If All Lives Matter, Wear a Mask:
The Amplified Vulnerabilities of Public Library Staff During a Politicized Pandemic
Lightning Talk | Monday, May 17, 2021 | 2:45pm – 4:00pm EST
Between February and March of 2020, most public libraries shut down for the pandemic. The length of closures has varied widely, with some libraries still keeping their doors closed today, and others having reopened almost a year ago by the time of this discussion. Behind these disparate decisions are politics and administration, and at the front, as always, are the service desk staff. This talk will look at how decisions to reopen libraries to the public have affected service desk staff in public libraries that serve conservative communities, and how administration can use principles of critical librarianship to provide better support to and alongside their public-facing staff.
Presenter: Jessica Jones
Jessica Jones is the new Library Director for the Takoma Park Maryland Library, most recently serving as a Branch Manager in College Station, Texas. She has been working in libraries for more than ten years in both academic and public sectors, serving in technical services, reference, faculty, and leadership roles.