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Simmons Progressive Librarians Guild
The Simmons chapter of the Progressive Librarians Guild is a student organization committed to inscribing the struggle for social justice at the center of the library profession. We believe that cataloging, indexing, acquisitions policy and collection development, reference services, library automation, library management, and virtually every other library issue embody political value choices. We aim to make these choices explicit, and to carry out our professional responsibilities in a way that helps to realize a freer, more democratic world.
The Simmons chapter of PLG is proudly affiliated with the Progressive Librarians Guild.
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[edit] What's Happening Now!
[edit] ELECTIONS -- Get Involved With PLG!
Become involved at Simmons and work with students to bring progressive issues to the forefront at Simmons GSLIS. We're looking for a co-chair, treasurer and secretary! Visit the Elections page for more information!
[edit] Blog Retool
- In an effort to keep y'all more up-to-date on what we are doing, PLG has re-launched it's blog. Add us to your RSS feed to easily get updates on PLG activities and happenings!
[edit] Got an Idea?
- Have a great idea for an event or issue the PLG should be involved with? Let us know!
[edit] Upcoming Events
Small Press Month Panel -- Friday, March 20th at 7pm, Simmons Campus, MCB*C103
Read. Write. Revolt.
The Legacy of South End Press
(For more information, visit the extended Small Press Month page)
How did we get here? Specifically, how did we elect a black president? How has Cuba maintained its political system despite the oppression of larger economic entities? How do we arrive to a number of women occupying positions of authority and managing our political and economic state (we can’t forget our dear friend Linda Thompsen, former head of the S.E.C.)?
Where do we find radical thought? Who dares to publish our vision for a better, equitable world? Where do we go when the research indicts our system and the powers attempts to silence the evidence?
Who are these obscure entities that keep our society honest and changing? Do we support these agents of change? Are they independently wealthy, like Batman, so they are able to publish such material and risk no backlash or worry that if they annoy someone they still can move forward with change and radical thought?
What is the reality of small independent presses? Why do they close? What is the impact of an embattled organization like South End Press; can we afford to lose it?
Please join us on March 20, 2009 at 7pm (location to be announced) for a roundtable discussion, readings, and Q&A with (list in formation):
Asha Tall, editor/publisher (South End Press collective) Jocelyn Burrell, editor/publisher (South End Press collective) and editor of Word. On Being a [Woman] Writer Frank B. Wilderson, II, professor of drama and African American studies (UC Irvine), filmmaker, and author of Incognegro: A Memoir of Exile and Apartheid, a winner of the 2008 American Book Award
South End Press is an independent, nonprofit, collectively-run book publisher with more than 250 titles in print. Since our founding in 1977, we have met the needs of readers who are exploring, or are already committed to, the politics of radical social change. We are interested in manuscripts that are accessible to a wide range of political activists, while being useful to an academic audience. Our goal is to publish books that encourage critical thinking and constructive action on the key political, cultural, social, economic, and ecological issues shaping life in the United States and in the world. We are especially committed to radical analyses that place socioeconomically disenfranchised, differently abled, and queer people, women, gender warriors, and communities of color at the center. We hope to provide a forum for a wide variety of democratic social movements, and provide an alternative to the products of corporate publishing. From its inception, South End has organized itself as an egalitarian collective with decision-making arranged to share as equally as possible the rewards and stresses of running the business. Each collective member is responsible for core editorial and administrative tasks, and all collective members earn the same base salary. The Press also has made a practice of inverting the pervasive racial and gender hierarchies in traditional publishing houses; our staff has had a woman-identified majority since the mid-1980s, and at least half of the collective has comprised people of color since the mid-1990s. Our author list—which includes bell hooks, Arundhati Roy, Noam Chomsky, Winona LaDuke, Manning Marable, Andrea Smith, Cherríe Moraga, Vandana Shiva, and Howard Zinn—reflects the Press’s commitment to publish on diverse issues from diverse perspectives.
To expand access to information and critical analysis, South End Press has been instrumental to the start of two on-going political media projects—Speak Out and Z Magazine. We have worked closely with a number of important media and research institutions including Alternative Radio, Political Research Associates, INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence, and the Committee on Women, Population and the Environment.
PLG Gatherings
- Wednesday, March 4, 6-7pm
J.P. Licks -- 659 Centre Street, Jamaica Plain MA 02130.
Drop in anytime between six and seven to discuss, ideas for PLG events, Simmons issues, news, local events, anything that impacts the library community, and to have some tasty ice cream. The idea is to get to know each other, and our community, better! If this does not work for you, don't worry! There will be more of these Gatherings later in the semester.
Directions By MBTA: Take the 39 bus headed to Forest Hills Station (you can catch it on Huntington ave, if you are comming from Simmons). Get off at Centre st & Myrtle st. JP Licks will be on your right, just after the Post Office.
- Stay tuned for more gatherings later in the semester! Suggestions for dates and places gladly accepted.
[edit] News
[edit] Meetings
We're planning our meetings for the spring semester, and to ensure as many of you can come as want to, we'd like to hear from you: What times and dates work best for a half hour PLG meeting? Email us at plg@simmons.edu with suggestions!
[edit] Minutes
Read the officers' meeting minutes to see what our plans are for the Spring 2009 semester.
[edit] Looking for Older Content?
- Check the Archives.
[edit] PLG Officers, Fall 2008
Laura Krier, chair
Kathy Keleher, secretary/wikimaster
Brandie Doyle, event coordinator
OPEN, treasurer
[edit] Coming soon to the PLG wiki!
Progressive activities in and around Boston
[edit] Join the conversation!
You can sign up for the PLG listserv here. Click "subscribe" from the menu on the left of the screen, and then enter your e-mail address. The PLG listserv is an unmoderated, relatively low-traffic e-mail list where events are posted and discussion can take place about issues related to progressive librarianship.
