Throughout generations, storytelling has long been an impactful medium for preserving and sharing the human experience. As libraries face new pressures over information access, censorship, and professional neutrality, storytelling can further provide a powerful and transformative framework for advocacy and resilience. Featured panelists, including documentarians and legal advocates, will share their experiences using storytelling as a means to uplift underrepresented voices, highlight the real-world consequences of legal barriers, and build empathy within and beyond the profession. This program will further equip librarians with a narrative toolkit to anchor their voices, values, and services in stories that remind society why open, informed justice matters.

Drawing from education and social awareness program models designed by our featured panelists that use storytelling to uncover unseen challenges, this program emphasizes attentive observation, empathy, and narrative as tools for understanding and advocacy. Just as teachers use stories to reveal barriers to learning, law librarians can use narrative to expose barriers to legal knowledge and access. Participants will engage with underrepresented perspectives to expand how we think about voice and belonging in the profession. By the end of the program, attendees will leave with a renewed sense of purpose and practical strategies to use storytelling in leadership, outreach, and professional growth.

Panelists will share their experiences using storytelling in their programs and presentations, highlighting the impact these narratives have had on diverse audiences. Attendees will then be invited to craft and share a brief professional narrative that articulates their library’s role in advancing justice, while exploring ways to leverage storytelling to strengthen civic and community engagement.

Recommended additional resources include the following documentaries, which were made with images and records from libraries:

- Plantations and Prisons; A History of Incarceration in Louisiana: https://vimeo.com/1021886189?s...
- The Roots that Bind Us: https://vimeo.com/1153820401?s... (Password: NUJ)

This program is sponsored by the Black Law Librarians SIS (BLL-SIS).

TARGET AUDIENCE:

This program is designed for all law librarians and related professionals with a personal or professional interest in increasing their advocacy efforts via the powerful and traditional means of storytelling.

TAKEAWAYS:

1. Participants will be able to identify different ways storytelling can strengthen advocacy for equitable access to information and increase public trust in legal institutions.
2. Participants will assess and analyze how personal and institutional narratives are used to communicate the value and impact of law librarianship in times of social and political change. 
3. Participants will be able to evaluate examples of storytelling techniques and adapt them for use in library outreach, instruction, or leadership contexts. 
4. Participants will develop an actionable plan to integrate storytelling practices into professional communication, whether through presentations, reports, programming, or internal advocacy.

SPEAKERS:

• Sara Gonzalo, The Promise of Justice Initiative
• Filippa Marullo Anzalone, Boston College Law School
• Autumn Chisholm, East Cleveland Public Library

COORDINATOR:

• Rita Parham, Louisiana State University

MODERATOR/COORDINATOR:

• Tarica Labossiere, University of the District of Columbia

AALL BODY OF KNOWLEDGE DOMAINS: Teaching + Training, Marketing + Outreach

CANCELLATION AND OTHER POLICIES:

No refunds will be given for any purchased AALL conference recording. This applies to non-AALL members only as the recordings are free for AALL members.

The opinions shared during this program represent the views of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect those of the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL). Recording, capturing, or using AI tools to duplicate, transcribe, or otherwise reproduce an AALL program in any form is strictly prohibited without prior written consent from AALL. This includes, but is not limited to audio, video, or any other content shared. By accessing an AALL recording, you agree to adhere to this policy.