Newport Public Library

The need to support learning and provide equal access to information does not stop when a health emergency arises. It becomes even more important, and as such, libraries of all types in the Commonwealth quickly responded to 2020’s emerging crisis by enhancing existing services and creating innovative new services, proving that once again, library staff are vital participants in providing for the well-being of patrons. This column explores how library workers and libraries in Virginia quickly adapted to restrictions imposed as the COVID-19 pandemic began to spread.

ABSTRACT The Access Services Department at the University of California Berkeley’s Main Library recently implemented a social justice-focused reading group for library employees. Inspired by the UCSB Critlib project, the group was developed as a pilot to be replicated by other departments and libraries interested in incorporating a social justice mindset into their daily operations. This article details the preparation, implementation, and evaluation processes of the group’s first meeting. Recommendations and best practices for starting a social justice-focused reading group in a library setting are included in the discussion. This project was designed during a graduate-level course at the University of Washington iSchool.