Georgia Library Association Groups Put On PracticeCon

This article describes PracticeCon, a mini conference put on by the Middle Georgia Emerging Librarians, the Georgia Library Association\u27s New Members Round Table and Special Libraries and Information Services Division. The aim of the event was to offer presentation tips and tricks to library workers and give them the opportunity to practice presenting. The article reflects on the presentations that were done and what was learned during the event

Hamilton and the American Promise

In “Hamilton and the American Dream,” using the Hamilton soundtrack as evidence, I argue that Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton portrays the ideals of the American Dream but ultimately rebrands it as the American Promise. This Promise is an inclusive idea that does what the American Dream historically has not: it includes immigrants and people of color in the utopian ideal of equal opportunity in a meritocracy. The American Promise argues for equality by utilizing American history, rap and hip hop, and multiracial casting to include minorities in the founding of America. In the musical, the combination of these elements renders Hamilton a multicultural figure who stands as an example of what that Promise can achieve. However, Miranda’s vision of the Promise necessitates forgetting that his message is carried by white historical figures who were either complicit or directly participated in slavery, xenophobic laws, and genocide. The musical also blurs history in order to build its storyline and message. In response, I point to the second album based around Hamilton: The Hamilton Mixtape, which makes it clear that America has a long way to go in terms of racial injustice. In terms of the historical accuracy of the play, the major discussion revolves around the accuracy of the story versus the reasoning behind the inaccuracies of the retelling. Overall, I found that Hamilton, race, and history are used as tools to highlight and critique the American Dream and introduce its concept of the American Promise

Catch My Drift? Perceptions and Experiences of Pesticide Contamination of Organic Crops in Montana

Pesticide drift and inadvertent contamination pose particular risks to organic production. Some organic producers have lost their crops, certification, and/or organic markets because of contamination events. Through this thesis research, I explain the perceptions and experiences that certified organic farmers in Montana have about drift and inadvertent pesticide contamination. I conducted semi-structured interviews with eleven certified organic farmers from various regions of Montana. Along with one-on-one interviews with organic farmers, interviews with industry and regulatory officials were conducted to better understand the policies and procedures that control what happens when drift occurs at the state level. Industry and regulatory official participants included organic certifiers, organic inspectors, Montana Department of Agriculture employees, and an organic policy analyst. Participants were given space to share their concerns, experiences, and recommendations regarding pesticide contamination and the future of this research. This research shows that drift is a complex issue and that farmers experience drift differently. However, common themes emerged in the interviews. Key themes distilled from the data include the importance of communication among organic producers and their community; contamination effects on rural relationships; and the outcomes producers face after contamination occurs. The data collected during this research also suggests that changes can be made to mitigate and even prevent contamination. I conclude this thesis with several recommendations for Montana and the National Organic Program. Recommendations include enforcing stricter pesticide regulations at the state level, creating a fund within the National Organic Program to compensate organic producers after contamination events, and working to educate consumers and conventional producers about certified organic agriculture. Organic producers are dedicated to growing food free of pesticides, but pesticide drift and inadvertent contamination are making that choice increasingly difficult in a chemical-laden world

2023 Georgia Library Association Scholarship Recipients

Announcing the 2023 winners of the Georgia Library Association\u27s Beard and Hubbard Scholarships