Happy-ish new year
Happy-ish new year...
Have you made any new year's resolutions? Are you tired of the Internet asking if you have? My new year's resolution this year is not to make new year's resolutions, because here's how it went last year:
3 out of 8 is pretty abysmal, but it was a busy year. I made an unplanned pivot into research work, traveled to Mexico City and Washington, D.C. (for conferences), Japan (for fun and family), and Beirut (for a project). I wrote a feature about Kenzi Shiokava and an appreciation of life for Jim Melchert, both for the LA Times. With Critical Minded, I helped launch the Irene Yamamoto Arts Writers Fellowship (2024 call coming soon!), in memory of my Auntie Irene. Oh, and I sent a child off to college on the other side of the country. None of those things were on my official "goals" list, although I did actually refresh the text on my website (with the help of inclusive small business advisor and career transition specialist, Sam Raddatz).
I haven't had much time for reflection, but the new year is at least an occasion for that. The few days I spent in Beirut last summer have made what's happening now in the region feel closer to home. Of course it is painful to witness dehumanization and devastation happening in real time, but my brief stay gave me a visceral sense of how the predations and legacies of Western imperialism and colonialism have left so many scars that aren't even given a chance to heal before new ones are created. I've known this theoretically for decades, but now it seems more real. Although I won't call it a resolution, I move into this new year aware that what I do — respectful and accurate representation of marginalized people in metadata and beyond — is not even the tip of the tip of the iceberg of what needs addressing in the world. But I believe it keeps me moving in the right direction, towards justice.
If you are looking for resources about Palestine, please visit Librarians and Archivists with Palestine.
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Here are a few things I'm looking forward to this year (and especially next week):
Meet Your Neighborhood Museum webinar, Jan. 23, 10am PST. Learn how YNM builds solidarity for Tribal and community-led cultural heritage preservation. $10 registration benefits YNM. Organized by LAPNet.
Inclusive Metadata webinar, Jan. 24, 10am PST. Join me for an introduction to inclusive metadata, with the Southeastern NY Library Resources Council. Registration is free and open to all.
Archives for the People: Building Ethical Community Archives webinar, Jan. 24, 12pm PST. A panel discussion with Nancy Liliana Godoy, Elvia Arroyo-Ramírez, and Chaitra Powell. Registration is free.
Curationist's Critics of Color and Fellows programs. Applications are open now! I always enjoy learning from the amazing writers and researchers they gather from around the world.
WikiEdu courses in elections, campaigning, voting, and politics to help Wikipedia contributors ensure vital and reliable information is freely available to the US electorate this election year.
Keywords in (Critical) Library Information Science/Studies, edited by nicholae cline & Jorge López-McKnight. I'll be contributing an entry!
Attending my first California Association of Museums conference, March 10-13 in Long Beach, CA.
Thanks for reading! If you have any comments or questions about this issue, please feel free to get in touch. Or follow me on LinkedIn.
ARTchivist's Notebook is an occasional newsletter musing on the intersection of archives, art, and social justice by me, Sharon Mizota, inclusive metadata consultant and art writer.
I help museums, archives, libraries, and media organizations transform and share their metadata to achieve greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. Contact me to discuss your metadata project today.