Good Gossip: Spreading the Word to Protect Each Other

Librarians from traditionally underrepresented populations are subjected to a litany of toxic behaviors in our workplaces and often find ourselves using strategies that help us survive in the job. One of those strategies is gossip. We have a default societal understanding of gossip as an inherently negative way of communicating, and associate it as a bad behavioral trait in people. This presentation will address the concept of “good gossip,” a way that librarians of color spread news and information amongst ourselves in the workplace in order to keep each other informed of knowledge that is often kept secret or privileged to those with the most administrative power because of bureaucracy. Many of us have colleagues or communities of color in our workplaces who we turn to in order to privately share information and knowledge as a “head’s up,” a way to warn or inform each other so that we may be better prepared to deal with whatever may be coming our way. Drawing on different definitions and analyses of gossip as well as informational infrastructure in libraries, attendees will hear about and share their own experiences with how information/LIS workers can use gossip as a way to protect ourselves and each other in a field that does not prioritize our wellbeing

LibParlor Online Learning: Shared Knowledge for the Library Research Community

Learning how to conduct research in library and information science is not always a requirement in LIS graduate programs. The result of uneven training impacts librarianship and the ways in which certain voices and research are privileged in our scholarship. This work in progress poster will share the results of an IMLS grant funded national needs assessment wherein we learned about the experiences, educational needs, and institutional constraints of MLIS students and academic library workers pursuing research through a survey and focus groups. The poster will share insights on the experiences of academic library workers and their needs for institutional, educational, and financial support for training and advocacy in LIS research. We will share information about what LIS researchers feel they benefited from their graduate coursework in research methods, as well as ideas for improvement for these courses

The Librarian Parlor: Demystifying the Research Process through Community

Academic LIS researchers have inconsistent research responsibilities and support depending on their institution and position. Some are offered time, mentorship, and professional development funding in order to accomplish goals, while others are asked to conduct research on their own. This paper identifies gaps in our profession’s support for those interested in pursuing, developing, and publishing library research. Presenters also share the process they went through and lessons learned from creating an online community for new LIS researchers called LibParlor

Exploring the photocatalytic degradation of organic textile dye using hydrothermally synthesized Ce-doped metal chalcogenide nanomaterial

The advancement of economical, facile and non-toxic approaches towards waste water treatment is a promising research area currently among scientific community. In this regard photocatalysis has specifically received significant attention due to its application in the eradication of toxic elements from wastewater. Hence, in the present study Ce-doped FeSe _2 photocatalysts were prepared employing the simple, inexpensive and ecofriendly hydrothermal method. The prepared Ce-FeSe _2 nanomaterial was subjected to different characterization techniques like x-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and UV–visible spectroscopy to explore the characteristic properties of the prepared nanomaterials. XRD results revealed good crystallinity and purity of all synthesized Ce-FeSe _2 nanomaterials. Surface morphology and elemental composition of the prepared nanomaterials was determined by FE-SEM and EDS spectroscopy. UV-Visible spectroscopy was used to explore the optical characteristic of the prepared photocatalysts. The results of optical absorption spectrum confirmed that increasing dopant percentage shows an improvement towards optical properties. The photocatalytic ability of the prepared Ce-FeSe _2 nanomaterials was examined against the potentially toxic industrial dyes like Rhoadmine B (RB). The photocatalytic results show that 95.21% of dye degradation was exhibited by 7% Ce- doped FeSe2 nanomaterial under UV-visible light illumination duration of 120 min. Findings of the photocatalytic degradation process fitted well with pseudo first order reaction kinetics for RB dye

Situating the Self: Teaching-Librarian Narratives Within and Beyond Instructional Spaces

Using the three thematic areas of Experience, Identity, and Workplace, we will discuss a range of questions designed to uncover and trouble the ingrained narratives of teaching in academic libraries. We hope to prompt consideration of your identities, of how teaching practices are impacted by institutional power and authority, and also present some opportunities for self-reflection and ideas for changes to make going forward

Assessment of Home-Based Care for Young Child (HBYC) program in aspirational districts of Madhya Pradesh, India: A cross-sectional study

Context: In 2018, Government of India initiated Home-Based Care for Young Child (HBYC) program having five quarterly structured home visits for children age 3 to 15 months to promote early childhood development. Assess knowledge and practices of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHAs), other health functionaries, and mothers related to HBYC. Cross-sectional evaluation design with ASHAs, AWWs, ANMs, ASHA, and mothers of 3 to 15 month's children as participants. Material and Methods: Knowledge and practices of 801 ASHAs, 200 other health functionaries, and 787 mothers were assessed on exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding, hand washing, iron folic acid (IFA) and oral rehydration solution (ORS) supplementation, danger referral signs in eight aspirational districts of Madhya Pradesh. Results: 88% ASHAs had correct knowledge on ORS, 85% on complementary feeding, 85% on adequacy of IFA, and 47% on danger signs which required child referral. Similarly, 85% of mothers had knowledge on exclusive breastfeeding, 40% mothers knew about complementary feeding, and only 18% knew correct ORS preparation. Statistically significant association was observed between ASHAs home visits and availability of ORS with mothers and their knowledge on correct Initiation of IFA (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Findings of study confirmed majority of health functionaries were aware about roles, responsibilities, and key tasks under HBYC. However, there observed a gap in knowledge transfer by health functionaries and thus inadequate translation of knowledge into practices among mothers on HBYC. This necessitates the need of appropriate actions from health system strengthening to capacity building to accelerate uptake of HBYC program