Save the date! Elements of Empowerment A sequel to the 2019 Defeating Bullies Conference A free virtual conference coming to a computer near you. The last several years have not only seen an uptick in exciting diversity and social justice work and scholarship in libraries and related organizations, but also in the negative comments and opposing opinions that have been registered as a result. Free speech is certainly something that we embrace, but harassment, bullying, trolling, doxxing, and other mentally and physically harmful behaviors go well beyond free speech and cannot be tolerated. In 2019 we began these important conversations and linked these phenomena to library and information science, and now in 2021, we will continue this work by strategizing ways to combat bullying and trolling. On March 23-24, 2021, we will hear from experts on cyberbullying, LIS mental health, intellectual freedom, and being an active bystander/up-stander. This event is being organized by Dr. Nicole Cooke and Teneka Jones Williams (GPLS) and is being sponsored by the Augusta Baker Endowed Chair at the University of South Carolina. Sign up to be notified when registration opens: https://sites.google.com/view/elementsofempowerment/home<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fsites.google.com%2Fview%2Felementsofempowerment%2Fhome%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3ji5L_GRxdioh1ZWl2iEPQ-K1pfEi_jbAwjfPkdrgvi7B7tPa0ln7n8Ds&data=04%7C01%7Clancasterc5%40michigan.gov%7Cd7817da491f148781e4f08d8b9acf2f6%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637463499751319993%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=jW3AjEr7WPQHR1vAqLr1zM%2BS%2FNbp5mNehhdgDBiqIFo%3D&reserved=0> Now is our time to ACT! --- Nicole A. Cooke, Ph.D., M.Ed, MLS Augusta Baker Endowed Chair and Associate Professor School of Information Science 1501 Greene Street | Columbia, SC 29208 ncooke@mailbox.sc.edu<mailto:NCOOKE@mailbox.sc.edu> / @BakerChair / bit.ly/augusta-baker<https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2Faugusta-baker&data=04%7C01%7Clancasterc5%40michigan.gov%7Cd7817da491f148781e4f08d8b9acf2f6%7Cd5fb7087377742ad966a892ef47225d1%7C0%7C0%7C637463499751329951%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=8ej8U1Vus8TYHh2Jcos1%2FICNRQFixBP2hvl68QM%2Fze4%3D&reserved=0> Pronouns: She/Her/Hers [cid:image001.png@01D6EBFB.62D3BA90] Cathy Lancaster Youth Services Coordinator Library of Michigan 702 W. Kalamazoo St. Lansing, MI 48915 My Pronouns: She/Her - See www.mypronouns.org<http://www.mypronouns.org/> to learn more. LancasterC5@michigan.gov<mailto:LancasterC5@michigan.gov> | 517-335-8129 | www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan<http://www.mi.gov/libraryofmichigan> Follow us: Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/libraryofmichigan/> | Twitter<https://twitter.com/libraryofmich> | Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/libraryofmichigan/>