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This first Special Report in a two-volume set on Black and African Americans’ experiences in libraries provides an overview of their historical exclusion from libraries and educational institutions in the United States, also exploring the ways in which this legacy is manifest in our contemporary context. A compelling call to action, it will serve as the beginning of many conversations in which librarianship reckons with its racist past to move towards a more equitable future.

Still a predominantly white profession, librarianship has a legacy of racial discrimination, and it is essential that we face the ways that race impacts how we meet the needs of diverse user communities. Identifying and acknowledging implicit and learned bias is a necessary step toward transforming not only our professional practice but also our scholarship, assessment, and evaluation practices. From this Special Report, readers will

• learn the hidden history of Africa’s contributions to libraries and educational institutions, which are often omitted from K-12, higher education, and library school curricula;
• engage with the racist legacies of libraries as well as contemporary scholarship related to Black and African American users’ experiences with libraries;
• be introduced to frameworks and theories that can help to identify and unpack the role of race in librarianship and in library users’ experiences; and
• garner practical takeaways to bring to their own views and practice of librarianship.

Librarianship is still a predominantly white profession. It is essential that current practitioners as well as those about to enter the field take an unflinching look at the profession’s legacy of racial discrimination, including the ways in which race might impact service to users such as students in school, public, and academic libraries. Given the prevalence of implicit and explicit bias against Black and African American people, authors Folk and Overbey argue that we must speak to these students directly to hear their stories and thereby understand their experiences. This Special Report shares the findings of a qualitative research study that explored the library experiences of Black and African American undergraduate students both before and during college, grounding it within an equity framework. From this Report readers will

• learn details about the study, which focused on the potential role of race in the students’ interactions with library staff, including white staff and staff of color;
• gain insight into Black and African American users’ perceptions of libraries and library staff, attitudes towards reading, frequency of library usage, and the importance of family;
• understand the implications of the study’s findings for our practice and for librarianship more broadly, including our ongoing commitment to diversifying the profession; and
• walk away with recommendations that can be applied to every library and educational context, such as guidance for developing an antiracist organization and more equitable service provision.

Because libraries are community spaces that provide access to information, resources, and programming for people of all ages and backgrounds, conflicts between patrons, verbal or physical altercations, and other difficult situations can occur. These situations can be traumatic for those involved, whether patrons or staff, making it essential that librarians know how to de-escalate them in trauma-informed ways. Utilizing the framework from PLA’s best-seller A Trauma-Informed Framework for Supporting Patrons, this workbook walks readers through building micro-skills for handling difficult situations, providing

• a succinct overview of how to define and understand trauma, including its definition, causes, effects, and manifestations;
• evidence-informed approaches drawn from the fields of social work, psychology, and counseling;
• dozens of activities, handouts, and worksheets designed to spur reflection and help readers build upon the practices introduced in the book;
• guidance on debriefing, evaluation, facing compassion fatigue, and other aftercare topics; and
• appendices that provide information on mental health resources, crisis intervention hotlines, and further reading on trauma and burnout.

 Approximately 26% of American adults are classified as disabled, meaning many academic librarians live with at least one disability. Much of the literature surrounding disability in libraries, however, focuses on the user rather than the library worker.
 
Navigating Disability in the Academic Library Workplace collects ways that the library can support its workers with disabilities and encourage them to succeed. It’s a guide for librarians with disabilities on supporting and advocating for themselves in the workplace, but also a resource for able-bodied and neurotypical managers and workers to learn how to be allies. 
 
Chapters examine identities, intersections, The Americans with Disabilities Act, accommodations, advocacy, and collective care practices. Authors generously share their own stories and experiences and offer their own definitions of ableism, disability, intersectionality, and other relevant terms to help capture the diversity and magnitude of identities held by people with disabilities. Navigating Disability in the Academic Library Workplace offers a chorus of voices with different perspectives and provides ideas and resources for individuals with disabilities, supervisors, coworkers, and the profession.
 

With new awareness about the implications of sharing personal data, there is increasing emphasis on privacy issues. Both in wider society and on campus, those who provide personal information and those who collect it are asking tough questions about when, why, what, and for what purpose personal data is used. At the same time, the potential for personalized services, ease of access, improved user experience, and data driven decision-making mean that this collection can be justified. How do we balance these issues on campus? What roles are libraries playing? What practical steps can help ensure good privacy practices?

Carrying over the reorganization that made the fifth edition such a convenient learning resource for students and working professionals alike, the newest edition of this comprehensive library technology primer is timelier and more compelling than ever. Burke's guide should be at the top of the reading list for any current or future library professional looking to stay at the forefront of technological advancement. Updated with new case studies to illuminate key areas, its incisive coverage includes

• complete analysis of the librarian's technological toolbox for teaching, security, databases, and more;
• expert advice on how to compare and evaluate competing technology solutions;
• social media, streaming media, and educating patrons about digital privacy;
• makerspaces and other technology programing, including virtual and augmented reality technologies;
• technology lending programs;
• open source catalog systems, discovery layers, and related library management systems;
• websites, web-based services, and free information resources;
• copyright and licensing as they pertain to the use of digital materials;
• new technology predictions for the future, with tips on how to stay up to date with the latest developments; and
• a refreshed glossary of useful terms.

Informed by a large-scale survey of librarians across the spectrum of institution types, this guide will be a true technology companion to readers at all experience levels.

Foreword by Maurice Coleman

Technology infuses every aspect of every day in every library, and thus basic technology skills are a prerequisite for everyone who works in a library. Providing a one-stop overview of all technologies used in libraries today, this comprehensive primer belongs at the top of the reading list for any current or future library professional looking to stay at the forefront of technological advancement. Representing a complete update of the book under a new author, this seventh edition of the guide is bolstered with fresh insights gleaned from librarians and library staff members sharing how they work with a given technology in their library settings. Readers will learn about

• how technologies have historically impacted libraries;  
• electronic resources including e-books, full-text articles, and streaming media;
• the crucial role of free web information in supporting library research;
• discovery layers and other systems for organizing information to make it easier to find;
• desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile devices;
• library websites, web services, screencasts, distance learning, and learning management systems;
• social networking and patron participation, with newly crafted guidelines;
• makerspaces and other possibilities for adding creative activities and technologies to libraries such as virtual reality and augmented reality;
• a comprehensive examination of how to build and maintain the library technology environment, with advice on crafting an effective plan, purchasing equipment, putting systems into operation, and preservation issues stemming from dead and dying technologies;
• Universal Design (UX) and adaptive/assistive technologies;
• protecting technology and technology users by securing collections, enhancing computer security, and safeguarding privacy; and
• possible future developments in library technology, with suggested resources for staying informed.