ACRL+2015

**ACRL 2015 **  **Sessions of Particular Interest to FTF Members Attending ACRL 2015 in Portland **  toc

**We've reviewed the ACRL 2015** ** Conference Schedule with an eye toward sessions with a focus on feminism or gender, diversity, and social issues. Please feel free to suggest -- or add -- listings! **** All sessions are in the Oregon Convention Center. **

** Wednesday, March 25 **
**Opening Keynote Session - G. Willow Wilson** (4:00 - 5:45PM, Oregon Ballroom) In 2014 Marvel Comics released ** //Ms. Marvel// **, the first-ever American comic book series to feature a Muslim superhero. Wilson is the creator and writer of this groundbreaking series which features Kamala Khan, a young female superhero unlike anything the comic book world has ever known. // Publishers Weekly // called Khan a “A Marvel-ous Muslim Feminist Superhero” and earlier this month // Marie Claire // magazine ranked Khan as the #1 feminist superhero. Wilson is a gifted author whose writing explores, across multiple genres, the most pressing issues of our time. An American convert to Islam, Wilson lives today in both Egypt and the United States. Her articles, graphic novels, and books reflect her extraordinary cross-cultural experiences with remarkable originality and courage.

** Friday, March 27 **
To what extent does privilege inform decisions made in our libraries and services? Attendees of this session will walk away with a better understanding of the impacts of intersectionality and privilege on the field and on our users from various racial, cultural and religious backgrounds. This session will ask participants to reflect on and evaluate their own experiences and perceptions of privilege and diversity within academia and their communities.
 * At the Intersection of Diversity and Libraries: Check your Privilege to Build Sustainable Communities: Latanya N. Jenkins, Bethany Tschaepe, Ruth Boeder, Fobazi Ettarh** (8:30 - 9:30AM, Portland Ballroom 252)

In May 2012, the Board of Associated Students of Western Washington University signed a resolution calling for gender neutral restrooms across the campus, and in Fall 2013, the University Registrar announced a Preferred Names Policy, under which transgender individuals could register a name that best reflected their personal identity. To address these opportunities, an academic library formed a taskforce which led to the eventual development of Best Practices on serving trans patrons in the Libraries. This paper will discuss the inception, implementation, and conclusions associated with this entire process, providing examples of how the resulting Best Practices were incorporated into daily library activities.
 * Developing Best Practices for Serving Transgender Patrons at Academic Library Service Points: Rebecca Marrall** (11:00 - 11:20AM, D138-140)

“Just Google it” has become a powerful mantra by educators to students and the public who are seeking information. In this talk, Dr. Safiya U. Noble will discuss some of the ramifications of looking for information on the web, and how search engine bias disproportionally impacts women and girls. Noble will discuss the need for critical digital media literacy and the future of public information, citing research conducted for a forthcoming book from NYU Press.
 * Searching for Girls: Identity for Sale in the Age of Google: Safiya Umoja Noble** (11:00AM - 12:00PM, Portland Ballroom 251/258)

Countless studies and personal narratives have demonstrated that cultural, racial, and gender bias influence important aspects of academia, including traditional book and journal publishing. Scholarly communications and LIS publishing can challenge the traditional modes of publishing both in format and in content. Panelists will discuss their work in this area, addressing topics like race, culture, sexuality, and gender in formats like print books, online journals, and institutional repositories.
 * Scholarly Communication as a Tool for Social Justice and Diversity: Charlotte Roh, Harrison W. Inefuku, Emily Drabinski** (4:00 - 5:00 PM, E145-146)