Welcome to the Social Justice Issue. Judging by the number of contributions to this article, social justice is at the forefront of libraries as our patrons (and ourselves) struggle with a political climate that many of us fnd at odds with our values. Discover what it’s like to be the only two Muslim librarians at SPL (p. 6) and see how SPL serves Seattle’s rapidly growing unhoused population (p. 21). Libraries have taken up arms against “fake news,” and see how it’s being done at the UW Seattle(p. 12), UW Tacoma (p. 15), Shoreline Community College (p. 14) and WSU Vancouver (p. 20). Librarians at the UW (p. 8), Seattle Central College (p. 10) and Shoreline (p. 17) challenge us to reconsider the role of libraries as neutral spaces. We learn about providing access to education in the state prison system (p. 26) and hear from a current and former prison librarian about their experiences (p. 24). And see what the Washington Talking Book and Braille Library is doing to reach underserved communities (p. 22) and what SPL is doing to read (and recommend) books from diverse authors (p. 30).
Library Snapshot Day was a success, and see a sampling of photos from all corners of the state (p. 31). If you’ve been looking for clarity around animal service rules, be sure to check out the latest information (including a downloadable poster) from the state (p. 33). For the most recent developments from Olympia, check out the Legislative Update (p. 5).
We’ve introduced a new column, “Milestones” (p. 34), which replaces “Communiqué” as the source for news about hires, transitions, and remembrances of beloved members of the library community who have passed. In “Read Tis Book!” (p. 36) reviewers discuss social justice through picture books and graphic novels for children and teens, and David Wright returns to “I’d Rather Be Reading” (p. 38) to talk about disruptive reading as a remedy to the challenges we face. WLA President Brianna Hofman wisely urges library staf to be sure to take care of ourselves (p. 3). And don’t forget to close out the issue with another funny and relatable Dispatch from Swellville (p. 39).
Alki Editor: Frank Brasile
Alki Editorial Committee: Sheri Boggs, committee chair; Chanteal Craft; Karen R. Diller; Kris Becker; Dusty Waltner; Mindy van Wingen; Suzanne Carlson-Prandini; Kelsey Smith
