Lunch-Hour Lecture Series: Volume 8.1, The Political Librarian - Issue Selections

EveryLibrary Institute will conduct a lunch-hour lecture series over the course of 3 weeks which highlights selections from the latest issue of The Political Librarian. Contributors will join EveryLibrary Institute Executive Director John Chrastka in conversation to discuss their article which appeared in the issue. Join us on Facebook and YouTube live for these informative conversations. 

Tuesday, May 13th at 2pm ET

Clarifying Intellectual Freedom, Neutrality, and Professional Expertise to Better Defend Libraries from Books Bans, Disinformation, and Defunding with PAUL T. JAEGER AND ALLISON JENNINGS-ROCHE

When the Library Bill of Rights was adopted in 1939, it represented a significant departure from the many professional goals and ideals articulated when the American Library Association had been founded in 1876. In creating new professional ideals of intellectual freedom and neutrality, the Library Bill of Rights reoriented the field and altered the responsibilities of libraries to their communities. However, the poorly defined nature of some of these ideals has created continuing problems for the field, problems that are particularly evident in the current political environment, heavily defined by censorship and disinformation. As the 150th anniversary of the American Library Association will occur in 2026, this paper explores the ways these issues were debated at the time of the 100th anniversary of the American Library Association as a lens for examining the significant current ramifications of these unresolved issues.

Watch live or on-demand on Facebook or YouTube at 2pm ET

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/713140671243654

YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8niG6LwCUI

Read article here. 

Thursday, May 15th at 1pm ET

Gender, Politics, and The Public Library: How Polarization and Feminization Conspired to Destabilize One of "The Most Trusted Professions" with ALLISON JENNINGS-ROCHE

On January 24th, 2025, not one week into the new administration the United States Department of Education Office of Civil rights issued a statement that it was dismissing all investigations related to book bans, calling the investigations a “hoax.” The Trump nominated Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Craig Trainor described this is as “restoring the fundamental rights of parents to direct their children’s education,” which is the fullest expression so far that we have seen in the public sphere of the rhetorical dominance of ideas like “parent’s rights” being weaponized to subvert information access and undermine libraries across the country (U.S. Department of Education Ends Biden’s Book Ban Hoax | U.S. Department of Education, 2025, Jennings-Roche, 2023).

Watch live or on-demand on Facebook or YouTube at 1pm ET

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/945791237632981

YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY83Q8-s7fM

Read article here. 

Tuesday, May 20th at 1pm ET

Thank You for Your Service to the American Public: A Perspective from a Fired Federal Worker with CARRIE PRICE

From its outset, the Trump administration has haphazardly decimated federal agencies and institutions, creating chaos, fear, and confusion among federal employees. Securing a federal job is no small feat. It requires time, effort, skill, luck, and the investment of others. It carries the expectation of political neutrality no matter who occupies the White House. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) (and its employees) has been one of the institutions targeted by the Trump administration. The NIH, a pillar of scientific advancement, impacts the lives of all Americans through its research funding, initiatives, and programs. As a recently hired biomedical librarian, I dedicated my work to supporting the mission of the NIH, but I experienced firsthand the Trump administration's bullying and vilification of federal workers. I was ultimately fired, but my commitment to advocating for change has grown stronger. I believe librarians have a role to play in a brighter future.

Watch live on Facebook or YouTube at 1pm ET or anytime after on-demand

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/552895467917894

YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SwPZn35CM8

Read article here. 

Tuesday, May 27th at 1pm ET

Mapping Racism, Charting Change: A Regional Approach to Incorporating the Striving Towards Anti-Racism (STAR) in LIS Model with RACHEL D. WILLIAMS AND NICOLE A. COOKE

Focusing on anti-racism efforts within library and information science, this reflective essay applies our recently introduced Striving Towards Anti-Racism (STAR) model (Cooke and Williams, forthcoming) to examine geographies of racism in the United States. Our paper explores how regional distinctions—ranging from “Midwest nice” to “Southern hospitality” to “New England progressive whiteness”—both reflect and reinforce entrenched structures of racism in the US. With a reelected convicted felon in chief, the sociopolitical landscape has shifted even further toward fostering and incentivizing racism in various ways depending on geography. Through a thematic approach, we examine how racism manifests differently across regions by exploring these interconnected dynamics. We consider how the STAR model illustrates the geographic dimensions of racism and how individuals may feel out of place within these contexts. This approach highlights the contradictions and connections among different regional expressions of racial tension and shows how they both shape and are shaped by the political landscape of the US. We build on this analysis by considering how the STAR model informs the library and information science (LIS) profession, specifically by encouraging both reflection and action because of a deeper understanding of how regional and cultural biases influence library practices, policies, and user experiences. We conclude by suggesting mazeways, counter-storytelling, and broader disciplinary action as strategies for resistance and change. By applying this framework, LIS professionals can better understand and address how geographic and cultural contexts perpetuate racism within communities and how we can fight back.

Watch live on Facebook or YouTube at 1pm ET or on-demand after

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/711874968188280

YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO9eGBI0LvM

Read article here. 

Thursday, May 29th at 1pm ET

The Urgent Need for Political Literacy in LIS Education with SONYA M. DURNEY

Libraries are essential institutions, yet they face escalating threats from political pressures, ideological attacks, and unstable funding. Despite libraries’ reliance on public support, current library and information science (LIS) programs often fail to adequately prepare graduates to navigate the complex political and financial landscapes required to secure sustainable funding and advocate effectively. This white paper examines these gaps in LIS education, underscoring the urgent need for LIS education reform. This reform would include adding political literacy as a learning outcome for LIS programs. Political literacy is being "knowledgeable of basic political concepts and facts" (Cassel and Lo 1997, 321). This paper synthesizes existing literature to highlight gaps in MLIS curricula related to advocacy, policymaking, and funding strategies. It proposes actionable reforms for LIS educators, accreditation bodies, and policymakers to better equip LIS graduates with the skills needed to navigate today’s political climate and safeguard libraries’ indispensable role in society.

Watch live or on-demand on Facebook or YouTube at 1pm ET 

Facebook Live: https://www.facebook.com/events/2311539632573504

YouTube Live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZDIvR2pyXA

Read article here.