Page 18 - BCALA Spring 2018

18 | BCALA NEWS | Volume 45, Issue 2
Formation of an Activist Book
Club in East Orange
By Matt Powell, East Orange (NJ) Library
Earlier this spring, the American Library Association observed the 60th anniversary of National Library Week, celebrating the contributions of our nation’s libraries and their library workers. While 60 years is
an accomplishment to behold, adult services librarian Nathalia Bermudez refuses to rest on her laurels and continues to push forward in keeping her efforts within the East Orange Public Library progressive.
In January 2018, Bermudez evolved one of her current monthly adult book clubs toward a proactive direction, highlighting current
social and political issues. This new direction ultimately culminated in an evolution of a club as an activist book club. “Throughout 2017, our adult book club would constantly veer off into political discussions,” explained Bermudez. “Since we are such a tight- knit group, it's really a safe space to have these types of conversations.”
Bermudez noted her club members’ zeal for discussing social issues as their conversations permeated their general book discussions, so directing that intensity toward a constructive goal seemed ideal. “Not only were
the book club members looking for
an outlet for their concerns and frustrations, I could sense that they could be encouraged to participate in some positive and cathartic service projects,” said Bermudez. That intense engagement led to the group choosing to become more socially and politically aware by reading books detailing current hot topics in the media and participating in different service projects complementary to the books’ subjects. “This pairing
was really so that our conversations went beyond just ‘screaming into the void’ and ‘preaching to the choir’,” said Bermudez. “I wanted us to have projects that gave us some hope and a sense that we could put something positive into the world.”
The club’s selected books focus
on relevant sociopolitical topics, including racism, sexism, #BLM, #MeToo, DACA, deportation, and more. “These are all topics we wanted to learn more about so we could talk about them and get each other’s perspectives,” explained Bermudez. Bermudez’ ultimate goal for the club is to bring awareness and empower her patrons as they collectively navigate complex and emotionally charged issues. With the addition
of their service projects, Bermudez hopes her members’ participation with non-profit organizations will lead to more support for some of the most vulnerable members of society.
Past titles reviewed by the club and available at the library are “The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander, “The Color of Law” by Richard Rothstein, and the most current, “Down Girl” by Kate Manne. These titles inspired the group to donate material to Books Through Bars, a New York City-based, volunteer-run group that sends donated books
to incarcerated people across the nation. Additionally, the group has donated to the Fair Housing Council of Northern New Jersey and is currently collecting items to donate to Oasis Haven for Women and Children.
The club held a meeting on May
10 at 6 p.m. discussing "Detained and Deported" by Margaret Regan, a subject that is very personal for Bermudez. “My parents came to this country on student visas from Colombia in the ‘70s,” revealed Bermudez. “They were able to gain their citizenship legally as were my sister and I, but the choices they