NYC Collective August Meeting Notes

Radical Reference NYC Collective Meeting
Date: 8/24/08, 5 PM
Location: NYC AIDS Housing Network, Brooklyn
Present: Karen, Melissa, John, Julie, Jenna, Vani

• Tabling events
  1. Howl Festival in Tompkins Square Park, 9/6 and 9/7, 11 AM – 6 PM
     We would be sharing a table with ABC No Rio and Books Through Bars. Melissa will email the list to schedule tablers.
     Supplies to locate: binders, flyers, buttons, patches, t-shirts
  2. Event whose name is forgotten, 9/21 – 9/27 possibly? We would be tabling with ABC No Rio [It's Creative Time's Democracy in America Convergence Center]
• CSS Skillshare
  Come to a skillshare on cascading style sheets (CSS), done by folks from InterActivist!

  September 7th from 4 pm to 6 pm at ABC No Rio. Please bring a laptop. If you can't, email Jenna so she can coordinate. Contact Jenna to RSVP. herfirstname AT stealthisemail DOUGHT com.

• Speaking invitations
  1. New Jersey Librarians Association
     NJLA has invited us to their conference in April 2009. Julie and Eric will present on Radical Reference (front end and the back end).
  2. Queens College Library School Radical/ Militant Librarianship Talk
     We've been invited! Flushing, Queens here we come. Vani and Julie are in so far. Two previous* presentations on a similar theme. We hope to expand our info about librarians of color and other crucial aspects of radical library history. Date not finalized yet.
• Grassroots Media Conference Event
  John reported that GMC folks have asked us to coordinate a workshop and networking event on getting grassroots materials into libraries, and/or possibly the relationship between grassroots media makers and libraries.
  January was proposed as a possible time, with NACLA offices in Soho as a tentative location. Also discussed was the possibility of making this a workshop at the next Grassroots Media Conference in NYC.

  We brainstormed around this topic a LOT. Some bits:

  • How to get archival content to database vendors
  • How to get materials into alternative libraries and infoshops
  • Getting materials into public and academic libraries, researching collections policies
  • Using distributors
  • Connecting with major vendors
  • Getting pubs listed in WorldCat
  • A general idea of the panel:
    It would include a nice cross section of "gatekeepers" with whom grassroots media makers may want to learn how to interface.
    • academic library collections specialist (perhaps in political science, ethnic studies, or other area?)
    • public library collections specialist
    • Library Journal reviewer
    • Distro representative (suggested distro: Women Make Movies)
    • Radical Reference presenter (though not quite gatekeepers) (each of us could contribute to the effort of research and content creation for the presenter… perhaps we can post ideas on the wiki!)
  • Any other ideas?
• NACLA Research Guide
  NACLA (North American Congress on Latin America) wants Radical Reference to help them create a new edition of a guide to social justice-relevant research processes. The guide was originally published in the 60's, so it needs some refreshing! NACLA may be able to compensate with grant $$$.
• IFLA Reportback
  Melissa reported back from her presentation at IFLA in Quebec. Her session went well, the room was packed, and the audience was receptive and enthusiastic. Yay Melissa!
• Archives Event
  We are still working on planning an event around archives and radical history, to be tentatively held at the Brecht Forum in Manhattan. So far Shawn from the Lesbian Herstory Archives has expressed committed interest in presenting on Black lesbians and archives/ the herstory of Herstory. Jenna is in contact with a representative from the Tamiment Library at NYU. Melissa is still working on finalizing a date with Brecht Forum. Also in the mix: ABC No Rio (?)
  Date: Wednesday in October, preferably 10/22, or also 10/29 or 10/15.
• Info Seeking Behaviors of Activists
  Melissa would like to do a study on this topic and is seeking feedback, suggestions, and ideas.

*File currently missing from webpage. Email Jenna if you want it. myfirstname AT stealthisemail DOUGHT calm.