hindsight, when we decided we wanted to do the first Drag Queen Storytime in Maryland, we should have done more to educate the board about this program and why we wanted to do it. I did a presentation to the board so they would understand what we wanted to do and why. This was helpful, but I wish we had done it before the community pushback started. I also educated the board about our programming practices. For instance, parents/caregivers are required to accompany kids under 8, in accordance with Maryland state law. No kids under 8 would be in this program without a parent or caregiver with them, and most kids rely on parents and caregivers to bring them to the library, so the older kids are usually accompanied by adults as well. We also explained to the board that when we hire outside presenters, we have oversight as to what they present and how they present it. In this case, we knew all eyes would be on us, so we intentionally talked to our presenter about all the details, including book and music selection, and even their attire. Videos on the internet didn’t help our cause. Customers were sending videos of adult drag performances and demanding that we not allow pole dancing in Storytime. We needed to get the correct information out into the community on what our event would look like.

We also talked to the board about the library system’s values of diversity, inclusion and belonging and how important it is for us to welcome everyone. Earlier that year, the board had adopted the Urban Libraries Statement on Race and Social Equity, so we discussed that. We reminded the board members that not every program will appeal to everyone, and that is okay.  We also learned we needed to compromise to present our first Drag Queen Storytime in a way that the board would be more comfortable defending. This meant moving the venue, putting signage on the door about the parents and caregivers accompanying small children, having administration approve the content and attend the program. Although this was unusual, we could live with these limitations. In subsequent Drag Queen Storytimes, the board was not involved in the content and we were able to present the program without as much oversight of the details. Multiple board members have attended Drag Queen Storytimes to show support.

Educate Yourself

If you do controversial programs such as Drag Queen Storytime, there will be protesters. It’s important that staff know the legal parameters around protesting and what to do if protesters push the limits. We received legal advice that we could control the time, place, and manner of protesting, so we had a designated area where the protesters could stand, and we did not allow them to bring their signage into the program. We gave priority to customers with kids but did allow adults to enter the program if there was space. We believed this transparency was important. Be sure that your library has procedures in place to deal with protesters. We also had counter-protesters, which was much appreciated by staff and by the presenter! At one of our programs, the workers at the produce stand across the street saw the protesters, went to a local craft store and bought supplies to decorate their tent with rainbows and blasted ABBA music. They also sent over the message that our Drag Queen could come over after the program and get as much produce as they wanted!

Library staff with Balena Canto, at the library’s inaugural Drag Queen Storytime.

Support and Communicate with Staff

We had to educate staff on two levels. First, we needed to get buy in from staff even if they didn’t personally agree with the programs. Second, we needed to provide staff with language for talking to unhappy customers. We created a frequently asked questions document and posted it on our intranet. Staff could print this out and put it on the service desks to refer to when customers came in or called to complain. We also posted our Program Selection Policy and information about our library system’s values on our website.

Align with Partners

We realized very quickly that we couldn’t go very far with Draq Queen Storytime, or other LGBTQIA+ related programing without rallying support in our community. We had already been working with the newly formed Annapolis Pride advocacy group, and this controversy cemented our relationship. Their members came out in full force to testify at board meetings about how the library had been a safe place for them over the years and that this programming was crucial for the community. We also worked with other businesses, agencies, and non-profit groups that shared our values and would support the work we were doing.

Be Prepared for the Unexpected

It is an unfortunate reality, but it is important to let local law enforcement know when you are doing a program that might end up with conflict. In addition to protesters outside of the library, an assault occurred at one of our programs where a person interrupted the Storytime to yell his opinion and then shoved a board member who was in the program. The law enforcement officer staged in the program room quickly removed the protester and Storytime went on. This was a big help to staff who were concerned about handling a situation like this without the proper authority or training.

We also created a process for managing horrible comments online. We don’t automatically remove negative comments, but we do remove anything that is threatening or personal against staff or our presenters. Our digital experience manager keeps a file of all removed comments in case we get a Maryland Public Information Act request. We call law enforcement if there are threats that we deem dangerous, and they help us determine the next steps.

We also reminded staff that all their written communications are subject to public request, so they needed to be aware of that and choose their wording carefully. We did get some Maryland Public Information Requests related to our first Drag Queen program and had to turn over a lot of written communications.

Create a Unified Response

We worked hard to make sure we were all telling our customers the same thing. We created a response template that we sent out to those customers who contacted us via email. Sometimes we would tailor the response if they had specific concerns.

“Thank you for your feedback. The Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL) is committed to providing a diverse slate of creative, inclusive, educational, and entertaining programs for all ages.  We understand that not all events or materials will interest all customers. Additionally, parents make the choices as to which library events their children will attend, and we respect those choices.

AACPL is committed to racial and social equity and has pledged to:

• Create and maintain an environment of diversity, inclusion and respect both in our library systems and in all aspects of our community role
• Ensure that we are reaching and engaging disenfranchised people in the community and helping them express their voice

LGBTQIA+ programs help children and adults embrace gender diversity and sexual orientation in others and in themselves. It helps curb bullying of LGBTQIA+ children and adults who are considered “different” in all kinds of ways.nWith rates of suicide attempts for LGBTQIA+ teens almost five times the level of their heterosexual counterparts, the need for these inclusive programs is imperative. LGBTQIA+ positive programs help people build empathy, provide positive role models for LGBTQIA+ children and make the world a more affirming place for all.  While we respect the viewpoint of all our customers, we remain committed to providing a safe space for all.”

All responses went out from me as chief operating officer, CEO Auld, or our marketing manager. This is not how we would have chosen to get onto the front page of the local paper or in the newsletters that were going around the local churches and community groups, but it did bring attention to our work and educate the community about the value of diverse programming.

Although it was a challenging time, Drag Queen Storytime broke the ice, and it was worth it. We are now known as a system that values diverse programming, especially LGBTQIA+ programming. Our CEO was selected as the grand marshal of the Annapolis Pride parade in June 2020, and although it was canceled due to Covid, we are proud of that recognition of our system’s work. Our commitment to diverse programming has also created a more welcoming environment for LGBTQIA+ staff, and that is well known in the Maryland library community.

Membership on our board of trustees has almost completely turned over since 2018, so we make sure that we continue to educate the new members about our path to diverse programming and our commitment to making sure it continues. We do the same with our elected officials and we continue to nurture relationships with our partners as we grow and expand programs to meet the needs of our diverse community.

The post What We Learned From Drag Queen Storytime (It Might Not Be What You Think!) first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

According to a June 2021 article in Autism in Adulthood, less than a third of autistic individuals are driving independently compared to nearly 90 percent of neurotypical individuals. This may be due to many factors such as access to appropriate training and lower levels of executive function and communication skills typically associated with autism spectrum disorders.

Everyone feels a moment of panic when they see the flashing lights of a law enforcement officer behind them on the road. Although there are many reasons why drivers might be concerned, drivers who are neurodivergent may be unsure of how to communicate clearly, worry about being misunderstood and generally feel more anxiety than other drivers. Drivers who are neurodiverse may struggle with appropriate social interactions, eye contact, and handling stressful situations. Recent news stories about law enforcement officers responding with violence when encountering someone who does not react the way they expect, which may be due to neurodiversity, have also added to the challenges.

One library system is stepping up to help neurodiverse customers navigate the complexities of traffic stops and relieve anxiety around driving. Staff at Discoveries: The Library at the Mall recently brought the Neurodiverse Driver Traffic Stop program offered to its Annapolis,
Maryland branch to help neurodiverse customers learn how to interact with law enforcement officials if stopped while driving and how to communicate effectively in such a tense situation. To best serve this customer base, staff at the Discoveries Library first held two neurodiverse family focus groups to gather more information about what kinds of services and programs they’d like to see at the library. Support for the needs of anxious teens and young adults proved a common theme and the traffic stop program came out of those conversations. A partnership with the local police department and the non-profit advocacy group Pathfinders for Autism, the program’s success depended on its publicity and the offering of more resources to the attendees. The one-on-one program attracted participants from around Maryland and the District of Columbia because of its unique nature. Library staff used the large parking lot on the mall’s rooftop as a staging area for the police and drivers to role play in a safe environment. Police officers with special training in how to work
with neurodiverse drivers discussed important tips to remember for these drivers such as taking their time getting to a safe place to pull off the road, staying in the car unless asked by the law enforcement officer to get out, keeping hands on the wheel and visible, and having
identification and insurance paperwork easily accessible when needed. Helping neurodiverse drivers understand what to expect in these high-pressure situations can lead to decreased anxiety and more positive interactions for all involved.

The library received a lot of good feedback about the program from participants and their family members. According to comments provided to Pathfinders for Autism from a participant’s spouse, she believes Saturday was life changing for K. The couple shared that he was afraid of police and firefighters due to being severely abused by his firefighter uncle. The officer shared some of his own personal experiences with K which made an incredible impact on K. She also said that being given the opportunity to converse with multiple officers who are genuinely caring has changed his anxiety and perspective.

Some states around the country are working to address the needs of neurodiverse drivers. In June 2020, a bill was passed in the state of Nevada requiring the Department of Motor Vehicles to “place a designation on a vehicle registration, driver’s license or identification card for a person with a communication need.” This is a step forward to help law enforcement understand the challenges that neurodiverse, deaf or hard of hearing customers face. But while small steps are being made to support neurodiverse teens and young adults, driving remains a stressful task for many. Twenty-year-old twins Forrest and Griffin Wintermute are college students who are on the autism spectrum. They have used the excellent public transportation in Portland, Oregon for years, so they weren’t motivated to learn to drive as soon as they turned 16. In the past year, Griffin decided to get his permit and then his license, after hours of practice driving with his grandfather, although he still frequently uses public transportation. Forrest decided that he is just fine with public transportation and doesn’t see the need to go through the stress and expense of getting his license. In addition to supporting drivers on the autism spectrum, libraries across the country have embraced the opportunity to get to know the needs of neurodiverse customers and provide much needed programming, education and support. Programs such as sensory Storytime, low distraction quiet reading periods, neurodivergent meet ups and game nights for all ages provide opportunities for customers to enjoy the library in a way that is welcoming and comfortable and extend the customers’ comfort interacting with officials and other strangers who may not always understand their communication challenges. With the National Institutes of Health estimating that nearly 15-20 percent of people worldwide exhibit neurodivergence, supporting the needs of these customers and their families continues to be increasingly important.

The post Neurodiverse Drivers, Traffic Stops, and the Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Libraries can learn a lot from his successful approach.

People Still Want Paper Books

Books remain the main draw for bookstores and libraries. Amazon maintains a 50% market share of the physical book sales in the United States. The rest are sold in bookstores of various types and sizes. Although libraries certainly circulate a lot of digital materials, customers still want to come in and touch the books. The smell of a room full of books is distinct, and often a reason customers cite for loving the library. Browsing titles online cannot provide the same visceral experience as touching physical books and leafing through the pages. One feature that shopping on Amazon cannot replicate is the experience of browsing and serendipitous finds. The time that creative librarians put into developing and maintaining appealing displays is rewarded by helping customers spot just the right book that they didn’t know they were looking for.

Library Staff Members Know What Patrons Want

When Barnes and Noble tried a “one size fits all” approach nationwide with fees paid to feature books that the publishers wanted to promote, it was a failure. Libraries are most successful when they let the staff respond to community interests. Front line staff members know their customers and their community. They know what people are asking for and how to meet those needs. Libraries sometimes accomplish this through floating collections, where items stay in the branch where they are returned. It is also important to target the buying of materials based on circulation statistics and the number of customer holds –both good ways to gauge demand. Barnes and Noble learned that encouraging bookstore staff in each location to promote what their customers wanted increased sales. Libraries can apply that lesson for books and for programming. Communities respond when they feel that the library is listening and providing what they want.

“Give Em What They Want”

Charlie Robinson, long time director of Baltimore County Public Library (BCPL) is well known in library circles for pioneering the concept of “give ‘em what they want.” When Robinson took over as library director of BCPL in 1963, the system was following the traditional philosophy of housing classics and buying what the librarians thought people should be reading instead of what they wanted to be reading. While his philosophy was controversial, it helped BCPL grow into a leading public library system with circulation rivaling Queens Public Library by the early 1990s.

Focus on Priorities

Mission creep happened in Barnes and Noble, and it certainly happens in libraries as well. Some of it is positive – notepads and Nook tables and eReaders in Barnes & Noble make sense. But the space that was used for elaborate toy sections and household items was converted back to space for books and educational materials. Libraries have expanded to include public health initiatives to address community needs but they also have to make careful decisions so that staff and budgetary capacity are respected, and the library is able to focus on established priorities. The lessons learned by B & N’s challenges resonate with public libraries as well and have the potential to support the growth of both in the future.

The post Lessons in Focus: What Public Libraries Can Learn from Barnes & Noble’s Challenges first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

Anne Arundel County (MD) Public Library system has been working with the local department of health and county administration to address the issue. The county created a Gun Violence Intervention Team (GVIT) in 2019 in response to the deadly mass shooting at The Capital-Gazette newspaper in June of 2018 and due to an uptick in gun violence in the county. The team included representatives from partner organizations such as governmental departments, law enforcement, the county’s community college, and the Anne Arundel County Public Library (AACPL.) One of the recommendations from GVIT was to approach gun violence prevention from a public health and safety perspective.

In June 2021, Anne Arundel County Health Officer Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman declared gun violence a public health issue. His stated commitment was to step away from the polarization of the gun rights debates and focus on partnerships to decrease deaths and injuries due to gun violence, similar to the way the county had focused on decreasing opioid deaths in previous years.

As a member of GIVIT and playing part in that approach to a solution, AACPL started giving out free gun locks at three library branches in April 2023. They chose the branches based on the highest percentage of gun incidents occurring in those communities.  The library quickly ran out of gun locks and realized that this program was meeting a real need in the community. With the department of health and GVIT’s support, they gradually expanded to include all 16 branches. The gun lock giveaway was made possible through a roughly $12,000 grant from the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime, Prevention, and Youth Victim Services. The locks cost around $10 each online.

Gun locks are devices that prevent a weapon from discharging. They are intended to be part of a gun safety protocol in addition to training and safe storage. Gun locks are usually universal, meaning that they can be used on any type or brand of gun. They do not necessarily prevent all gun deaths, but they provide a barrier that may slow down someone who is considering harming themselves or others. When customers pick up a gun lock, library staff also give them manufacturer instructions on how to use the gun lock, and a bookmark created by GVIT with a link to helpful information about safe gun storage, suicide prevention resources, and other valuable information.

Before the library got involved, the police department had obtained a small number of gun locks to hand out to the community, but they found that many community members were reluctant to stop by the police stations to pick them up. The 16 participating public library branches provided geographic reach, extended hours in the evening and on the weekends, and more anonymity.

When GVIT first approached the library, they didn’t realize how quickly the program would grow and that they would need to increase the supply to meet demand. They also wanted much more information from recipients than the library wanted to ask their customers to provide. The library administration knew that we needed to allow gun owners and their family and friends the ability to pick up the gun locks without giving their names so there would be no fear of tracking or retribution for any reason.

The library made the process easy: customers only have to be over the age of 18 (no ID required), and voluntarily provide a zip code and race. They could decline to answer those two questions. If no zip code was provided, staff used the zip code of the branch location. Due to a limited supply and limited funds, each person could only get two gun locks per visit. However, there was no limit on the number of visits and no tracking repeat visits. The library created an extensive FAQ document for staff and linked it to a video demonstrating the use of gun locks that they could share with customers.

Predictably, there was some pushback from the public. Comments on social media ranged from concern that gun ownership was being “normalized” to the statement that the library would only end up giving locks to those who already had permits and were “responsible gun owners” already. (The library does not ask for proof of legal gun ownership, or any gun ownership at all.) There was also fear on the part of library staff that customers would bring their guns into the library when they picked up their gun locks. Branches have signs on their front doors alerting customers to the library’s weapons policy limits weapons to law enforcement, a policy that is allowed within Maryland law.

It’s not just gun owners who are coming in to get the gun locks. Staff have seen grandmothers getting locks for their grown children to protect their grandchildren and people getting locks for their partners. Some customers have commented that their children urged them to visit the library to pick up the locks for their guns.

As of the end of September 2023, nearly 3,000 gun locks have been distributed through this initiative. Most gun locks have been given out at the library branches, but the health department also allows the library staff to take gun locks to outreach events, expanding the reach of the program to those who may not visit a library.  They have just over 1,400 on hand for future distribution. The access points are also soon expanding to include the local community college and some senior centers.

AACPL is the only public library in Maryland that is giving out gun locks, but other library systems across the country have done so. Libraries in  Missouri, Indiana, and Virginia, just to name a few, all have successful gun lock outreach programs to do their part to make their community safer.

The post Distributing Gun Locks at the Library first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

As we continue to come out of pandemic isolation, customers are visiting their local libraries with new questions about what to read. Instead of asking for a book that their neighbor told them about and the cover is blue, they say, “I am looking for a book that I saw on TikTok. Can you help me find it?” Often the book is a Colleen Hoover title, but other popular requests for TikTok recommendations operate like word-of-mouth on fire.

This isn’t new (remember 50 Shades of Grey?), but the acceleration in quantity and enthusiasm is dramatic. BookTok and LibraryTok, are areas of TikTok focused on book recommendations and library services. Many public libraries have book displays in their public areas featuring the latest trends on TikTok in addition to other bestsellers so customers can grab what they need and go! TikTok is also searchable in an easy, accessible way.

Customers who are looking for a beach read can search #bookrec #booktok and #summerreads, for instance, and find videos that present a plethora of firsthand suggestions. Searches can easily be narrowed, and the recommendations feel personal as the person talking about the book could actually be on the beach, in their living room, or in a classroom. You can literally picture yourself enjoying the book in the actual place you want to read it. In this fast-paced world, who wouldn’t want that?

If an older title is suddenly gaining in popularity, it’s almost always attributable to BookTok or to a celebrity book club pick. Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club has a strong presence on TikTok with 390,000 followers. Some authors who have spiked recently due to TikTok trends (besides Colleen Hoover) include Elena Armas, Madeline Miller, Ana Huang, Sarah J. Maas, Laura Nowlin and Adam Silvera. Romance, fantasy, and “romantasy” reign supreme on TikTok no doubt due to TikTok users trending younger and female. Females account for 57% of the platform’s active users, while males make up just 43% and nearly three-quarters of users are under 40.

The Milwaukee Public Library (@milwaukeepubliclibrary) (MPL), which has almost 105,000 followers on TikTok, was featured on National Public Radio recently for their low budget, creative approach to using humorous TikTok videos to promote their library system, intellectual freedom, inclusivity, and the fight against book bans. The library system has also seen an influx of tourists visiting the city because they saw their videos on TikTok. Not every library system has the staffing resources to put out such consistent content, but those who have are seeing tangible results. MPL staff explain that they are using the creativity of staff to produce relatable content with “smoke and mirrors” and not a lot of financial investment.

Being well versed in readers’ advisory at the public library now means being familiar with what is trending on the latest social media sites. There is a firm crossover between customers who are comfortable with social media and also comfortable with technology and therefore placing their own holds, but the questions still come to library staff.

Independent authors such as Maryland author BK Borison have been picked up by traditional publishers after getting some attention from BookTok. Although staff will often put in requests for purchase, the books that gain popularity on TikTok might not meet the official selection criteria for the library due to being self-published, offering a lack of professional reviews, or for other reasons. In that case, staff can often help customers put requests through an interlibrary loan system or find a link for purchase from a vendor.

TikTok, and many other social media sites, have leveled the playing field for customers who just want to find a good book to read. It’s easily accessible, popular, and free, as long as you have a smartphone and internet access. Customers can also make their own videos with music, dancing and any special effects they want to use to promote their favorite book! TikTok has also brought in a younger audience, which is crucial to the relevance and sustainability of public libraries.

Looking for some good content on LibraryTikTok or BookTok? Cincinnati Public Library (@cincylibrary) with almost 31,000 followers recently shot to prominence with its viral video of a ballet dancer selecting books from the top shelf with her outstretched leg, followed by a library page trying the same trick. Their video of a cat driving through the library pickup line for holds easily catches any librarian’s attention.

Librarian Mychal (@mychal3ts) of Solano Library in California has 13,000 followers on TikTok and has created a quickly growing following for his charming stories about working as a children’s librarian, welcoming everyone, and the power of a library card. He also demonstrates his commitment to being a role model by showing kids that some librarians don’t fit the stereotype. They can be young, male, Black, tattooed and informal in their conversations with customers of all ages. Mychal’s posts were recently shared by the American Library Association.

Influencer @ezeekat of Orlando, FL also shares clever promos of books and board games. He is enthusiastic about various fandoms that are of interest to many library folks.

But it isn’t all sunshine and roses for using TikTok to provide book recommendations. Some social media users are wary of TikTok due to their overseas ownership and security concerns, and some governments have banned the app on government issued phones. But never fear! many Tiktok influences, or BookTokers also cross post to Instagram so their content can be found there as well!

So, whether you like TikTok and use it regularly or haven’t tried the platform, you really should consider checking it out to make your job just a bit easier and maybe even a bit more fun!

The post You’ve Heard of TikTok, But Do You Know About BookTok And LibraryTok? first appeared on Public Libraries Online.