North TX Collective Minutes, July 2010
7/22/10 DFW Radical Reference Meeting (First Meeting!)
6:30pm @ Phil Johnson Historic Archive & Research Library
In attendance: Erin, Shaun, Greg, Azure, Sandy, Ron, Zein, Nicole
A. Went through introductions, 8 total attended
B. Discussed group organization and frequency of meetings
- No formal organization to group, will just rotate who organizes meetings/takes notes/etc. and whoever would like to plan an event or an action will take the lead
- Frequency of meetings will be about once a month, but will vary on how much there is to discuss in person/if people are available to meet (Erin volunteered to organize September meeting)
C. Brainstormed ideas for future projects, long and short-term (Shaun will create a wiki for virtual collaboration and we will make a poll to select top choices for projects)
- Possible slot at 2012 TLA Reference Roundtable (Erin will be chairing and would try to set this up)
- Alternative guide to Dallas for ALA Midwinter 2012 (other Radical Reference local collectives have done something similar when library conferences are in their city)
- Provide/create information resources for neighborhood associations (endangered buildings, examples: Preservation Dallas, Fry St. in Denton)
- Pathfinder on health care information/where to find health-related information (place/groups to consider looking at: Health Care for All Texans, Dallas Peace Center, Hemphill House, Phoenix Project Collective, KNON/ACORN Radio, Progressive Center - although heavily linked to democratic party, and Phil Johnson Historic Archive & Research Library)
- Recyling/freecycling information guide
- Work with books to prisoners group(s) if in existence
- Table/street reference at events (North by 35 in Denton as an example) -- will create list of community events to consider
- Keep track of school district book challenges (can maybe work with or look at TLA Intellectual Freedom Office’s info)
- Skillshares with other organizations or within own group for our group development or can provide skillshares to community (there is a conference in Addison in August called Open Camp, teaching use of open source software)
- Alternative materials in libraries (advocate)
- Oral histories (advocate for validity in research and archives)
- Create list of libraries allowing public use, create list of federal depository libraries in area, inform about public library databases for home access
- Some talk about working with religious groups or compiling a list of progressive places of worship was discussed by a few individuals, but a couple others expressed concern with the group having any connection to organized religion
D. Discussed next meeting and virtual collaboration
- As FYI can usually always meet at The Resource Center Dallas (Phil Johnson Historic Archive & Research Library) - whoever volunteers to organize a meeting can contact Sandy if interested in holding it there
- Some people subscribed to the discussion list but it appeared to not have worked, so Nicole will add email addresses on Friday
- Will keep in contact via discussion list and wiki until the next meeting is planned, and also have Rad Ref local collective page on RR site