EveryLibrary statement on the Pulse tragedy

In one week, many of us will be traveling to Orlando, Florida for the American Library Association’s annual conference.  

The excitement and joy that we normally experience as we prepare to attend conference is tempered this year by the tragic mass killing that occurred on June 12 at the Pulse nightclub. Like you, we are angry at this senseless act of violence. Like you, our hearts ache for the victims, for their friends and families, and for the pain and loss this attack has brought, most pointedly, to the gay and Latino communities in Orlando. Like you, we find hope in the outpouring of support and love, and in the voices that loudly and clearly express that such hateful action has no place in our society.

As librarians, we commit our lives and our livelihoods to the timeless and universal principles of freedom, learning, diversity, service, social responsibility, and the public good. It is in the spirit of these principles, and our commitment to their beauty and value, that we head to conference each June.  Yes, our hearts are heavy this year, but we will continue to draw strength from these shared principles, and from the important work that we do as librarians in helping to create a more open, enlightened, educated, and just society for all.

As a service to everyone who will also be attending conference we have put together a small guide of resources and activities.  We hope this guide will be helpful as we try to find some meaningful way of processing this tragedy and taking what actions we can to help the Orlando community.  We also hope this guide will help us to find, comfort, and support each other as colleagues, as friends, and as fellow librarians. Safe travels, we look forward to connecting with you at #alaac16.

RESOURCES AND EVENTS
Statements

• ALA Response to Orlando Shooting: Statement by ALA President Sari Feldman
• Statement from Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Round Table (GLBTRT)  Statement by GLBTRT Chair Peter Coyle
• Orange County Convention Center Statement on Security Measures

Events

• A memorial gathering on Saturday, June 25, 8–8:30 a.m. in the Convention Center Chapin Theater (W320) (monitor ALA Blog, The Scoop, for updates and details.)
• Read Out cosponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Round Table and the Office for Intellectual Freedom (monitor ALA Blog, The Scoop, for updates and details.)
• No Room at the Library: The Ethics of Diversity:  Sunday, June 26, 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM, OCC W105B. Key speaker, Loida Garcia-Febo, and a panel of thoughtful leaders will facilitate audience discussion after the Ethics committee performs three different skits. In the tradition of “What Would You Do?”, the panel will strive to shed light on ethical dilemmas involving religious, cultural and LGBTQ issues.
• Hug a Homosexual, Hosted by Queery.  Convention Floor at the Zine Pavilion (booth 751, West Concourse) on Friday 5:30-7:00pm.  In 1971 the GLBTRT hosted a "Hug a Homosexual" booth, and with the events of #PulseOrlando, we all need some love. Come hug and kiss each one another and show solidarity with the LGBTQA community. We will also be accepting donations for the Orlando LGBTQA Center.
• GLBT Social:   Sunday, June 26,  6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Room Blue Martini, 9101 Int'l Dr., #1182.  Come mix with the membership of the round table. $5.00 recommended donation accepted at the door.
• Full list of GLBTRT Programs and Events
• Full List of Diversity related events at ALA
  
• Orlando Support Activities: Blog space where ALA will be announcing activities as they are confirmed.  List of additional resources and informational links.

Opportunities to Give

• Pulse Tragedy Community Fund:  The official Go Fund Me organised by GLBT Community Center of Central Florida, a 501(c)(3) organization.  100% of the proceeds will go to victims and their families.
• One Orlando Fund:  The purpose of the OneOrlando Fund is to provide a way to help respond to the needs of the Orlando community after the effects of the Pulse tragedy. The Fund will support Nonprofits that are supporting the victims and families and the LGBTQ, Hispanic, faith and other affected communities.
• School Supplies Drive:  The ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in collaboration with Orange County Library System and Librarians Build Community are sponsoring a school supplies drive at the 2016 ALA Annual Conference to benefit students in the Orlando area.
• Summer Breakspot: The ALA Task Force on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and Librarians Build Communities Member Interest Group invites you to join them in supporting the Orange County Library's Summer Breakspot. The Summer BreakSpot program provides free nutritious meals to kids and teens 18 and under during the summer break. ALA volunteers will help connect kids with lunches and help with the Summer Reading Program.

• #pulseorlandosyllabus:  #PulseOrlandoSyllabus is a crowd-sourced list of information sources, teaching materials, books and digital materials focusing on the intersections of LGBTQIA community and people of color. The list includes comics, zines, plays, podcasts, LIS resources, scholarly books, and more.
• ALA Blood Drive: Blood donations will be accepted on Saturday, June 25th from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Sunday, June 26th from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Orange County Convention Center, West Building, Exhibit Hall, End of 400 Aisle. To sign up for a donation time, go to https://www.oneblood.org/donate-now/ and type in sponsor code # 10145.