[Publib] "Activism 101"

[Laura Crossett]

You might look a little farther, too.  If you have any kind of college or
university nearby, they undoubtedly have activist groups who might be
interested in talking to library patrons about how to do activism--and who
might be able to talk about activism beyond simply the "write or call your
senator" variety.  If your town has a local labor center or an infoshop,
that would be a good place to look, too.  And it's always worth checking
bulletin boards for flyers and newspapers for meeting announcements.

Radical Reference volunteers have done workshops on how to use your local
public library as a resource for activism/independent journalism and on how
to file Freedom of Information Act requests.  More information at
http://radicalreference.info or by e-mailing info at radicalreference.info.

I was an activist for many years before I ever thought of becoming a
librarian, and I can't think of better training for the job.  I learned how
to track down obscure facts, how to organize events, and how to work with
people.  And job interviews became much, much easier for me after I realized
that a job interview is essentially the same thing as a press
conference--you know what you want to say before you go in (or you should at
least have some idea), and you have a pretty good idea of what they are
liable to ask.  All you have to do is figure out how to fit those pieces
together.

Laura

Laura Crossett
Branch Manager
Meeteetse Branch, Park County Library
2107 Idaho / PO Box 129
Meeteetse, WY 82433
307.868.2248 (phone & fax)
AIM: theblackmolly | Y!M: lcrossett

It is no longer a choice between violence and nonviolence in this world;
it's nonviolence or nonexistence.    

--Martin Luther King Jr.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-
> bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Anita Barney
> Sent: Tuesday, January 23, 2007 8:37 AM
> To: publib at webjunction.org
> Subject: [Publib] "Activism 101"
> 
> More possibilities for educating your public:
> 
> Consider working with your local League of Women Voters to co-sponsor
> programs.  Even if you don't have a local League, if there's one in the
> area, they would probably welcome a chance to offer a non-partisan program
> in a venue such as a library.
> 
> In Connecticut, the CT Bar Association offers lectures and workshops about
> how state and federal government affect our lives.  Your state bar
> association may offer similar programs.
> 
> Your community college or state university will have faculty that could
> lead a program tailored to meet your needs.
> 
> Anita R. Barney
> Library Director
> The Brookfield Library
> 182 Whisconier Road
> Brookfield, CT  06804
> 203-775-6241  /  Fax 203-740-7723
> 
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