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.

NYC Local Collective Meeting Notes, November 2009

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Present: Jenna, Kate, Melissa (sort of facilitator/notetaker), Natalie, Ray

1. Posters. Jenna is in possession of some quantity (she is going to check) of posters hand-printed by Alana Kumbier. (Sorry, no link to the image -- it's somewhere on Facebook, though apparently not on the Rad Ref group page.) We decided to keep one for tabling purposes; see who within the collective would like to buy one for him/herself; and then, if there are any left over, see whether Bluestockings would be willing to sell them on consignment on our behalf.

2. Next salon. Two topics were mentioned, RDA (Resource Description and Access) and a reprise of "what makes a radical librarian radical." People felt that RDA would be good for the next one, while the "rad librarian" discussion could wait until the weather will be nicer and more people might turn out. (People who want to talk about RDA being totally hardcore in the face of inclement winter weather by comparison, I suppose.) Kate said that Rick Block spoke at the recent New York Technical Services Librarians (NYTSL) meeting -- she said he was great but wondered if it would be too much of a learning curve to have a good discussion about such an intricate topic with non-experts. Natalie will approach Rick Block and ask if he would be interested in participating in a "guided discussion" with Rad Ref during the January winter break. (Update: He is, and we are working out the details.)

3. Possible series at the Brecht Forum. Kazembe (outreach coordinator at the Brecht Forum) had mentioned to Angie a couple of months ago that they may be interested in giving Rad Ref multiple time slots to host some kind of series of...something (film screenings and discussions? panels? library rants?). Melissa will reach out to him to ask what he had in mind. Kate suggested "Slow Fires" as a possible film to screen. This would fit with a discussion afterward about the transition to digital resources (analogous to the transition from card catalogs to OPACs). Someone also brought up the subject of "why free/open source software in libraries?" which could be a regular salon topic or a part of this hypothetical Brecht series.

4. Rad Ref website upgrade. Melissa will ask Steven at ABC No Rio whether we can book Saturday 12/12 in the Computer Center for the first stage of an upgrade and updating of the Rad Ref site. She will also create a simple survey to get more Rad Reffers to voice what they'd like to see changed/enhanced on the current site.

5. ALA Midwinter Meeting. The 2010 ALA Midwinter Meeting will be held in Boston (January 15-19), which is rather close to NYC. Jenna will contact the Boston Rad Ref folks to see if they're organizing anything (traditionally, Rad Ref has some kind of get-together on the Saturday night during ALA conferences).

Next meeting: (hopefully) Saturday, December 12, 1-5 at ABC No Rio, specifically to brainstorm about the next version of the website

Announcements List Created

We have created a new electronic mailing list for the NYC Radical Reference collective.

"This is the announcements list of the NYC Radical Reference collective. Participants post and receive information about RR meetings, events, and projects."

For library workers, LIS students, and others who want to be active members of the collective, we have the working list.

"This is the working list of the NYC Radical Reference collective. Participants discuss and plan RR events and projects."

Compensation, Access, and Theft: Copyright in the 21st Century

Saturday, April 9th, 4:15pm
Judson Memorial Church (across from Washington Sq Park)
NYC Anarchist Book Fair

**AUDIO FROM THE EVENT (thanks to Dan V.)

Panelists:
Autonomedia publisher Jim Fleming
Craig O'Hara, co-founder of PM Press and the Tabling Tornados
Karl Fogel from Question Copyright
Radical Reference librarian Aliqae Geraci
Victoria Law, author of Resistance Behind Bars

Moderated by Melissa Morrone.

Our panelists from the radical publishing community will be asked to consider the following questions:

• How can authors/illustrators be fairly compensated for their work, particularly by radical publishers?
• How can the above be accomplished while also maintaining broad access to authors’/illustrators’ work?
• How can radical publishers stay in business in the 21st century?
• How does current copyright law work with and against what you’re trying to do (whether you’re an author, a publisher, or a librarian)?
• How should digital versions/editions of work be treated?

Brought to you by: Radical Reference
Visit our table at the NYC Anarchist Book Fair anytime on April 9th at Judson Memorial Church on the south side of Washington Square. It's free and you don't have to be an anarchist to come!

And if you're interested, get involved by volunteering at the book fair! For anything from greeting and handing out programs to childcare, and you'll be much more appreciated than if you volunteered at the NY Art Book Festival. More info at http://anarchistbookfair.net or email info@anarchistbookfair.net.

Copyright / Fair Use Salon

Copyright paranoia is infecting us all these days. The concepts of "fair use," "first sale," other free expression and library-friendly defenses are how we keep that paranoia in check. Come learn from each other's questions, confusions, and strategies in a discussion moderated by Laura Quilter (information law attorney and former librarian). As library activists, how can we protect the public's rights, educate ourselves, and meaningfully effect change?

80A Fourth Avenue, b/t St. Marks & Bergen Sts. Take the 2,3,4,5,Q,B,D,M,N,R train to Pacific or Atlantic. Beware of weekend subway disruptions.

The discussion is free and open to all. However we will solicit small donations for NYCAHN to thank them for hosting us. The fair use salon will be preceded by a short Radical Reference meeting.

E-mail us for more info.

Copyright Salon Notes

Copyright discussion notes, Radical Reference Salon 4/29/07

Laura Quilter conducted a discussion of copyright. We went around the table and people brought up copyright interests, concerns, and questions.

A few key issues were discussed, with elaboration below: Copyright paranoia; struggles to get permissions; concerns regarding electronic reserves; contract vs. copyright law; definitions of 'good faith belief'; works-for-hire; use fees.

Laura expressed concern that copyright paranoia hampers librarians and patrons even more than the law itself, and offered her motto: "It is better to do and ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission."

One librarian described the current climate as McCarthyite, with the RIAA threatening lawsuits against students and campuses for downloading music. She also discussed the Brooklyn College efforts to develop a campus-wide policy regarding e-reserve. She expressed a need for clear guidelines to aid paraprofessionals, and noted the increasing complexity of copyright running parallel to the de-professionalization of the library.

Another librarian expressed concern for 'the little guy.' How do we balance copyright protections for producers of small creative works? She also expressed frustration with librarians being put in the position of defenders and police officers for corporate content producers.

Another librarian related the struggle to get copyright permission to use four lines of a Wallace Stegner poem on a bookmark for a reading program at Brooklyn Public Library. After securing permission from the rights-holder, she later received a letter demanding a $75 payment from the publishing house. The man who had first granted permission had died, the office could not find the paperwork granting free use of the content, so demanded payment.

Another librarian discussed copyright in relation to the library model of accessing databases. If we look at the library as a repository of information, we pay for access to copyrighted material. This generated a discussion of database contracts that heavily restrict use of licensed content. We discussed the difference between contract and copyright law in relation to database content. Contract law does not necessarily supplant copyright law.

Another librarian discussed the policy at her school that the burden of copyright falls on the professor, a model that limits librarian participation in copyright decisions.

We discussed college and university libraries' favored status for fair use in an educational context, which actually gives us a lot of leeway if we have a 'good faith' belief that we are in compliance. This led to a discussion of what constitutes good faith belief, including a discussion of current Orphan Works legislation.

We discussed use fees for archives and historical collections, including the need to track down copyright ownership for photos. How do we handle works-for hire?

We discussed the ways copyright and fair use are left intentionally vague, so that we are left to work in the murky area of principle. Most copyright talk comes from the enforcement perspective, but that doesn’t mean We should be careful about making ourselves the police for industry.

The focus on copyright has been to the exclusion of discussion about other important rights in libraries, including the right to privacy.

submitted by Emily

July 2007 meeting minutes

Sunday, July 29, 2007 5pm. NYCAHN office, Brooklyn.

In attendance: Emily, Jenna, Jonathan, Melissa
Regrets due to traffic or weather: Alycia, John, Susie

Informal Overview
Since we had a new guy, we chatted a bit about what we do--the local collective and the main group.

Volunteer Projects
A member wrote to Jenna asking about library friendly volunteer opportunities, like Books Through Bars or teaching information literacy skills at a Y or somewhere. That got us to thinking we should make a list of such ideas for the local site. Also that we might contact local groups, especially unions, that might be interested in the kind of training sessions we could offer. Jenna will see if she can get a contact at the Lower East Side Girls Club and SEIU, Emily with another union(?), and Melissa will check with NYCAHN.

While we were on the topics of creating a web resource for volunteer opportunities and resources for unions and nonprofits, we figured we should update and expand our statistics pathfinder.

We also have one more immediate volunteer opportunity, the 100 Question Challenge Science-A-Thon, which is partially just a fun favor to do for a local science teacher. Once Jenna gets the questions from Sarah, she will email the list and see if she can find 9 other volunteers to take 10 questions each to fact check. We may also have stuff to do the day of. The organizers thought it might be fun to have librarians "judging" the contest, which is Saturday, September 15 from 10-2:30 in Union Square Park.

USSF Report Back
Melissa brought materials from the event to show: the program, info about the Media Center, and a newspaper that promoted the open source/tech events, one of which was ours.

The Rad Ref/Interactivist talk went well, and there should be a video of it floating around somewhere.

Mel also did some work and a training at the Ida B. Wells Media Justice Center, which was meant to equalize the various presses and their relationship with their subjects (e.g. "poverty scholars," per Poor magazine, people who have expertise in the area of poverty because unlike those reporting it, they have lived it).

We would like to put the survey up on the web, at least to tabulate the results, but perhaps also to get more responses. Some discussion of removing demographic questions.

Next Meeting
We'll talk about the September meeting, which will be open. One proposed topic for the open meeting is books to prisoners projects. (BTB, PREP, Fordham law students, etc.)

Perhaps we'll meet in the garden near Gretchen in August?

Meeting minutes July 2009

Location: Natalie's apartment in Brooklyn
Attendance: Cherie, Emily, Jenna, John, Melissa (facilitator), Natalie

1. Website how-to
   We did a quick hands on showing how to make a blog post and how to post meeting minutes. Highlights included making links, URL path settings, subject tagging, break tag, and making relative links to other RR website content. Hint: go into any page that has formatting you want to copy, click the edit tab, and see how the author did what s/he did.
2. SLA Report Back: Cherie and Natalie's presentation at the Special Libraries Conference in Washington, DC
   • Cherie gave history and overview of what we do
   • Natalie handled the open source/tech side
   • 40-50 attendees in and out (during a time slot with a lot of really good programming)
   • Handled questions about volunteers using library resources to answer questions, among others
3. Next salon
   We discussed a number of topics, but decided that the next three "public" events might be
   • August: movie event at Brecht Forum, mostly organized by Matt Peterson, but some members of Rad Ref and Desk Set might be asked to serve on a panel, perhaps as "reactors"?
   • September: Google Books (or possibly some other hot topic) to attract new volunteers. Same style as the OCLC forum we held in January, where participants will read an article beforehand and be prepared to present it to the group.
   • October: Rabid Reference
     We don't know what that means yet; it just tickled us at the time.
   • Ideas proposed and saved for later: workplace issues, Radical Reference practice (neutrality, using subscription databases to answer questions, etc.), quinoa preparation, "What's radical about Radical Reference?," taxonomy vs. tagging
4. The movies--Natalie is the RR point person and will share details with the group presently.
5. Website workday
   Eric is trying to interest Interactivist and local Drupal developers in a major work day for the site. They'll need our input at the beginning of the day. Who can participate? Let's buy the developers pizza. We'll suggest 7/19, 7/25, 8/1, or 8/2 for the first session.
   Plus we need to fix instances on the NYC Local Collective page that say that minutes are coming soon.

Minutes submitted by Jenna. Apologies if I got anything wrong!

NYC Anarchist Bookfair Table Schedule 2011

We are sharing a table at the NYC Anarchist Bookfair on Saturday April 9 from 11-7 with the Barnard Library Zine Collection.

We'll need people to set up, table, and break down. Please sign up for a shift!

10:30-12 (includes set-up)
1. Jenna
2. Kate

12-1:30
1. Bronwen
2.

1:30-3
1. Bronwen
2. Aliqae

3-4:30
1. Christy
2.

4:30-6
1.
2.

6-7:30 (includes clean-up)
1. Jenna
2.

NYC Anarchist Bookfair table

We are tabling at the NYC Anarchist Bookfair on Saturday, April 14th from 11-7...if we can staff our table. Please sign up. If you have any trouble editing this page, email us, and we'll do it for you.

10:30-1:30 (includes set-up)
1.
2.

1:30-4:30
1.
2.

4:30-7:30 (includes break-down)
1.
2.

NYC Collective February 2008 Meeting Notes

February 15, 2008
Alycia's House
Present: Jenna, Melissa M., Jonathan, John W.B., Lisa, Matt, Laena, Holly, Alycia

1. Indymedia Help: Mel M. mentioned that there was a call for research help on an upcoming anti-war issue of the Indypendent. Mel will follow up with them to see if there are specific questions we can help answer.

2. RNC Welcoming Committee Event report back: Jenna and Jonathan W.B. went to the event at Bluestockings and reported what plans there are for the RNC protests

3. Web Design Task Force: Talked a bit about what has and has not happened, and discussed the best ways to proceed next. Alycia will poll the list of volunteers and we hope to have a group chat session soon to figure out our next steps remotely.

4. Grassroots Media Conference (March 2):
Discussed tabling (Jenna will coordinate, but will we have wireless?)
Our Sessions:
-Web 2.0 session (Mel and Alycia) will happen in the afternoon (2:45-4:15)
-Election Information (Jonny and Gretchen) will happen in the morning (10:30-12)
Opening remarks at 9:45am, John W.B. will represent RR (Jenna suggests starting out by saying that we represent "300 radical librarians...")

4. NYC Anarchist Bookfair (April 12):
We will table with Books Through Bars, and Mel suggested having a raffle of sorts with questions put into a question box (for T-shirts? discarded books?). We were not sure that the proposed archives session will be held, but Mel suggested holding impromptu or on-the-spot reference and instruction sessions on things such as FOIA requests in the lobby areas on Sunday (is this the correct day Mel?)

5. The next Radical Reference Salon will be Sunday, March 9 at 8pm, and will deal with Reader Services to Prisoners. Mel will speak about Books through Bars, and will be joined by the NYPL Correctional Outreach liason, Jess, as well as another Jess who has worked with correctional outreach through Rykers. As always, the salon is meant to share information and promote discussion.

6. The proposal that Rad Reffers Melissa M, Lia, Shinjoung and James submitted for the upcoming IFLA conference in Canada was accepted. The next steps are to write a paper and to present at the conference about the paper. The theme of the proposal was submitted for the "virtual reference" track of the conference, with Radical Reference being an example of virtual reference in action.

7. Jonathan is attending PLA in Minneapolis and is hoping to spread RR literature there and/or have a meetup?

NYC Collective March 2008 Meeting and Salon Notes

Radical Reference, 2008-03-09, meeting held at New York City AIDS Housing Network office.

Rad Ref collective members Melissa, Julie, and Christy were joined by several organization/group representatives and about 15 other attendees.

Melissa offered an intro to Rad Ref.

Christy gave a report-back from the Grassroots Media Conference --
The GMC continued to attract independent journalists and media-makers, including many youth. Info from both RR workshops is now available online – media election guide and RSS feeds and organization. Visitors to RR table seemed familiar with RR and responded positively. Info about a mentorship project has been posted to the list.

Summary of discussion on library services to people who are incarcerated:
(Please note: out of necessity, this summary generalizes some of the discussion in order to avoid identifying specific individuals.)

- There are 3 main types of library service providers in correctional settings: units of the correctional institutions (“in-house” service, “prison librarians,” etc.); outside institutions like NYPL that provide service by working directly with the correctional institution; and providers like NY Books Through Bars that are independent of institutional frameworks (i.e., they provide service “from outside”).

- Points of clarification:
A “jail” is generally a county or municipal institution for shorter stays; although the average jail stay is 8 days, someone could stay as long as 3 years. Jail populations tend to be single gender but otherwise mixed.
“Prisons” are usually state or federal, generally involve longer stays, and are often divided by security level or other distinction (a prison may have a “gang unit,” for example).
Both prisons and jails may have libraries and/or library services, but libraries are more likely to follow more of a standard model in prisons, which may be obligated to follow statewide parameters. Prison libraries, including law libraries, are no longer federally mandated following a series of court decisions that terminated in 1996. They may be mandated in certain states’ state prisons, though.
Many providers of library services in these settings recognize a lack of necessary standards, even within a single state or other municipality. In New York State, however, every medium and maximum security correctional facility must have a library staffed by an MLS librarian and must have a book budget.

- Challenges are inherent for all library service in correctional institutions, and are difficult to describe to people on the outside. Correctional administrators prioritize security and safety. Library services require a physical presence – both of materials and staff – that might pose security risks from the POV of these administrators. Regardless of these perceived risks, research has shown that prison/jail violence drops as soon as reading material is introduced [participants did not cite specific studies – volunteers could check Reference Shelf and/or add sources?].

- Outside entities that partner with correctional institutions to provide service must find allies within the prison/jail administration. Aside from following administration rules, implementing services is often a wait and see proposition – try something, see if it works, document it and try the next thing.

- Because of the lack of standards, quality of service may depend on benevolence of individual administrators and/or geographic location. For example, prisons that are closer to a major urban center may benefit from proximity to progressive-minded organizations that sponsor in-house programs/collections. Prisons in rural areas are less likely to receive this kind of attention.

- Funding for library services comes from a variety of sources – often a combination of funding from the city/municipality/state that runs the prison/jail and the entity that provides the service. An NYC jail, for instance, might follow this over-generalized model: city funds facilities and personnel, NYS funds collections, and NYS Department of Education funds specific projects/outreach.

- Types of direct service may include: a bookcart that travels from area to area or a standing library. Resource guides for formerly incarcerated people returning to life outside – help connect returnees with services to counteract how likely they are to fail (guides include Connections from NY Public Library-- see site for links to similar guides). Baby lapsit programs for incarcerated parents. YA booktalks. Poetry workshops. Author visits. Reading groups. Literacy programs or other instruction.

- Example of an outside organization working with in-house providers: PREP, Prisoners’ Reading Encouragement Project
Organization began in 2003.
Works with NYS prison librarians to build prison library collections by collecting books and sending inventories to prison librarians for selection. Entirely volunteer-run.
Encounters technological issues – can’t get inventories to prison library staff electronically, because prison libraries usually lack computer access – and selection issues – relies on librarians' assessment of user needs to place titles.
Also hosts a conference on prison/literacy issues.

- Example of completely outside organization providing direct service: NY Books Through Bars
A books to prisoners program that responds to direct requests for books, usually from prisoners who have limited or complete lack of library services.
Restrictions on the kind of materials and content that can be sent vary from state to state and facility to facility.
Only authorized vendors (bookstore, publisher, amazon.com) can send books.

- Other points from discussion/question & answer: there was interest in the room in seeking an ALA resolution that would support library service and standards in every place of detention/incarceration.
Many incarcerated people didn’t start reading until they were locked up.
For-profit prisons: goal is to house more people to make more profit. Any room for services is sacrificed to make more room for more beds.

NYC Collective Meeting February 2007

Radical Reference NYC Collective Meeting

Feb. 16th, 2007

Present: Melissa, Gretchen, Nicole, Blair, Jenna, John, Julie, Jonny (others were present for the US Social Forum discussion).

Agenda:
I. Anarchist Book Fair
II. Grassroots Media Conference
III. Anarchist Book Fair
IV. Lighting Bug/Vetting

I. Anarchist Book Fair
a. April 14th 2007 at Judson Memorial Church
b. Deadline for tables and proposals Feb. 15th
c. Possible Radical Reference role
-Help with the content of the wiki (especially the NYC guide section)
- Help table at the event
- Create t-shits, hats or pins to sell at the book fair
d. Should Radical Reference provide reference service at the event?
- Is wireless available at the book fair location?
e. Radical Reference should help with publicity for the book fair

II. Radical Reference support at anti-war demo on March 17th
a. The suggestion was made that training could be provided for those who want
it in preparation for Radical Reference street support at March 17th anti-war
b. It was agreed to post to list to organize street support

III. Grassroots Media Conference Workshop
a. Radical Reference (Gretchen and Melissa) will conduct a workshop at the
Grassroots Media Conference Sat. Feb. 24th “Beyond Googling It: News and Government Information ‘Web 2.0’ style”

IV. Lighting Bug/Vetting
a. Discussion of the reoccurring problems with Lighting Bug
b. It was determined that working out the difficulties with Lighting Bug and the vetting process is a long term project

NYC Collective November 2006 Meeting Minutes

Radical Reference NYC Collective meeting 11/17/2006

present: Julie, Jenna, Tracy, Melissa, Gretchen, John (recording secretary pro tem)

• Item I: NCOR in DC, late March (?) – National Conference on Organized Resistance – last year RR did workshops on factchecking and FOIA and using the public library for activist research. It was agreed that it would be good to be involved again. Eric and Jenna may do a presentation on open source tools for websites, based on RR’s experience. Another idea would be a "reverse factchecking" presentation – how to establish credibility in a zine/website/newsletter. Carrie from DC has discussed this with Jenna; others are more than welcome to get involved.

The meeting then changed gears and we had our salon discussion on race and privilege, and our responsibilities (both as activists and as library workers) to anti-racist work. There was even a handout.

Minutes submitted by John, posted and edited ever so slightly by Jenna.

NYC Collective: April 17, 2009 meeting minutes

April 17, 2009
ABC No Rio

Billy, Jenna, John, Julie, Melissa, and Karen

Agenda
1. New Jersey Library Association (NJLA) Conference update
2. Grassroots Media Coalition (GMC) Conference update
3. Bronx Anarchist Fair report back
4. NYC Anarchist Book Fair report back
5. Really really free market
6. American Library Association (ALA) conference
7. Zine fest
8. Next meeting

1. NJLA conference
Monday, April 27 - Wednesday, April 29, 2009, Ocean Place Report and Spa

John will be the moderator for a panel that will include three authors who write popular history. Julie and Eric will be speaking about Rad Ref on April 28th, 4:30pm. Julie will talk about the history of RR and Eric will speak about its technical aspects. This presentation will be similar to ones given in the past. We should upload RR presentations onto the website for public access.

2. GMC
Saturday May 30th, 9am-6pm, Hunter College

Jenna and Jess will organize an unpanel on how to get alternative materials into libraries. Aliqae and Karen are organizing a workshop on researching corporations. The deadline for proposals has been extended to April 24th. Melissa, Julie and Billy have volunteered to table at the GMC. Karen will ask about booking a table and wireless internet access (for doing reference work at the table). As a back-up, Jenna has a widget that will enable us to connect to the Internet.

3. Bronx Anarchist Fair
April 4th, 11am-6pm, Brook Park

Julie tabled for Rad Ref. She wasn’t able attend any panels or presentations. It was cold and windy on Saturday. Visitors apparently wanted to take the two packages (with question-flyers) that Julie had on the table. Julie was approached by the Really Really Free Market organizer to put together a RR career panel or info-sharing workshop. We’ll think about it.

4. NYC Anarchist Book Fair
April 11-12, Judson Memorial Church

Jenna reported back on the Rad Ref DIY archives workshop with Tamiment and Democracy Now. She said the panel went well. Jenna will look into archiving it on blip.tv and the Internet Archive. Jillian talked about print archives and Nicole spoke about digital archiving. Billy also attended the panel and thought it was great, but it was a bit heavy on technical details. We talked very briefly about digital versus print preservation issues (e.g. CDs deteriorating after a few years and the lack of preservation standards). Several people signed up to be on the RR announce list. Melissa mentioned the myriad challenges to organizing the book fair such as the lack of solid volunteers and last-minute preparations (e.g. not having programs made on time, and so on).

5. The Really Really Free Market
Sunday April 26th, (3-8pm?)

Jenna can table for two hours and she’ll bring her cell phone widget to connect to the Internet. Melissa might also be able to table. Billy volunteered to table as well. We are supposed to obtain the password for wireless Internet access at the Market. Billy needs to be added to the RR work list.

6. ALA Conference
July 9-15, Chicago

Julie will be attending the conference and will organize a skills share/RR dinner/lightning talk on Saturday night. Jenna will email Leah (who will also be attending the conference) about this too.

7. Zine fest
June 27-28, Brooklyn Lyceum

Alicia is organizing this first annual NYC zine fest. Visit www.nyczinefest.org for more details. There will be a meeting for zine fest volunteers.

8. Our next meeting is Friday May 15, 8pm at ABC No Rio.

NYC Local Collective Meeting Notes October 2007

Attendance: Alycia, Jenna, Melissa G, Melissa M (facilitator)

Agenda
Tenants Resources Skillshare
Grassroots Media Conference
Republican National Convention
October 27 anti-war demo

1. Tenants' Resources Skillshare
   We checked in about Sunday's skillshare, discussing whether or not we should have publicized it more widely. Melissa G forwarded the info to the Palmer school list and got some positive responses. Alycia offered to forward it to Pratt. We'll see how it goes and perhaps in the future post to METRO. A potential problem is having more participants that ABC No Rio can accommodate.
   We also talked of the importance of limiting these events to library practitioners.
   In sort of a sidebar we got to thinking how some of the skillshares might be work parties instead, (e.g. a collaboration with Books Through Bars, writing letters to the Library of Congress Subject Heading Division, writing letters to politicians about Net Neutrality, making "Ask Me, Radical Reference" patches, etc.
2. Grassroots Media Conference
   The organizers have agreed that Radical Reference might partner with them in organizing a research track for the event. We will try to send a member of our working group to their next meeting (Monday 10/15).
3. Republican National Convention 2008, Twin Cities, Minnesota
   Since Radical Reference was founded in order to support the demonstrations against the RNC in 2004, there is some interest in having a presence again. In addition to providing street reference, we discussed plugging in with other groups as needed (e.g. helping staff an IMC switchboard, uploading web documents and media if groups need help with that, etc.).
   K.R. in Denver recently inquired on the list about operations at the Democratic National Convention, as well.
   We agreed that RNC protest plans should be discussed on the main list for the time being.
   Alycia and Jenna will reach out to twin cities contacts, including the library school.
4. October 27 protests, NYC
   Anyone interested in doing street reference, or marching together in a radical librarians contingent? Alycia will survey the group.

NYC Local Collective Meeting Notes, April 2010

Met at ABC No Rio

Melissa, John, and Natalie were present.

Discussed concerns about keeping RadRef up and running. It’s a good brand (people think its really cool when they hear about it). But yet questions aren’t getting answered as fast as would be preferred and maybe people aren’t feeling that motivated.
Many members do things professionally that go under the umbrella of Radical Reference…but it’s still vague what exactly we are…

Natalie suggested that perhaps some kind of timed alert could let members know when a question has been sitting unanswered for a certain amount of time…so John doesn’t have to keep sending out reminders. Perhaps folks just assume things are getting answered and don’t think to just check the site. Not sure if this is possible to put into Drupal or whatever.

Natalie reported on SLA@Pratt Skillshare

People signed up for appointments to talk to me. Many had no idea what Radical Reference was or what we do…some asked if we were hiring. Hahahaha.
I basically answered a lot of questions and everyone said they would consider participating. We will see. I also pushed the upcoming Brecht events. It was fun overall.

Melissa mentioned Social Forum, she and Jenna will be helping at the Peoples Media Center…

John reported on Anarchist Book Fair

John and Kate did a panel/workshop on how to use public library resources. A good turn out, about 15 people. Melissa wished the workshop would have discussed information literacy a bit more, and taught how to use the tools instead of just pointing out the resources. Angie was at the workshop as well.
Made $19 at the Book Fair.

Then Winston came! He said Jenna was his mentor and he heard about RadRef through her. We were basically done meeting, but we answered his questions and gave him lots of info left over from the skillshare.

NYC Local Collective Meeting Notes, August 2010

Met at Housing Works Bookstore

Charlotte, Jenna, Kate Ad, Kate An, and Winston were present.

RR FALL SALON
Rad Ref will hold a meeting in September/October to meet and greet library students. We need to figure out a salon topic. Ideas raised were alternative collections, access to collections, and breaking down barriers between the researcher and subject.

Jenna worked with Team Colors Collective at the U.S. Social Forum and suggested RR maybe invite the collective to speak. They recently published a book on AK Press.
Winston brought up participatory action research as something to be addressed in the salon.

Kate An is going to contact Judson and the Muste Room to get their room rental rates for the salon. She is also going to mention this to the folks at Bluestockings. The salons aren’t usually more than 2 hours long and are usually preceded by a quick business meeting. Jenna suggested maybe LIS clubs at Pratt or the Palmer School would be interested in hosting the event.

Kate Ad raised the topic of RR hosting an event on libraries and prisons - perhaps inviting a prison librarian to speak at a salon. Also, this could be an idea for a Brecht forum event.

Time: Would Friday nights or Sundays be better for the salon? Jenna suggested putting up a poll on the RR website to figure out when is best for people.

ADVERTISING
We talked about advertising for RR. Should we reach out to non-librarians as well? Currently we do advertise on the NYC anarchist list. Should we expand this- e.g. flyer at places like Bluestockings?

FIERCE
Kate An went to a volunteer organization at FIERCE and learned that they might be able to use the assistance of librarians with their library. She is going to email FIERCE and see if there is interest. Additionally, FIERCE is going to have a bowl-a-thon fundraiser on October 23rd and is looking for fundraising teams and volunteers.

DRUPAL
Jenna raised the possibility of a Drupal workday in the fall, probably at ABC No Rio’s Community Center.

RR WEBSITE
Kate Ad was wondering if the RR website should possibly consider using WordPress. Jenna said that a Pratt SILS usability class may pick the RR website to work on in the fall.

NYC Local Collective Meeting Notes, February 2010

Rad Ref minutes: 02/19/10 // In attendance: Angie, Janai, Jenna, John, Melissa

• Tabling @ Left Forum (March 19-21?)
  John—Ask GMC folks if they’d put our fliers out … Reach out to Jonny?
• Anarchist Bookfair (April 17 & 18)
  Rad Ref will have a ½ table (sharing w/ Books Thru Bars for $37.50). Tabling
  is only Saturday. No volunteers to spearhead tabling … yet. What workshop
  does RR want to offer—looking for ideas now! (Hack Your Library,
  etc.). Deadline for proposals is March 12th.
• US Social Forum (June 22nd-26th)
  Melissa participated in the first conference call of People’s Media Center. Mel would like to do an information behavior study to assess what social justice activists do when they need information? (Online? What websites? Word of mouth?) Jenna’s main interest is to staff an info desk w/ and have a bunch of short skillshares ready to go "on demand."
• Fact-checking workshop for the RCP newspaper
  Anybody? Jenna, Mel, and John would all do it if someone else would bottom-line the effort. Current plan is to wait for them to follow up on planning/location, etc?
• Brecht Forum programs
  Monday, Feb. 22nd @ 7:30pm: MayFirst event on security and freedom for activists.
  Monday, March 29th: Mel will ask Kazembe to give up Mar 29th in favor of a
  later date that's not the first night of Passover.
  Monday, April 26th: Radical Archives reduxxx (Lesbian Herstory & Squatter Archive)
• Sandy Berman talk
  Legendary radical cataloger—would like to have him come speak. Would have
  to pay for airfare and probably hotel. Angie & John will try to nail down Grad Center for space. See if Queens LISSA would sponsor?
• Raf Ref mentoring (internal)*
  Next time.
• RRFM (Feb 28th & March 28th)—Next Rad Ref mtg will be 4pm on Mar 28th @ RRFM*

  Jenna will be @ the Feb 28th RRFM--more volunteers heartily encouraged to
  come!

Notes by Angie

NYC Local Collective Meeting Notes, January 2009

Attendance: Angie, Ann, Ellen, Emily, Eric, Jenna, Jennifer, Jess, Jill, John, Julie, Karen, Lynley, Mel (facilitator), Molly, Natalie, Romel

I Mel gave a brief overview of Radical Reference--its virtual and in-person projects and services.

II Grassroots Media Coalition liaison report
John has handed over liaison responsibilities to Karen.
John gave an overview of our relationship with the group and reported that planning is underway for the next Grassroots Media Conference, which will be held in early May(?) at Hunter College. There is a volunteer meeting on Wednesday night (January 28) at the North Star Fund, details to come.
We are hoping to organize a program at the conference about getting alternative materials into libraries.

III Really Really Free Market
Those who want to attend or offer Radical Reference service, or provide home support, for the Really Really Free Market on Sunday, January 25 from 6-9pm at St. Mark's Church should contact Mel.

IV Planning is underway for the first-ever Brooklyn Food Conference in May. Is anyone in RR interested in providing information services to the organizers? Tell Mel, who would like to help, but doesn't want to drive this effort.

V We commenced our planned salon style discussion of OCLC's proposed policy change, the notes for which, taken by Emily, will appear here or on the wiki presently.

Notes taken by Jenna. Please let me know if I made any mistakes or just go ahead and fix them yourself.

NYC Local Collective Meeting Notes, March 2010

Jenna, Kate, and Melissa met at the Really Really Free Market, but since they lost their internet connection, and the place was kind of a madhouse, they moved the discussion to Quantum Leap.

I. Anarchist Book Fair
Our Hack Your Library proposal was accepted. Thanks to John for submitting it! So far John is the only one committed to presenting. Kate will check her availability. Jenna and Mel will reach out to potential participants.

II. Brecht Forum
Having participated in a panel with two artist librarians whose projects focus at least partially on deaccessioned materials, Jenna suggested doing our May program on that topic, instead of preservation, since although there is a lot of interest in it, we have yet to identify people to lead more than a salon style discussion. If the local collective agrees, Jenna will approach the two artists to see if they're willing and able. If that is the case, then we should plan a separate salon on preservation.

NYC Local Collective Meeting Notes, May/June 2010

Met at ABC No Rio

John, Jenna, Melissa, Alycia and Natalie were present.

Began by discussing the site maintenance.
Decided we don’t need to try Kickstarter because the donations are coming in on the site.

Jenna and Melissa are at the U.S. Social Forum in Detroit doing awesome stuff.

The Website is moving to LISHost soon, $10 a month. Keep donating to the "tip jar"!

Alycia mentioned a site redesign contest a potential way to get our site redesigned for cheap.
Potential use for Kickstarter.
Jenna suggested an intern could do it for class credit. Will put out to LIS school lists.
Mel mentioned that we would need to make a lot of decisions first about what we want.
Could be a Pratt IA project.

We are planning a Radical Reference social in NYC.
Jenna got consent from the Reanimation Library to use their space on July 31st.
Per Jenna’s email: the social is to make space for a fun time for radical librarians, something in between our typical five person meeting and a Desk Set soiree.

NYC Local Collective Meeting Notes, October 2010

October 21, Housing Works

Setting: Unexpectedly, it was karaoke night at the bookstore

Present: Lana, Melissa, Nikki

Essentially we spent the meeting talking (read: shouting over the music) about whether there is still a need for an NYC collective of Rad Ref (and a need for Rad Ref in general?). We agreed that NYCRR provides a necessary progressive perspective in the NYC librarianship community that complements the work of the Desk Set and Urban Librarians Unite. If nothing else, we can continue to host events at places we love and that love us, such as the Brecht Forum and Bluestockings.

Examples of topics:

• public library closures and how that affects increasingly-limited public space
• the changing information landscape/privacy issues

(With regard to the subject of public library closures, Melissa noted that there was a lot of ULU activism here, but NYCRR as such was not involved.)

The Library of Congress Subject Heading action day was cited as an example of a good one-shot project that's political, structured, and finite.

Nikki suggested that we have a group work day, maybe at an archive, a la Hack Day.

Lana will talk to Jenna about reaching out to Bluestockings and suggesting a Rad Ref-curated series (monthly?) there.

Melissa recently found out that it is possible to get Internet access via the staff laptop at the Park Slope Food Coop and may pursue conducting an "Internet for activists" type of workshop there.

Nikki suggested that we reach out to the Catholic Worker to offer a library session.

Lana suggested we meet quarterly rather than monthly, as Portland Rad Ref had started to do.

It's mostly LIS students who express interest in RR -- we should make more of an effort to connect with local LIS programs.

The next NYCRR meeting should be a time to brainstorm project ideas, more social than a regular meeting. Maybe the week before the Biblioball? I think this would be the last weekend in November, but I've forgotten the exact date of the 2010 Biblioball...

NYC Local Collective Meeting Notes, September 2008

NYC Local Collective Meeting, September 19, 2008
Attendance: Jenna, John, Karen, Mel, Vani (facilitator)

• Radical Archives Event
• Alternative Materials in Libraries Event
• Queens College Presentation
• NYC Radical Reference Discussion List
• IMC Event Report-Back

Radical Archives Event
The event will be held on Tuesday, October 28 at the Brecht Forum and is being sponsored by the Grassroots Media Coalition (GMC), to serve as one of their networking events. They will pay the $150 fee for the space and provide food. (Thanks, GMC!)

Program:
6:30 Set-up
7:00-7:45 Schmoozing
7:45-8:00 Introductions, including nascent Brecht Forum Library
8:00-9:00 Presentations from ABC No Rio (Steven Englander), The Lesbian Herstory Archives (Shawnta Smith), and The Tamiment Library (Donna Davey)
9:00-9:30 Questions, discussion
9:30 Clean-up

Vani is wrangling Lesbian Herstory, and Jenna ABC No Rio and Tamiment.

We will invite each presenter to table and share a table with the GMC. Out History asked if they could table, but the space can't easily accommodate additional tables. We will suggest that they ask if they can share with Lesbian Herstory.

Presenters will be asked to prepare 15 minute show and tells. (Vani/Mel—We didn't talk about computer/projector set up at the Brecht. Do either of you know what the scoop is?)

We already have a press blurb from Lesbian Herstory. We'll need them from the other two by 10/1.

We will request at $5-$15 donation for entrance to the event. The networking part will be free.

The GMC will help with online publicity. Mel will notify print publications (Voice, TONY, L, etc.)

Alternative Materials in Libraries Event
We more or less tabled this discussion, as we don't have anything new on it. Basically, it's another collaboration with the GMC and will take place in late January/early February and will focus on...getting alternative materials into libraries. It will be the first of a two part event, the second of which will take place a the Grassroots Media Conference. One part will be a discussion/brainstorming and the other a panel of gatekeepers (review publication editors, public and academic library selectors).

Queens College Presentation
Julie, Karen, and Vani will be presenting a history of "radical, militant, librarianship" for the Queens College Library & Information Science Student Association (QC LISSA). They're working on setting a date for the talk. Julie is the liaison.

NYC Radical Reference Discussion List
This was about breaking the NYC-RR list into two: one for announcements, and one for the work of project. The former would be open to non-volunteers, as well participants.

The five people in attendance discussed this potentially controversial topic, with suggestions to follow. We hope and expect that there will be more discussion on the list and/or comments on this page. Things we would like to consider:

• No one should be added to the working list without attending at least one meeting
• Removing people who have never attended a meeting or in some way contributed to the work of the local collective
• Maintaining the core list as a trusted network.
• Periodically reevaluating the list (every six months?), asking people who have not participated either in person or electronically if they still want to remain on the working list.
• Adding a NYC-Announce list for non-participants as well as lurking members. Alternate name—public list?
• Replacing the existing list with a list for only those who are actively engaged in the local project. To be called "working," "core," or "private."

IMC Event Report-Back
John reported on the Independent Media Center event that featured Naomi Klein, Jeremy Scahill, Roberto Lovato, Malia Lazu and Laura Flanders at Cooper Union. Rad Ref shared a table with the GMC. John distributed flyers and a modified Election Guide. He characterized Scahill's talk as "cool in a depressing kind of way."

All of the above in less than an hour. Yay us!

Notes by Jenna. Corrections appreciated.

NYC Local Collective Meeting Notes, September 2009

RR NYC Collective Meeting, Friday, September 11, 2009

Attendance: Alycia, Angie, Becky, David, Denise, Ilya, Jenna, Jerome, John, Jonny (facilitator), Karen, Melissa, Myron, Natalie

1. Intros
   In attendance were new and graduating LIS students (including an RR PDX transplant), library groupies, an ABC No Rio artgoer, a library project practitioner, and returning collective members.
2. Branch
   Jerome reported on the project:
   • The project soft launched on Sunday, working with the Myrtle Avenue Block Partnership. The will have the space for eight weeks.
   • The concept is working with neighborhood residents to reclaim public space. This library will be community designed and programmed. e.g. Passersby were asked to write down the name of a favorite book. The list was compiled on the Branch blog, if you want to see it. [And in my editorial opinion, it's a pretty great/diverse list.]
   • The real opening will be later this month. Hours are the next seven Sundays, 1-5.
   • They're looking for book donations. Dropping them off during open hours is the best thing to do, but it's not impossible that they could pick up donations, as well.
   • Patrons can check out one book at a time. The circ system is still in progress, though.
   • They're soliciting ways to use the space. They've had some interest, but nothing substantial yet from architecture groups. Suggestions were offered from the group that I didn't write down, but Jerome did.
   • This Sunday's activities: informing passersby of the project and signing up patrons. At 2pm they will arrange boxes as library furniture. If someone wanted to bring a laptop and offer reference, that would be swell. There was a wireless signal last week, but they can't promise there will be one again this week.
   • The Branch Library is not meant to be any kind of competition or criticism of Brooklyn Public Library. They are fans of BPL.
   • There will be a fundraising party in DUMBO on Wednesday 9/16. $5. Please come.
3. Librarian Swarm (There doesn't seem to be a public page to link to for this event yet, except the Google group page.
   Does RR want to participate in this event as a group? No one at the meeting seemed up for driving, but maybe Natalie B. would be?
4. Grassroots Media Conference
   • Looking for a new liaison. John did it two years ago, and Karen last year.
   • Alycia and Karen agreed to co-liaise, with Melissa as back up
   • The next meeting is Wednesday night.
5. Salon Discussion: Google Books Settlement
   • Angie gave an overview of the issues
   • It will be the weekend of October 16-18. Is Sunday afternoon better than Friday night?
   • The date will depend a bit on the location. Suggestions for a Sunday include the Brecht Forum (Angie will inquire), Sixth Street Community Center (Jenna will inquire), and Reverend Billy's HQ (Jenna). Discarded suggestions: Sony Atrium, BPL
   • Jenna will create a webpage similar to the one we had for the OCLC Salon for the event. Angie and John will populate it.
   • The salon concept is more of a "people's university"/peer education model than invited experts lecturing/answering questions. That doesn't mean that experts can't come; they should just know that they are there to listen as much as speak. Natalie will see if she can get someone from Google to attend in that capacity.
6. G20 Mobilization
   Can/should we offer support to the Pittsburgh crew? No one particularly offered to contact them, but we'd be willing to do home support if asked.
7. Really Really Free Market
   Last Sunday of every month at Judson Church. Volunteers to offer free reference service? Melissa has been going semi-regularly (most recently it was her and John), but she may not be available to do Rad Ref for all upcoming RRFMs.

   Melissa recounted an interaction with someone who was skeptical that librarians had anything to offer people who were able to "Google it" for themselves. Mel bowled her over with some awesome resources the woman admitted she'd never have found on her own.

8. US Social Forum
   There is a discussion list for librarians who wish to participate in the Forum in an organized way. There is a RR member in Detroit (hi Ethan!) attending local organizing meetings.
9. RR article coming out in the late fall issue of Reference Librarian. Congrats and thanks Melissa and Lia!
10. Angie solicited suggestions of local radical archives and was then encouraged to publish the resulting list.
11. Myron solicited suggestions of critical information literacy resources.

NYC Radical Reference Collective Meet & Greet: June 14, 2016

Radical Reference and 5 Borough Defenders invite you to happy hour. Let's meet, greet, and talk social justice.

Tuesday, June 14 2016
7pm
Fourth Avenue Pub
76 4th Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11217

RSVP requested (http://evite.me/uBWqZZ8xXF)

Please send agenda items, questions, and whatever else to nyc@radicalreference.info.

NYC Radical Reference Meeting 06-16-06

NYC Radical Reference Meeting 06-16-06

Members Present: Melissa, Julie, Dena

Agenda

1. ALA Annual
2. Lightningbug and Radref website
3. Directory of NYC orgs
4. Reference Shelf page for Green Scare, etc.
5. Library student publication opportunities

1. ALA
- Madeline Albright
* flyering happening? Members will look at old emails and figure out various groups' plans [update -- see the flyer from Kevin announced in more recent email; members plan to print up copies to hand out prior to her talk]

- Tabling/discussions at SRRT booth seem to be arranging themselves; great

- Radref meetup
* to take place Saturday, June 24, from 6:30-8:30 at The Iron Rail Bookstore and Lending Library (511 Marigny Street, 504-944-0366)
* requested agenda item: come up with list of Radref priorities/things to do (to be distributed to all members)

- In addition to meeting at Iron Rail, Radical Reference members will also be discussing and getting involved in projects with Iron Rail collective members, esp. cataloging their collections

2. Lightningbug/Radref website

- Lightningbug questions (more like requests for updates):
* is it still the case that questions are not being escalated?
* how are answers being posted?

- Website
* discussion focused on how to allow greatest access to depth of information on site, which seems somewhat obscured by current layout and includes other areas of site in addition to answered questions
* ideas:
- once "subject headings" are assigned to answers, these could be grouped (linking to answers) and listed in righthand column on page in place of current "recently answered questions" boxes
- subject headings should also be assigned to reference shelf, blogs, etc.
- any search method for answers should also apply to reference shelf, blogs, etc.
- subject headings should be drawn from a controlled vocabulary

3. Directory of NYC orgs (being compiled with/for NLG) -- is underway; question of whether or not to alert included orgs to be left to NLG

4. Reference Shelf page for Green Scare

* page was seen on several general and support lists and was much admired
* possible role for Radref in supporting research needs of support groups (aside from legal research) to be explored

5. Library student publication opportunities

* one possibility is "Library Student Journal," which apparently is now accepting submissions

NYC Ready Reference

[This guide is under construction]

• Wi-Fi hotspots in NYC parks
• Privately Owned Public Space

Living

• New York City Tenant Resources

Spaces

• ABC No Rio
• May Day Books and Infoshop

Notes from the April 9, 2016 meeting at Interference Archive

Attendance

Alex, Bonnie, Charisma, Eamon, Ellen, Jaime, Jenna (note-taker), Leigh, Lucia, Meg, Melissa (facilitator), Sarah, Stephen

Intro

We started with a go around where people shared one thing that gives them joy about their library work and one thing that's challenging or that they'd like to change.

Joy

• Student research topics (like patriarchal uses of power in literature)
• Cool exhibits
• Using radical examples in teaching
• Students interested in Rad Ref
• Help colleagues use technology, less dependent on bro-y IT dept
• Strains of social justice emphases on staff
• Getting to work with lots of departments, cross-pollination
• Teaching LIS classes because gets to tell the truth
• Office with window
• Autonomy in work, budget. Making stuff about NYPL and prisons available to students
• Work with students, helping them navigate new college experience
• Sharing information 
• Work with doctors and residents on their research projects

Change/Challenge

• Overextended
• Hierarchy
• Only POC on "professional" staff
• New director, administrative changes
• Bureaucracy 
• Reference/reading room overemphasiss  on security
• No way to be more explicit about politics at work, e.g., city related things
• Culture change, increasing detrimental attitude toward patrons
• Large institution, evil
• Underpaid
• Wearing too many hats
• Difficult to have influence beyond direct job
• Dealing with existing standards

Melissa and Jenna gave a little history of the Radical Reference project--the protests against the Republican National Convention in NYC in 2004, the NYC local collective (and other local collectives), the website: national/international project. Everyone in the room had previously been aware of Rad Ref (one person used the website questions in their reference class and also assigned an article about RR; another person had first heard of RR when members protested at the NY Historical Society when Laura Bush was speaking there).

Brainstorming

People threw out ideas of projects we might want to try, along with thoughts we might want to keep in mind.

• How to make it sustainable
• Use NYC RR as a way to bolster people's current projects that could use help
• Website - what would be needed to get the online Q&A happening again? Is it needed?
• Work with LIS programs
• Supplying access to paywalled articles to activists and independent journalists
• Subject guides (aka pathfinders!)
• Tabling 
• Wikipedia edithathons with radical librarian topics
• Allied Media Conference libraries track
• Work with teens
• Language support: Tagalog, Chinese, Spanish, French
• Spanish conversation group
• Privacy workshop with Alison of Library Freedom Project and others
• Work with Interference Archive, e.g., cataloging parties, thesaurus issues
• Skill shares 
• Left forum tabling?
• Artist/technologist Ingrid Burrington made a field guide to NYC internet infrastructure - we could do a walking tour
• Conference
• Discussion groups 
• peer education, à la the Learning Collective
• Accountability writing group 
• LACUNY report back

Actions

Melissa will create a new email list for the group. People from today's meeting will be added, and people from the old list will be invited to subscribe, as will people who expressed interest in today's meeting but could not attend.

Some people created accounts on the website. Not sure if you can create your own account right now--we may have shut that down because we were overwhelmed by spam accounts. Try http://radicalreference.info/user if that doesn't work, email nyc@radicalreference.info (goes to Jenna and Melissa)

Lucia will organize the next meeting.

Announcements

Interference Archive spiel
Fortune Society exhibit at John Jay
Antiquarian book fair pass up for grabs
LACUNY Institute Race Matters: Libraries, Racism, and Antiracism May 20, 2016

Notes from the May 6, 2016 meeting at Interference Archive

Who's here:
Stephen
Cynthia
Jen (note taker)
Natalie
Evan
Melissa

1. Introductions

2. Melissa gives a recap of the last meeting

• Also on a rainy day!
• There was a bit of a lapse of Radical Reference, but there was a decision to try to pull the group back into action because it seemed like there was renewed interest.
• The last meeting involved brainstorming of projects -- see the minutes here.

3. Discussion of possible projects

• Stephen mentions possible collaboration with Five Borough Defenders, an unofficial group of legal aid lawyers -- to strategize a way to collect information on legal research and curate it.
• Next steps: Stephen will let them know that we're interested in a social event to meet them and talk about the issues they're working on and how we could work together.
• Jen read the list of brainstorming/projects from last meeting's minutes.
• Discussion on subject guides on the existing website. Cynthia asks if it would be alright to add to these; she has a tenant rights/resources libguide she could share. To start with, she'll share a link to the libguide that could be made available through the Rad Ref website if that seems to be a good idea.
• It's important to work on something that has a critical mass of interest, so that we have a lot of people working on it.
• Internet infrastructure walking tour -- this is something Melissa would like to do anyway, and she'll reach out to Ingrid about this.
• Interference Archive projects, like cataloging parties -- Jen will share info about this kind of event through the Radical Reference listserv.
• Discussion about how to get your foot in the door if you're interested in working in libraries -- volunteering, although this is something of a privilege. It's hard to know how much free labor to give in the interest of future goals.
• Discussion of internships, and the issues of unpaid internships -- Jen talks about some of the issues that Interference Archive has seen in having or considering unpaid interns; Stephen suggests that this is a great idea for a project -- coordinating a panel/talk on internships done right, and what organizations look for in an intern. Jen will reach out to a current library school student to find out what time of year (before deadlines for internship applications) would be good to host this. (update: deadline for summer internships is May 1-15; fall internships is sometime in June...more info coming).

RDA Salon Notes

RDA vs. AACR2: Implications for Social Justice, Featuring Rick Block
Monday January 11, 2010 (Notes by Jessa Lingel)

Rick Block introduced himself and his role at Columbia, provided a brief explanation of the handouts and proceeded to layout an introduction to AACR2 and RDA. Key points from the discussion follow.

• AACR2 was published in 1978, delayed for two years because research libraries reacted to the number of changes.
• One issue is how to decide what to teach (in terms of cataloging courses in MLS programs)
• RDA – delayed to 2010 (which includes six months of testing, so really 2011)
• 1994 – joint steering committee decided there should be a conference on standards, code
• 2004 – first draft known as AACR3 – revision was required because it was seen as a reordering of rules rather than substantial revision or revolution. After protest, code was renamed.
  • Name may have changed, but Anglo-American influence/bias was still present
  • Trying to be a code based on the big picture (wants to be a content standard applicable beyond LIS)
  • Tied to future of cataloging (and question of will data be shareable)
    • Golden age of cataloging is over (according to Cutter) in 1904
• FRBR – familiarity w/ FRBR is required for understanding RDA
  • Critics say it’s untested
  • Created in 1998
  • From IFLA, international organization taking the lead in cataloging standards
  • Entity relationship model
  • Mantra = find, identify, select, maintain
    • Too linear? Do people really search this way
  • FRBR is a model, not a code – based on relationships and so is RDA
    Question – how does this relate to subject headings? Is it more of a taxonomical relationship?
  • This is a step in the direction towards that direction.
    Question – Could LCSH be imported into group three entities in FRBR model
  • Ideally, yes, could allow for more complex relationships
    Question – What is the relationship between RDA and MARC?
  • The can coexist, but it will require new MARC fields. MARC will survive, but it may not be the structure standard for all that long.
    Question – Can MARC records be imported to RDA?
  • Yes, which is good for legacy records, but it means carrying over bad standards. Barbara Tillett at LoC is supportive, but can’t enforce change at LoC.
    Question – (regarding group one entities in FRBR) When is something a work versus an expression?
  • Refers to handout. In FRBR, there are families of works. RDA wants to represent relationship that exist in libraries but are not reflected in the catalog. Collocations would be by work, by expressions to work. Benefit to users include placing a hold higher on the FRBR hierarchy, assuming user doesn’t care about which edition/expression of a monograph s/he needs.
• Libraries have information worth sharing – they should be supplying bibliographic information places like Wikipedia.
• Group 2 entities in FRBR – more flexible for cataloging authors, author information
• Group 3 entities in FRBR – subjects
  • Central idea of FRBR is collocation. Hopefully a work can be described once and then expressions/manifestations/items associated with that record
    Question – at what point does FRBR lose something through individual institutions using their own criteria?
    • Only 20% of works have more than one work, one expression. Model can be used in multiple ways. You’re using FRBR when you say you are, basically.
      Question – What’s in it for archives?
    • Archives are so individual. Advantage in FRBR as far as looking at groups of records rather than items.
    • FRBR helps with context, which is critical to archives
      Comment – FRBR is flexible, but it’s untested. MARC was so limited, FRBR offers more possibility. But with the impulse to link to everything, and needing to create records for all authors, seems like a lot of (front end) work.
      Question – how will MARC and non-MARC records be linked in a single catalog?
    • Short answer, it won’t. Catalogs are about MARC records, but that ill have to chance.
  • In terms of authority, records right now are just for disambiguation. Archives have great data and context, but cannot be shared.
  • Some developments include
    • Zine rejected as a genre term in LCSH
    • RDA is getting away from abbreviations, which is an Anglo-American hold over
      At this point in the discussion, people were invited to discuss articles they’d read related to RDA and AACR2.
      Comment – OCLS is preventing RDA from moving forward by ignoring it, preventing records from being stored. OCLC is anti-open source, constitutes something of a monopoly. Libraries need OCLC support – if OCLC isn’t behind them, it will be hard to implement RDA
  • It’s still unclear how OCLC and vendors will react to RDA.
    Comment – Perhaps we’ll see a movement similar to the iSchool movement where programs adopt RDA irrespective of OCLC.
    Comment - Martha Yee article – RDA abdicates responsibility for display and indexing (in favor of description). RDA needs a lot of work, semantic web isn’t there, AACR2 is broken.
  • Perhaps, but RDA may be a bridge.
    Comment – In terms of taking a historical perspective, the sense of urgency is perhaps overstated.
    Question – Michael Gorman says RDA is craziness (pdf). What’s the deal? What is RDA?
  • Gorman gets a bum rap for being a luddite but at time’s he’s had other attitudes. He was an editor of AACR2, has concerns about throwing away ISBD. His basic stance is to be wary of throwing away 150 years of cataloging practices.
    Question – What exactly is being thrown away?
  • 8 areas of description, but more importantly AACR2 depends on format, and we need to get away from that. Resources are now “moving targets.” AACR2 is not only based on card catalogs, but on cataloging books.
    Question – In terms of RDA in the 20th century, expectations of users are different. RDA won’t resolve the problem of connecting users with resources. What do new descriptive tools mean for OPACs at non-research libraries?
  • There are practical benefits for patrons, users don’t care which manifestation, they care about the expression, sometimes the work.
    Question – What about libraries with users who have very specific needs (they do care about the manifestation)?
  • Current standards help users find specific things RDA shouldn’t change that.
    Question – is Anglo American resistance to RDA about giving up control?
  • Maybe. If it’s implemented, it’ll be run by a committee with a decidedly Western bent. Also, Dublin Core elements are still incorporated.
    Comment – So non AA participants are asked to implement but not contribute.
  • There’s been some progress as a community (example of non-Roman characters). In terms of developing nations’ implementation, important to point out that RDA will not be free.
  • RDA will happen because
    • ALA needs to recoup its investment
    • Some people really want it to happen
      • Germany
      • Canada
        Comment – Seems like some software is already being developed on the assumption that RDA will happen.
  • That’s required for testing.
    Question – how international is IFLA?
  • It’s mostly Europe, but also China.
    Question – what aspects of cataloging relate to issues of social justice?
  • It’s mostly a matter of subject headings. But even in descriptive cataloging, what gets included, what doesn’t has implications. RDA wont’ so much change that, although it raise the question of personal archiving.
    Comment – Given experience in training people in MARC and individual searching versus institutional searching, it’s hard to see those changing.
    Question – are there demographics for support of RDA?
  • Anecdotally, older catalogers are hesitant.
    Question – what is the role of objectivity in cataloging?
  • Particularly an issue in archives, perhaps, which are often more willing to situate personal bias or context.
    Question – what is the different between striving for objectivity versus not even trying?
    Comment – at least in providing context, it situates vocabulary.
    Question – seems like a lot of the frustration about RDA is that it’s about principles, but it’s hard to implement. What is the crux of implementation?
  • URI will be for individual works, creators. Disambiguation will still be a function if not the focus.
    Question – what about web real estate? How do you determine authority?
  • Names are non unique, even an issue in the non-library metadata world. Wiki disambiguation is better than cataloging.
    Question – how will RDA help or hurt zines?
  • It’s an issue in archives, there are advantages to putting zines in a traditional catalog.
    Comment –RDA allows for faceted, layered records, links to other records.
  • Some communities, like Germany, are way ahead on this.

RR-NYC collective meeting October 17, 2008

RadRef NYC
October 17 meeting
ABC No Rio
Present: John, Christy, Lisa, Melissa M., Karen, Emily
Minutes by Emily

1. Melissa M. updated us on the archives event. It is happening November 11. We have the Brecht Forum space from 6 to 11, with set up at 6:30, GMC networking event from 7 to 7:45, followed by the panel. GMC will be supplying libations.

Space rental is $150. GMC will be covering the cost. John will check with GMC to see if they can cut a check to Brecht, or if they will reimburse Melissa.

RR is responsible for PR, putting the announcement out to various email distribution lists, creating a facebook event, etc. To that end, please read and revise the flyer text by this Monday--bios need to be shaved a bit, and Melissa says it could be 'punchier.' Melissa has a list of print sources to send the flyer and will take care of that part of the PR. You can see the current text here.

Vani will moderate the panel--introduce the speakers, keep things running on time.

2. Melissa asked if RR is interested in participating in Really Really Free Markets, an occasional anarchist community event where everything is available for free. General interest was expressed; Melissa will open up a dialogue with the folks who organize the event.

3. Melissa updated on the Anarchist Book Fair. The first organizational meeting was held this Wednesday. the event will be held one weekend in April, though Melissa couldn't remember which. RR folks are invited to think about potential workshops and ways we can utilize the table on the day of the actual book fair. (One day of the weekend will be a book fair + workshops; the second day will consist only of workshops.) Start brainstorming!

4. Melissa updated the group on a paper she and Lia have been asked to write for a journal about reference librarianship (The Reference Librarian). One version is currently up on the IFLA website and another version based on the slides is appearing in a British reference journal. They are interested in any feedback and/or suggestions for other ways of re-versioning this paper.

5. Lisa asked about the status of the NACLA research guide project. John has been in touch with Christy Thornton at NACLA, who has been in touch with Melissa, and the project is currently on hold until at least following the archives event. Melissa is the current point person on this. Melissa will see about getting a print copy of the old NACLA guide (very out of date, but "typographically and mimeographically awesome!") to Lisa.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: John reminded us about election return night at the Brecht Forum with Go Left. ("Don't watch election returns alone!"). Karen will be giving a talk on radical library history at Queens College with Julie and Vani next Tuesday and will post handouts and slides on the RR site. Christy reminds us about the ABC No Rio gala next Wednesday; she will be working the event.

RR-NYC salon: Google Books Settlement

Friday October 16 2009
8-9:30pm
Sixth Street Community Center
638 East Sixth Street (between Avenues B & C)
Free, but attendees will be asked to donate a few bucks to help pay for the space rental

The NYC collective of Radical Reference will host a "people's university" style salon to discuss the Google Books Settlement.

Participants will be strongly encouraged to sign up to read one of the articles posted below, and be prepared to report on it at the meeting. See the bibliography from the OCLC salon discussion we held in January for an example of how this works.

1. Please add items you think people should read ahead of time.
2. Please keep them in anti-chronological order.
3. Feel free, encouraged even, to provide some annotation.
4. Please volunteer to summarize one item for the group at the salon by putting your name after it in parentheses, like this: (Farfel)
5. If you can't/don't want to edit the page to add a citation or claim an article, just say what you want in a comment.

Bibliography

• Author. "Article title [linked]." Source. Date. (name)
  Annotation. e.g. The crux of this article is... or Note that the author is...
   
• Poulsen, Kevin. "Google’s Abandoned Library of 700 Million Titles" Wired. October 7, 2009. (Amanda)
  Follow up: "Google Begins Fixing Usenet Archive" Wired. October 8, 2009. (Jill C.)

   

• Goodman, Amy. "Google's 'Orphan Works'." Powell's Books blog. October 3, 2009. (Jenna)
   
• Goodman, Amy. "Scanning the Horizon of Books and Libraries." Truthdig. September 29, 2009. (Amanda)
   
• Samuelson, Pamela. "Google Book Settlement 1.0 Is History." Huffington Post. September 24, 2009.
   
• Albanese, Andrew. "DoJ Says Google Settlement Must Be Changed." Publishers Weekly. 9/18/2009 (Laura)
   
• US District Court, Southern District, New York. "Statement of Interest of the United States of America Regarding Proposed Class Settlement." GPO, I guess? 9/18/2009.
   
• Flagg, Gordon. "Copyright Head Tells House She Opposes Google Books Settlement." American Libraries Online. September 16, 2009.(Amanda)
   
• Talk of the Nation. "Who Should Control the Virtual Library?" National Public Radio. September 15, 2009
  30 minute radio show: "Google stands to be the single repository for millions of the world's books. Advocates applaud the organization and the access a digital library can afford. But critics worry about monopoly and profit motives, and what it means for readers' privacy."

   

• Hickman, Amanda B. "Free as in Google." Velo, Rapido. September 10, 2009 at 5:12 pm.
   
• Albanese, Andrew. "U.S. Register of Copyrights Slams Google Book Search Settlement." Publishers Weekly. 9/10/2009, 9:40am. (Laura)
   
• Oder, Norman and Josh Hadro. "Academics, ProQuest, Networks Object to Google Settlement." Library Journal. 9/10/2009.
   
• Oder, Norman. "At Congressional Hearing, Register of Copyrights Slams Google Settlement." Library Journal. 9/10/2009. (Natalie B.)
   
• Waller, Vivienne. "The Relationship between Public Libraries and Google: Too Much Information." First Monday. 7 September 2009. (Melissa)
   
• "Google's big book case: The internet giant’s plan to create a vast digital library should be given a green light." The Economist. Sep 3rd 2009
  This article comes down on Google's side. It also gives a European perspective.
   
• Oder, Norman. "Google, 'The Last Library,' and Millions of Metadata Mistakes." Library Journal. 9/3/2009 (Alycia)
   
• Liedtke, Michael. "As Google Books battle draws on, Amazon makes its case." Associated Press, seen in
  The Christian Science Monitor. September 3, 2009 (Alycia)
   
• Nunberg, Geoffrey. "Google's Book Search: A Disaster for Scholars." The Chronicle Review, The Chronicle of Higher Education. August 31, 2009.
   
• Helft, Miguel. "Group Lays Out Arguments Against Google Books Deal." New York Times Bits Blog. August 26, 2009
   
• Margolis, Bernie. Open Letter to ALA, ACRL, ARL. Librarian blog. 8.25. 2009
   
• Helft, Miguel. "Google Rivals Will Oppose Book Settlement." The New York Times. August 20, 2009.
   
• Albanese, Andrew Richard. "Deal or No Deal: What if the Google Settlement Fails?" Publishers Weekly. 5/25/2009
   
• Milliot, Jim. "Internet Archive Latest to Object to Google Settlement." Publishers Weekly. 4/17/2009.(John B - IA project as alternative/contrasting example)
   
• Grimmelmann, James. "How to Fix the Google Book Search Settlement." Journal of Internet Law, v. 12, no. 10. April 2009.
   
• Cohn, Cindy. "Google Should Use Extra Time to Add Privacy into Google Book Search" Electronic Frontier Foundation Deeplinks Blog. October 6, 2009.
    (Eric)
• Butler, Brandon. "The Google Books Settlement: Who Is Filing And What Are They Saying? ALA, ACRL and ARL Statement. September 28, 2009.

There's also a good bibliography on the Open Book Alliance site and another one from Charles W. Bailey, Jr.
 

Also of interest, an interview with Google Chief Executive Eric Schmidt and co-founder Sergey Brin. They mention the settlement, evilness.
 

Maybe this doesn't belong in the general bibliography, so I'll put it here: Harvard professor Robert Darnton's "Google & the Future of Books," published in the New York Review of Books on February 12, 2009.

Guiding Questions

1. Into which category does your article fit--background, pro-settlement, anti-settlement, neutral, primary source?
    
2. Does your article reflect or inspire a radical perspective on the topic?
    
3. Does your article make any implications about libraries or librarianship vis a vis the settlement?
    
4. ???
    

Notes from the salon are here.

Rad Ref at Occupy Wall Street : one report back

Last night 8-10 members and friends of Rad Ref NYC visited the People's Library at the Wall Street Occupation. We helped process books for the library, which Library Journal says is growing at 30-50 books per day.

That's Alycia on the left, an OWS Librarian in the middle, I think Lauren on the right, and my hands on the bottom right.

Alycia made cute pin-on patches. Here's one on my backpack

And one in the library

When we arrived it was so crowded in Zuccotti Park that you could barely move. There are areas marked off for the library ♥, an information center, food, clothing drop-off, media, meetings, and protesters sleep wherever they can, like this one:

While hundreds of us did our thing in the Zuccotti, a reported thousand more gathered for Kol Nidre services across the street including a cop minyan.

But what was it like? is what a lot of folks outside the NY Metro area are probably wondering. I was only there two hours, so I'm certainly not an expert, but what I perceived was general feeling of hope, excitement, and power, perhaps like some people felt when Obama was elected. But this time, people are counting on themselves and each other, not a politician to make things right, including making a library that's open all the time to anyone who wants to borrow materials, without any sort of ID. I'm not saying that all libraries can operate that way, but it's beautiful to see the sharing going on at the People's Library, where anyone can be a librarian. That's not to say that librarians don't have something to contribute, e.g., we instituted putting the OWSL stickers on the books' spines instead of their backs. ☺

It was great to be there for myself, but also as a member of Radical Reference, a collective of library workers and students who like to be directly involved in protests, supporting them and taking place. One member brought up the idea of making a statement, à la PLG in support of the occupation. For better or for worse, that's not what we do. Around our founding, before the Republican National Convention in NYC in 2004 we discussed signing onto a statement of nonviolence, I think it was, and a heated email list argument erupted. We decided, passively or actively, I'm not sure which, that we weren't going to have a structure, a governing body, a central committee, or anything like that, and so have no way of deciding anything as a group. Instead, our focus is showing up. I'm actually rather ashamed that it took us a couple of weeks to get involved as a group. The NYC collective has been rather inactive lately, but perhaps helping with the OWSL library (not "library" as PLG referred to it) will galvanize our efforts.

We're planning a question-answering work day the weekend of the 22nd & 23rd (time not set yet), so holler at nyc@radicalreference.info if you're interested in participating. We're also up for heading back down to OWS individually or en masse anytime.

Jenna, speaking only for myself, and only a teeny bit meaning to stir the pot with PLG

Radical Librarian Drinks Potluck

Saturday, July 31, 7-11pm
Reanimation Library, Proteus Gowanus
BKNY

The NYC collective of Radical Reference will host a social gathering at the Reanimation Library in Brooklyn on Saturday, July 31. It is meant to be a meet and greet for library workers and LIS students with far left politics. Radico-curious folks welcome!

Signs that you might be a radical:
*You explain your politics to extended family as "to the left of Michael Moore"
*You use Phil Ochs's definition of liberal
*When you think of anarchists, you picture Food Not Bombs, not Molotov cocktails
*You think the Daily Show is more racist, homophobic and sexist than funny
*You refer to DRM as Digital Restrictions Management and think copyright should never apply to dead people
*The policeman is not your friend
*You went into librarianship because it's the last/best bastion of socialism in America
*You spend lots of time in the HX821s or 335.83s
*You wince whenever you hear patrons referred to as "customers" or libraries as "businesses"

Bring your own booze/juice/soda and extra to share. Depending on your political orientation you may think of your contribution as common property, property is theft, or mutual aid. Dumpstered libations gladly accepted.

We'll provide ice, cups, and recycling bags. Contact nyc@radicalreference.info with questions and comments. Save the political debates for the event.

Teen Angst & Library Horror: a Benefit for Radical Reference

Fri., July 25, 2008, 7:30 pm - 11 pm
ABC No Rio - 156 Rivington St, NYC

Support Radical Reference, a volunteer collective of library workers that sees to the information needs of activists and independent journalists.

Screenings of excerpts from Degrassi High, Freaks and Geeks, and My So-Called Life

- interspersed with -

Open mic for library workers to share stories that are so awful they're funny and vice versa.

$5-$10 sliding scale
$1-$3 drinks (beer, soda)

Flyers are attached-feel free to print and spread the word!

more info
directions

US Social Forum Salon hosted by Radical Reference NYC

Notes from the discussion now up and also from the Rad Ref business meeting.

Friday, February 16, 2007, 8-9:30pm, ABC No Rio, NY, NY

Librarians, LIS students, and library support staff are welcome,

as are the library curious.

Radical Reference NYC invites you to attend a discussion of the upcoming US Social Forum in Atlanta and if/how librarians should participate. We will also have a short business meeting.

• ABC No Rio
  
• ABC No Rio map & subway locations
  
• Radical Reference NYC
  
• US Social Forum

Radical Reference is a collective of volunteer library workers who believe in social justice and equality. We support activist communities, progressive organizations, and independent journalists by providing professional research support, education and access to information. We work in a collaborative virtual setting and are dedicated to information activism to foster a more egalitarian society.

It is customary for participants to donate $1-2 per person to the space when meeting at ABC No Rio.

Interested parties may wish to go afterward to see the High Strung, a library supporting rock band, at the Mercury Lounge a few blocks away from ABC No Rio.

Questions or comments to nyc at radicalreference dot info.

Workshops for Librarians

Members of Radical Reference NYC have done workshops for librarians and LIS students at the Massachusetts Library Association, New Jersey State Library, the Palmer School, Pratt, and Rutgers, on three different themes. We are happy to reprise them at other library schools and library conferences.

Theme 1: Radical Reference front end/back end. We give a history of Radical Reference, talk about its mission and tactics. We discuss the open source tools used to support RR and how open source fits into librarianship's goals. Example.

Theme 2: Radical, Militant, Librarianship--discussion of the different groups and tactics of activist librarians and library activists. Example.

Theme 3: Effecting change--discussion of participants' innovative practice, identifying, removing, and/or sidestepping the obstacles to library workers' attempts to get stuff done. ("Stuff" could mean alternative materials collections, projects like RR, new programming, etc.) Example.

We're also open to suggestion. You can commission something if you have an idea of something you'd like to hear about that you think we might know.

Here's a more or less complete list of Radical Reference presentations for librarians and others (especially independent journalists) http://radicalreference.info/rrpresentations.

Workshops are presented without charge, but it's nice to get our expenses covered and maybe a vegan chocolate chip cookie or something if you really want to show appreciation. Also extremely helpful are a projector, the necessary cables, and an internet connection.

meeting minutes November 2008

Radical Reference NYC Collective meeting minutes for Friday, November 21, 2008

Attendance: Alana, Alycia, Christy (facilitator), Cookie Puss (in and out), Emily, Jenna, John, Julie, Kiowa, Lisa, and Vani

1. Radical Archives post-mortem
2. Really Really Free Market
3. Next salon
4. Radical archives proposal for Anarchist Book Fair
5. GMC report
6. Next widely publicized open meeting
7. Presentations
8. Political economy of information production/dissemination
9. Announcements

1. Documenting Struggle: Three Radical New York City Archives post-mortem
   • We could have taken a door count, also asked people how they heard of the event and if they were librarians/archivists or not
   • We did not document the event. Shame on us!
   • Great attendance
   • A few tech glitches
   • Did not publicize that 7-745 was supposed to be for networking, and that the panel wouldn't start until 745. Apologies to the Grassroots Media Coalition who sponsored the event under the auspices of their Make This NetWORK initiative for that, though GMC folks seemed happy with the event nonetheless
   • Bought too much beer, right amount of food
   • Good mix of panelists
   • Kudos to Vani for conceiving the event and doing much of the outreach and organizing.
   • However, we should have had someone else doing tech while Vani was handling emcee duties.
   • Made over $500.

   
   

2. Really, Really Free Market, sponsored by In Our Hearts
   Will take place indoors at St. Mark's Church on Sunday, November 30 from 6-9pm
   Street librarians will offer free reference and research assistance at this event. In addition to Radical Reference, last month's featured services such as free hair cuts and tech advice in addition to goods (clothing, electronic equipment, and books), dumpstered food, and music.
   Volunteers for this month (note that at the time of the meeting, we thought the event started at 3pm, rather than 6): Alycia, Emily, Jenna, Julie, and Mel (coordinating with In Our Hearts)

   Radical Reference street reference tactics

   • Use Scroogle instead of Google to anonymize searches
   • Use Shmoogle, a search engine that randomizes its results instead of Google
   • Given the context, you can respond to people not so much in a less neutral manner, but knowing that they're coming from a radical perspective
   • You might feel more encouraged to allow more of your personality and politics into the reference interview, and explain your selection of tools and resources used
   • When appropriate point to our Reference Shelf for answers or further reading

   
   

3. Salon (We hold occasional salon style discussions meant to bring in new people and also to educate ourselves on topics of interest. Past topics have been copyright, race, and one or two others we couldn't remember)

   Topic ideas and discussion

   • Radical take on Google Books deal (ask Laura Quilter to lead discussion, or to recommend someone)
   • OCLC hoopla (maybe ask Jay Datema
   • But should we really have an expert--isn't a salon more of a discussion than a question and answer thing?
   • Why, yes! Instead, let's create a bibliography of materials for people to read ahead of time, so they can come in prepared to discuss the topic in a peer learning situation. Emily and Jenna will begin collecting articles and posts on a wiki. Please contribute.
   • The event will be on Friday, January 23, 2009, presumably at ABC No Rio, but stay tuned.
   • Emily will come up with some guiding questions to focus the conversation.

   
   

4. Radical archives event at the 2009 NYC Anarchist Book Fair
   Since our recent event was so successful, how about another one? Perhaps one with a DIY focus, given the context of anarchism.
   • An institutional panelist to discuss archiving an organization's records and output
   • An individual collector to share her techniques for collecting and preserving stuff
   • An archivist to show and tell preservation materials

   Jenna will contact potential panelists
   
   

5. GMC report from John, RR's liaison
   • The final networking event will be a holiday party in early December. They're looking for a venue. Stay tuned.
   • This year's Grassroots Media Conference will take place later than usual, in April or May, at Hunter
   • We should work up our Alternative Materials in Libraries panel. Perhaps we can discuss this at a March salon.
   • Discussion on RR site

   
   

6. Next open meeting: see salon discussion
   
   
7. Presentation at LIU
   • Emily is looking to coordinate two presentations at LIU, one for librarians (akin to Jenna's at a LACUNY meeting that a fellow LIUer saw), and one later on for faculty.
   • Alycia and Vani will collaborate on the former (to be presented in the middle of January)
   • More on the latter (or perhaps on information and how it is controlled/affected by capitalism) later (Or is this the one A and V wanted to work on? Or both?)
   • For more info, contact Emily and Ed (there was editorial information given about Ed at the meeting, but maybe that informaton should stay in the room)

   
   

8. Political enconomy of information...see above
   
   
9. Announcements
   • Alycia and Jenna: anti-Christmas party on 12/25. Let one of them know if you want to participate. There will be Chinese food.
   • Emily is looking for a cat sitter during Christmas week
   • NJLA RR presentation (by Eric and Julie) proposal has been submitted.

Notes submitted by Jenna. Please make your corrections here, or email them to me.

NYC Collective April 2007 Meeting Minutes

Sunday, April 29
New York City AIDS Housing Network office, Brooklyn

In attendance: Jonny, Becca, Melissa, Jenna, John, Emily, Dena, Gretchen, Judy, Laura

1. Melissa gave an update on RadRef plans for the US Social Forum. She is still interested in going, but emails to other people in the group who have expressed interest have gone unanswered. Susie, a librarian from Boston, is interested in setting up a 'reference desk'-style station at the media center. John suggested doing an outreach effort asking activists "What can Radical Reference do for you?" It was suggested that participants hand out flyers pointing people to a survey on the website. Melissa is planning to go and urges other RadReffers to contact her to firm up planning.

Notes taken by Emily. E-mail nyc at radicalreference dot info with corrections.

NYC Anarchist Book Fair 2008 Table Schedule

NYC Anarchist Book Fair

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Judson Memorial Church

This schedule has different length shifts so that it matches up with the presentations. That's why it's weird.

10:30-12:30 (includes set-up) (spans RR session)
1. Jenna

12:30-2:15
1. Gretchen

2:15-3:45
1. Heather and Lana will split/share this slot

3:45-5:15
1. Julie

5:15-7:15 (includes break-down)
1. Christy (I will get there as soon as I can, but i may around 5:30)
2. John B (around 5:30ish)