The following post is one in a regular series on issues of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility, compiled by a team of OCLC contributors.
Earliest known African American cookbook republished
One of the items in the Janice Bluestein Longone Culinary Archive held at University of Michigan (OCLC Symbol: EYM) Special Collection Research Center is a humble 30-page paper bound volume titled A Domestic Cook Book: Containing a Careful Selection of Useful Receipts for the Kitchen. Written by Malinda Russell and published in 1866 in Paw Paw, Michigan, this book is the only known copy of the earliest known cookbook written by Black author in the United States. Although this book has been digitized and is available online it has now been republished in a new edition that is available both in print and online as an open access ebook.
I’m highlighting this example during US Black History month as an example of the many treasures held in libraries and archives, but also as an example of the work that cultural heritage institutions play as publishers and disseminators of rare content, making materials available for all to enjoy and learn from. The book has recipes that — to a modern eye — lack important details like baking time or temperature. To prepare “French Lady Cake” the full instructions are “Three cups sugar, one do. butter, six eggs, one cup sweet milk, one teaspoon soda, two do. cream tartar, one wine-glass brandy, the juice of one lemon, four cups flour; the soda dissolved in the milk, the cream tartar in the flour.” The book also contains recipes for things like “Restoring the Hair to its Original Color,“ which is equally brief: “Lac Sulphuris two drachms, rose water eight ounces. Shake it thoroughly, and apply every night before going to bed.” The newly published edition also contains a foreword by Dr. Rafia Zafar, an expert in foodways and literature, which sets Russell’s accomplishments in context. Contributed by Merrilee Proffitt.
WebJunction webinar on neuroinclusive library workplaces
On 4 March OCLC’s WebJunction will host a free webinar Embracing neurodiversity: Cultivating an inclusive workplace for neurodivergent staff. Presented by accessibility consultant and librarian Renee Grassi. Webinar attendees will learn about the meaning of the term neurodiversity, the strengths of neurodivergent people, and ways of making the workplace more neuroinclusive. The blog post “Supporting Neurodiversity in the Library Workplace” by Bobbi L. Newman provides a summary of general articles about neurodiversity in the workplace and bibliography of resources.
I began writing about neurodiversity in libraries for Advancing IDEAs on 25 July 2023. As a neurodivergent person, I was thrilled to see so many excellent projects and articles focused on serving neurodivergent patrons including the University of Washington’s Autism Ready-Libraries Toolkit. However, as neurodivergent librarian, I was somewhat frustrated that discussions about making libraries more neuroinclusive often did not discuss the library as a workplace. In February 2025, I am thrilled to see these discussions happening in multiple spaces, including webinars, conference presentations, and the University of Washington’s current research project Empowering Neurodivergent Librarians. I look forward to attending this WebJunction webinar next month and seeing what other educational opportunities about this topic will emerge in 2025. Contributed by Kate James.
Documentaries focus on libraries
It isn’t every day that we hear about a film concerning libraries and what we are facing in the current moment. So, think how surprising it is to discover two such documentaries right now. At the January 2025 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, the documentary The Librarians, by producer-director Kim A. Snyder, premiered and is expected to be available on a major streaming platform soon. The Librarians features numerous colleagues of ours from the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) who have battled for our intellectual freedoms in such places as Florida, Louisiana, and Texas. Read about The Librarians in the ALA news item, “American Library Association and American Association of School Librarians Members Featured in Documentary ‘The Librarians’ to Walk the Red Carpet at Sundance Premiere.” If your local community has not already scheduled a showing of the other documentary, “Free for All: The Public Library,” be aware that its broadcast premiere is set for Tuesday, 29 April 2025, as part of the PBS show Independent Lens.
The Librarians examines the wave of censorship spreading across the United States, especially targeting racial and LGBTQ+ issues and resources. Librarians stand tall at the center, protecting access for all users and opposing legislation trying to criminalize the work we do. “Free for All” traces the history of how public libraries became a formative institution vital for the preservation of democracy. It counters the notion of library obsolescence with the fact that libraries are local treasures where resources are available and free to all, even in this fraught political era. Contributed by Jay Weitz.
Merrilee Proffitt is Senior Manager for the OCLC RLP. She provides community development skills and expert support to institutions within the OCLC Research Library Partnership.
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