NHV LGBTQ+ Equality Movement

Jude Gepp, New Jersey Student, Advocates for Inclusivity and LGBTQ+ Equality from School Board

“Every voice matters, even if you don’t think yours does.” Read this interview with Jude Gepp, sophomore at North Hunterdon High School, New Jersey, who is currently engaged in speaking at board meetings, sending emails to the board for creating more inclusive learning environments, and maintaining their own website to inform the community about the LGBTQ+ equality movement.

Martha Hickson

Martha Hickson, Students, and School Board Save 5 Challenged Titles

Five diverse titles were recently challenged in North Hunterdon-Voorhees Regional High School District, New Jersey. Read this interview with award-winning school librarian Martha Hickson to learn more about how she engaged in successful advocacy using community resources and students to help insure students’ intellectual freedom rights.

The cover of the book “Let’s Talk About Race in Storytime” on a light brown background. The book cover itself has simple art of children with different skin tones. Next to the cover image is the words “Book Review” in white.

Book Review: Let’s Talk About Race in Storytimes by Jessica Anne Bratt

In this book Bratt lays out how librarians can start talking about race as part of their regular storytime practice. She begins with an introduction explaining her reasons for committing to talking about race in her storytimes and how the Black Lives Matter movement’s tenant of starting your antiracist work where you are inspired her to work within libraries to move us as a society towards racial equity. This book is a great guide for any librarian who is looking to create more diverse and inclusive storytimes at their libraries but don’t know where to start. I highly encourage anyone who leads storytimes at their library to consider adding this (quick) read to their upcoming professional development plans.