A Hard Nut to Crack: Researching Your Neighborhood

Demographics and other statistical information are among the most difficult data to harness when you're trying to learn more about where you live. And what about researching the history of your part of the city? This workshop will introduce participants to resources and techniques both online and off to help you get a handle on your neighborhood.

Learning objectives:

• Participants will be able to conduct basic demographic research.
• Participants will know how to find a variety of neighborhood statistics.
• Participants will be able to find information about Brooklyn and local issues using websites and resources both online and off.

Well, I've evidently been a member of RR for one year and 36 weeks, and so far, I haven't done very much.

Not a Rad Ref event, but Arpita Bose and I will soon be conducting a free Internet research workshop at the Park Slope Food Coop:

A Hard Nut to Crack: Researching Your Neighborhood

UPDATE 6/27:

Members of Radical Reference and interested persons met at the Anaheim ALA conference. Because two did not want their names listed, I won't list any, because frankly, I can't remember who is who, and some people felt very strongly about this point.

• For the non member/interested persons there was a discussion of what RR is, what we do, what we are working on, and the recent conference call where we tackled ideas such as how to get members more involved, and make sure questions were answered in a timely manner.
• We also discussed the Reference Shelf as a great place to get involved if you are not willing or able to answer questions.
• Issues with navigation and how the site is set up (ie how to answer questions)was brought up as an issue that some might like to address, if they felt more comfortable with Drupal. Mention was made of the site working parties that have happened in the past and the hopes that another might happen in the future.
• There was a discussion on the Occupy Libraries and Radical Reference.
• There was interest from librarians from the bay area in resurrecting that list, and those persons said they would send a message to the main list asking if there were other people in that area that would like to meet/be involved with something.

Thanks all who came and if I missed anything, which is likely, either email me or add to comments.

Call for participation from the POPS Art Project blog:

NYPL Protest

Call for Participation
When: Saturday, June 9, 2012, 12pm
Where: The NYPL Schwarzman Building steps, on Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street

Call for Papers

Informed Agitation: Library and Information Skills in Social Justice Movements and Beyond

On May 21, 2012 we had a conference call to discuss the future of Radical Reference and our services. Below you'll see some action items. Please take a look and let us know what you think--

Facilitator: Lia
Notetaker: Susie
Participants: James, Jim, Jenna, Julie, Lisa, Madeline, Heather, Melissa, Jessica

Action Items Coming Out of the Call:

+We all commit to do something by end of month with the website.

+A new informational letter will be drafted (Done 5/22-please see updated text here)

+Radical librarians conference organizing plan (Julie)

+ALA get-together

+Document example answers with strategies (will be added to info letter above) (Done 6/6)

===

Introductions

Intro who you are, how long in RR and if you ever answered a question.

Lia since near beginning, part of NY collective, then part of San Diego collective (too small of a group). Lia makes the RR shirts and has answered questions.

James from northern CA, used to be from SD, involved since beginning, home support for RNC, answered questions particularly gov doc qs.

Jim from UMaryland, used to answer lots of questions but staff cut backs make it harder. Involved/followed since 2004, nearing retirement age which might make it easier to give more time

Jenna involved since beginning, has answered questions

Jessica, lives in NY, from Bay Area, involved in last year, followed longer, answered questions for about 6 months

Julie, new to RR, following for a while, teach about RR in class, Jenna was a guest speaker through email, haven’t answered questions, in social justice doctoral program, would like to answer questions

Lisa from Cincinnati, following since library school (a few years), recently joined RR (last week) hasn’t answered qs yet

Madeline, just graduated from lib school, just signed up in past week too.

Heather, Boston collective organizes events, don’t answer questions

Melissa. Various activities with NYC collective. Written about RR. Has answered questions in the past.

Susie, Boston. Follower and user since 2006, answered questions while in library school in late 2000s.

--
Conference Call Process:

Agreed: Names will not be used in notes, but people will introduce themselves before speaking.

--

Background/Reason for Conference Call:

What is the future of RR? What should we or shouldn’t we spend time and energy on? People are still using online Q&A but we’re not putting a lot of effort into it. We are neither in a place to promote ourselves accurately or to do events/projects effectively. This call and questioning is not a bad thing. The project has existed for nearly eight years. It evolves and has evolved. It is a nearly eight year national online project. Time is due.