We’re talking with Kevin again about workers inquiry as an organizing tool and the example of the pamphlet The American Worker from 1947.   Twitter: https://x.com/AmericanWork47  readingstruggles.info notesfrombelow.org    Media mentioned The American Worker on COVER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikphd5bNza4&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Ff9eaa73e-0b64-4316-a994-c97369b4e555.usrfiles.com%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY “Searching for the American Worker” https://newpol.org/issue_post/searching-for-the-american-worker/ Culbertson, Anna W. “Our Labor, Our Terms: Workers’ Inquiry in Libraries,” in “Assemblage, Inquiry, and Common Work in Library and Information Studies,” eds. Melissa Adler and Andrew Lau. Special issue, Journal of Critical Library and Information Studies 4; https://journals.litwinbooks.com/index.php/jclis/article/view/175 (CC BY-NC) In and against the state: discussion notes for socialists. https://libcom.org/book/export/html/31378  Reading Struggles: Working-Class Self-Activity from Detroit to Turin and Back Again. https://www.readingstruggles.info/ Guerillas of Desire: Notes on Everyday Resistance and Organizing to Make a Revolution Possible. https://www.akpress.org/guerrillas-of-desire.html  Transcript: https://pastecode.io/s/bgobg2t9  Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG

This week we have Kay back on to talk about AI and what the refusal of AI means in terms of library practice and theory.  Bsky: @kslater.bsky.social Media mentioned Kay’s article in Library Trends: Against AI: Critical Refusal in the Library The AI Con (book) https://thecon.ai/  “Synthetic literacy” forthcoming from Dr. Kishonna Gray https://www.kishonnagray.com/    librarians doing infolit session part of that is telling the students how it will track you - privacy issues https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2016/putting-critical-information-literacy-into-context-how-and-why-librarians-adopt-critical-practices-in-their-teaching/  https://infolit.org.uk/privacy-and-surveillance-in-the-classroom-responding-to-new-information-literacy-challenges/  https://acrlog.org/2020/11/13/privacy-consent-and-the-virtual-one-shot/  https://datalabelers.org/  https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/cia-triad The People’s Platform (book) https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250062598/thepeoplesplatform/ Transcript: https://paste.ofcode.org/HNKAPrHLSPgUpNuraN3m2F  Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG

This week we’re talking with children’s author and children’s librarian Hal to talk about zir new book, vampires, monstrosity, the Old Internet, and the publishing landscape.

This week we’re talking about workers’ inquiry with the Blue Bottle Independent Union for cafe workers! Learn about workers’ inquiry, organization, and how you can do it too! Media mentioned Part 1 (on what cafe workers think and do while at work): https://notesfrombelow.org/article/class-composition-in-the-cafe-sector-part-1    Part 2 (exploring how cafe workers are organizing at work): https://notesfrombelow.org/article/class-composition-in-the-cafe-sector-part-2  Marx 101 questions Enquête Ouvrière (“Workers’ Inquiry”) for Benoît Malon’s French newspaper La Revue Socialiste https://notesfrombelow.org/article/introduction-karl-marxs-workers-inquiry Blood in the Machine: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/brian-merchant/blood-in-the-machine/9780316487740/?lens=little-brown https://theworkandus.squarespace.com/  https://newlaborforum.cuny.edu/ https://workingpeople.libsyn.com/  http://workersinquiry.work/ Support Blue Bottle Union https://www.bluebottleunion.org/  https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/support-blue-bottle-workers-taking-on-nestle Transcript: https://pastecode.io/s/jmhcyzvo Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG

Recording of our first ever live show! Guests Alison and Jennie talk with us about organizing, contracts, AI nonsense, updates, and more! You don’t want to miss the audience participation either!  info@libraryfreedom.org Email for LFP mailing list.  Media mentioned SPARC contracts library: https://sparcopen.org/our-work/big-deal-knowledge-base/contracts-library/  Data Cartels, Sarah Lamdan - https://www.sup.org/books/law/data-cartels  https://commonslibrary.org/organizing-people-power-and-change-the-one-on-one-meeting/ Capitalist Realism, Mark Fisher - https://files.libcom.org/files/%5BMark_Fisher%5D_Capitalist_Realism_Is_There_no_Alte(BookZZ.org).pdf  The fourth Librarian Futures report reveals critical gaps—and opportunities—in how librarians can lead on AI integration in higher education  https://www.sagepub.com/explore-our-content/press-office/press-releases/2025/05/20/new-technology-from-sage-report-explores-librarian-leadership-in-the-age-of-ai  Siembra ICE training: https://www.siembranc.org/ Kay Slater, Library Trends upcoming article on AI.  https://labornotes.org/events One on One training https://commonslibrary.org/organizing-people-power-and-change-the-one-on-one-meeting/  Transcript: https://pastecode.io/s/whwtxubp  Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG

We have David Demchuk on to talk about his new book The Butcher's Daughter. We also talk about more Canada updates, including how the backlash against queer and Black literature is evolving in the Canadian landscape with US backing.  Media mentioned https://www.techdirt.com/2025/03/19/youtube-apparently-unsure-if-shakespeare-is-in-the-public-domain/ Get the book here: https://sohopress.com/books/the-butchers-daughter-the-hitherto-untold-story-of-mrs-lovett/  Transcript: https://pastecode.io/s/ik2fbytc Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG

We’re talking with Kelly about the IMLS executive order and fallout.    Kelly on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/heykellyjensen.bsky.social  Literary Activism Newsletter: https://bookriot.com/newsletter/literary-activism/  Media mentioned https://mn.gov/mmb/budget/federal-investments/data-and-reporting/ https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/virginia/virginia-beach-moca-museum-of-contemporary-art-federal-grant-terminated/291-bbbaeb6f-6954-4f3a-ab6d-96d63b962619 May 11   IMLS stories https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.rid.59257/gov.uscourts.rid.59257.64.0.pdf (May 21) https://bookriot.com/trump-seeks-stay-in-imls-injunction-sonderling-bashes-imls-employees-in-declaration/ (May 20) https://www.wordsandmoney.com/ala-urges-court-to-deny-dojs-motion-for-reconsideration-in-imls-case/ (May 14) https://bookriot.com/massive-victory-in-lawsuit-filed-against-trump-administrations-dismantling-of-imls/ (May 13) https://bookriot.com/the-latest-from-the-institute-of-museum-and-library-services/ (May 6, 2025) https://bookriot.com/recent-attacks-on-libraries/ (Apr 15, 2025) https://bookriot.com/imls-gutted/  (Mar 31, 2025) Labor Lessons from the US South event: bit.ly/laborlessons  Live show tickets: https://bit.ly/librarypunklive25  Conference sticker fundraiser: https://ko-fi.com/s/8b9407ef58  Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG  Transcripts: https://pastecode.io/s/57rpgz05 (more disjointed than usual due to recording issue)

We're doing a commentary track for Party Girl! Download this and manually sync up while you listen. You can also download a version with the Party Girl audio ducked while we talk here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/krw8v6bq8hh5d6b2svmif/149final.mp3?rlkey=925eywxqlana90acil7eeaqsd&st=hbgjxs3n&dl=0  You can also join the discord to see other ways to enjoy this track! Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG Transcript download: https://pastecode.io/s/wxnjkfox 

This week we’re talking with the editors of the new book Censorship is a Drag. We talk about putting yourself on the line, personal and professional risks, and reacting to the latest administration’s onslaught against queer people.  Order Censorship is a Drag here: https://litwinbooks.com/books/censorship-is-a-drag/ Media mentioned The Joy of Gay Sex: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-joy-of-gay-sex-charles-silversteinfelice-picano  Sara Ahmed’s works The Feminist Killjoy Handbook: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/sara-ahmed/the-feminist-killjoy-handbook/9781541603752/?lens=seal-press  Bri Watson join Homosaurus call: https://bsky.app/profile/brimwats.com/post/3lkvvyv4szk2w Form for Homosaurus: https://forms.gle/tADEnq9qPYk3e5eE6  Fairhope Public Library story: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/24/alabama-fairhope-public-library-book-bans  Indigenous metadata projects to look into: Maori: https://natlib.govt.nz/librarians/nga-upoko-tukutuku Others: https://guides.library.ubc.ca/Indiglibrarianship/knowledgeorganizations  Transcript: https://pastecode.io/s/r8istne2 Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG

We’re talking with Josh from TWOAPW about Patmos Public Library, his personal connections to it, and the issues around public library funding and censorship of LGTBQ materials.  https://www.worstpossible.world/  https://www.twitch.tv/traditional_scrench  TWOAPW Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/did:plc:kp7xkxfutoinhqeg3sfswghd Media Mentioned Segment: https://www.kcrg.com/2025/02/25/bill-ban-obscene-material-iowa-libraries-advances/  Why it’s called the Patmos library: https://hudsedfound.org/what-we-do/engage-alumni/marvinandjunepatmos.html  Whose Children Are They: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt18559276/  Reporting from the time of the initial removal vote:  https://www.metrotimes.com/news/conservative-michigan-town-defunds-library-over-lgbtq-book-30736450 https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-government/upset-over-lgbtq-books-michigan-town-defunds-its-library-tax-vote  https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/politics/jamestown-township-library-close-failed-millage-lgbtq/69-021f241b-611c-4856-bd7f-0994f967e714 Go Fund Me set up: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fund-patmos-library-for-2023 Reporting on the failure of the second vote: https://www.mlive.com/politics/2022/11/patmos-library-millage-fails-again-following-controversy-over-lgbtq-books.html MLA statement after second vote: https://www.milibraries.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1375:statement-on-patmos-library-millage---news---michigan-library-association&catid=44:news-advocacy&Itemid=311 Funding approved:  https://lanthorn.com/101674/news/allendale/jamestown-library-funding-approved-after-multi-year-content-disagreements/ https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/politics/michigan-politics/millage-vote-fund-jamestown-township-patmos-library-fails-ottawa-county/69-8102ff6f-1944-4246-a967-c2b3dc3a119e  MLive documentary on banning books in Michigan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x043zuGWgMA Another Michigan library: https://bookriot.com/alpena-public-library/  Porn hunters in Canada: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6656855  Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG  Transcripts: https://pastecode.io/s/ybvo6u1t 

We’re talking with Nicole of Brave Co-op about their overdose sensors, and Samantha of Guelph Public Library. Trigger warning: death by overdose is mentioned several times Media mentioned https://www.brave.coop/about Welcoming Streets Guelph: https://guelphchc.ca/welcoming-streets/ Hope House Guelph: https://www.hopehouseguelph.ca/ Facts on Narcan and fent test strips in Texas: https://www.trs.texas.gov/Pages/healthcare-news-202301_Fentanyl_Facts.aspx  Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG Transcript: https://pastecode.io/s/j4gauhdc 

We're talking with QLL about who they are and what they do! Tumblr https://www.tumblr.com/queerliblib  Instagram https://www.instagram.com/queerliblib/?hl=en  Bsky https://bsky.app/profile/queerliblib.bsky.social  Tiktok https://www.tiktok.com/@queerliblib  Media mentioned https://www.queerliberationlibrary.org https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/queer-liberation-library-offers-free-lgbtq-books-response-wave-school-rcna156463 https://xtramagazine.com/culture/books/queer-libraries-book-bans-activism-255227 https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/library_sp/68/  https://www.gaycity.org/library-information/ Donate: https://givebutter.com/J9nhcW  Preorder The Emperor of Gladness (% of pre-order proceeds go to QLL): https://sites.prh.com/emperor-of-gladness/preorder/  

It’s in the title.  Media mentioned BIBFRAME Must Die,Jeff Edmunds https://scholarsphere.psu.edu/resources/fc19faee-70b9-44b3-9346-18e40a2cd990 BIBFRAME Must Die, Part II: the Official RDA Toolkit, JEFF EDMUNDS https://scholarsphere.psu.edu/resources/40be29ce-4342-475f-b380-d8ed065b3643 BIBFRAME Must Die, Part III: A Brief History of the Future of Cataloging https://scholarsphere.psu.edu/resources/6100de9a-5f6f-400f-90ea-fe517d16152d  “Missing the MARC: Utilization of MARC fields in the search process.” https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1314&context=lib_pubs  Transcript: https://pastecode.io/s/ssabs0oo  Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG

We’re talking with Rachel about peer mentoring, networking, friend groups, and how we’re navigating the online social space. What experiences do we have with peers, how is engagement changing after COVID?  Media mentioned “They didn’t teach this in Library School” Against The Grain 30, no. 6 (2019) https://issuu.com/against-the-grain/docs/atg_v30-6  https://pemento.org/ Descriptive presentation at Charleston 2022 https://youtu.be/_mkHudh_LAg?si=gSril-1fQa9Ue344) Amplifying Historically Marginalized Voices Through Open Pedagogy in Rethinking Institutional Repositories p.219 Transcript: https://pastecode.io/s/g1wgo1nk Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG

This week we have Mike Nason on to talk about open scholarship, publishing, Crossref, NISO, and decentralized publishing futures. Also Jay airs his grievances against Dublin Core. https://bsky.app/profile/ahemnason.bsky.social Media referenced Better Practices in Journal Metadata https://docs.pkp.sfu.ca/metadata-practices/en/ (NISO) JAV Revision + Draft https://www.niso.org/standards-committees/jav-revision PIDs and Open Infrastructure Deck https://slides.com/ahemnason/pids-osi-2024  Identifying Metadata Quality Issues Across Cultures (preprint) https://osf.io/6fykh  Mike’s https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5527-8489  Getting Found, Staying Found: https://docs.pkp.sfu.ca/getting-found-staying-found/en/   Transcript: https://pastecode.io/s/k67htspf  Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG  

We’re talking about Library Futures! All of them! All at once! CDL, ebook contracts, opera, genAI, and some surprisingly deep Jennie-lore.  https://www.libraryfutures.net/who-we-are   https://bsky.app/profile/littlewow.bsky.social  https://bsky.app/profile/libraryfutures.bsky.social  Media mentioned The End of Ownership https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262535243/the-end-of-ownership/  UC AI-generated course: https://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/comparative-literature-zrinka-stahuljak-artificial-intelligence?taid=6755debeb8836e000133c355  New Research Report: OER in Public Libraries: https://www.libraryfutures.net/post/new-research-report-oer-in-public-libraries  Hoopla content issues: https://www.libraryfutures.net/post/hooplas-content-problem  Storm Center (1956) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049800/  Library Futures ebook legislation: https://www.libraryfutures.net/library-futures-ebooks-policy-paper How to Read a Contract: https://www.libraryfutures.net/post/how-to-read-a-contract  Library Freedom Project vendor scorecard: https://libraryfreedom.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Library-Freedom-Vendor-Scorecard-110719.pdf Authors Alliance - Developing a public interest training commons of books: https://www.authorsalliance.org/2024/12/05/developing-a-public-interest-training-commons-of-books/  I think AI should leave: https://violetbfox.info/against-ai/  Justin’s word list: https://pastecode.io/s/s3kq4kzo    More from Library Futures https://cats.libraryfutures.net/ https://www.cilip.org.uk/news/685877/US-Election---the-risk-for-libraries.htm  https://syllabus.pirate.care/topic/piratecareintroduction/ https://www.libraryfutures.net/post/were-still-fighting-for-fair-use https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2020/the-library-commons/ https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262542333/the-promise-of-access/ https://www.libraryfutures.net/oer https://www.libraryfutures.net/post/how-much-does-obamas-summer-reading-list-cost-your-library https://www.newyorker.com/news/annals-of-communications/an-app-called-libby-and-the-surprisingly-big-business-of-library-e-books CATS! from Library Futures https://cats.libraryfutures.net Vintage banger: https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2014/who-are-you-empowering/ https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4184946   Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG  Transcripts: https://pastecode.io/s/ri7ufg9o 

This week we’re interviewing Brandon and Katherine on metadata related to indigenous issues, but we of course stray into many other topics.  Katherine: https://linktr.ee/katwitzig  Brandon: bcastle [at] umass [dot] edu Media mentioned https://open.spotify.com/show/0ZtaU2XZlPEhmIW1OV7k8O PCC Task Group Charge: https://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/taskgroup/Metadata-Related-to-Indigenous-Peoples-Americas-TG-charge.pdf  Preliminary Report (PCC Task Group for Metadata Related to Indigenous Peoples of the Americas): https://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/taskgroup/Metadata-Related-to-Indigenous-Peoples-Americas-TG-preliminary-report.pdf  Short article on our work in Descriptive Notes (blog of Society of American Archivists): https://saadescription.wordpress.com/2024/05/20/taking-on-the-challenge-pccs-metadata-justice-work-for-indigenous-communities/  https://www.landgrabu.org/  https://localcontexts.org/  https://localcontexts.org/labels/traditional-knowledge-labels/  https://ailanet.org/  Transcripts:https://pastecode.io/s/ck3tz6ym Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG 

What can library workers actually do within their institutional limitations?  Media mentioned https://www.404media.co/leaked-documents-show-what-phones-secretive-tech-graykey-can-unlock-2/ https://www.blackrosefed.org/anarchists-in-the-labor-movement-4/  https://github.com/rechelon/zine_library  https://www.digitalrightsbytes.org/ https://ssd.eff.org/ Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG Transcript: https://pastecode.io/s/3h472fne 

This week we’re talking with Emily Weak from Hiring Librarians and answering listener questions about getting the MLS, job hunting, and more! https://x.com/HiringLib  https://emilyweak.com/ https://bsky.app/profile/hiringlibrarians.com https://livingwage.mit.edu/  Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG Transcripts: https://pastecode.io/s/rakyczca 

We’re getting into our favorite copyright myths and some copyright related news. Media mentioned Tattoo copyright news: https://apnews.com/article/kat-von-d-tattoo-trial-miles-davis-388d1831c0a065b096fe4f69fe8a224e Wiley news, sells rights to AI https://www.thebookseller.com/news/wiley-set-to-earn-44m-from-ai-rights-deals-confirms-no-opt-out-for-authors  https://fanlore.org/wiki/Disclaimer  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_issues_with_fan_fiction  https://fanlore.org/wiki/Disclaimer  https://www.eff.org/pages/eff-screen-lock-images-new-logo  Join the Discord: https://discord.gg/zzEpV9QEAG Transcript: https://pastecode.io/s/q0qhmqpg