Subject Guides: Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Libraries: BibliObservatory

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Bibliobservatory Transcripts

The South Carolina State Library is pleased to announce a new bilingual podcast, BibliObservatory. This podcast is a new series of the LibraryVoicesSC podcast available at libraryvoices.podbean.com.

The podcast is co-hosted by Caroline Smith and Ivette Villarreal, who search for the connection between people’s favorite books or childhood stories and how those stories define their lives. Episodes will also be provided in Spanish.

Listeners can find LibraryVoicesSC on Podbean, Stitcher, and Tune In Radio or add us on your favorite podcast app.

For more information, please contact Caroline Smith.

View all BibliObservatory Episodes

Latest Episodes

BibliObservatory - Gigi Towers - Episode 15

January 27, 2021

For Guillermina (Gigi) Towers, growing up was a very rich cultural experience. Panama and Puerto Rico are the axis of her family history, as well as all of the stories and tales she heard from her early years. History and tradition, Spanish and English, traveling overseas, and a short version of her first name are only a little hint of her marvelous world that always give her love, comfort, and a sense of direction.

Bibliobservatory Transcripts, Photos, and Nomination Forms

BibliObservatorio - Gigi Towers - Ep 15 - Español

January 27, 2021

La infancia de Guillermina (Gigi) Towers fue de una gran riqueza cultural. Panamá y Puerto Rico fueron el eje central de su historia familiar, así como lo fueron aquellos cuentos e historias que escuchó de pequeña. Historia y tradición, el español y el inglés, viajes por distintas latitudes y la versión abreviada de su primer nombre son algunas de las claves de su mundo maravilloso que le da amor, la reconforta, y le ofrece guía.

Transcripciones de BibliObservatorio, fotografías y formularios para nominaciones

BibliObservatory - Ellen Stringer - Episode 14

December 17, 2020

Ellen Stringer (Maryland, PA) calls Richmond (VA) her hometown. The Cow and the Silo would be the first of many stories that she remembered read by her mother. These stories mark the beginning of a path in which stories and books became essential not just in her life but the lives of families and diverse communities that she served as a childrens and youth librarian. Why are books and storytelling so important for us and indispensable during challenging times? Find out in this episode!

All Episodes

Episode 1 (English) March 20, 2019
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Deborah DePaoli, children’s advocate, shares her memories growing up in California, surrounded by a diverse culture that encouraged her to become trilingual and exposed her to Braille materials from the Library of Congress delivered at home. Hear her heartfelt stories from her childhood about her family and a beloved teacher whose personal story about her father told in the classroom made a long-lasting impact on her. Find out how the books she read and the special stories are closely connected to her life.
Episodio 1 (Español) March 20, 2019
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En este primer episodio de BibliObservatorio, Caroline Smith, consultora en servicios de inclusión y diversidad, entrevista a Ivette Villarreal, quien indaga sobre la conexión entre los cuentos favoritos leídos o contados en la infancia y cómo éstos definen la vida de la gente.

Sus primeras memorias la llevan a los cuentos de Tío Tigre y Tío Conejo contados y recreados por su padre. Estas narraciones de la tradición oral de Venezuela entretuvieron su niñez y jugarían un rol importante para ella al encontrarse con el legado de Rafael Rivero Oramas, narrador y cineasta venezolano, quien a lo largo de su vida se dedicó a fomentar la lectoescritura en la infancia por vía editorial y radial.

Animada por remembranzas alegres, crea BibliObservatorio, plataforma multimedia para promover la lectoescritura en la infancia y adolescencia, además de propiciar la escucha activa y conversaciones conscientes; en BibliObservatorio, convergen la magnificencia del universo vista a través de la infancia y un poema de Rubén Darío, en donde el libro es un telescopio, para explorar cuentos que crean conciencia sobre la unicidad del ser.
Episodio 2 (Español) Deborah DePaoli - April 2, 2019
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Deborah DePaoli, defensora por la infancia, comparte algunas sus memorias de su niñez, rodeada por una diversidad cultural que la impulsó a ser trilingüe y en donde fue expuesta a materiales Braille enviados por la Biblioteca del Congreso de Estados Unidos. Escuche sus sentidas memorias familiares, y sus experiencias en comunidades migrantes y de habla hispana en California, a sí mismo, por qué es importante para las comunidades inmigrantes mantener el idioma de origen en el hogar.
Episode 2 (English) Deborah DePaoli - April 2, 2019
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Deborah DePaoli, children’s advocate, shares her memories growing up in California, surrounded by a diverse culture that encouraged her to become trilingual and exposed her to Braille materials from the Library of Congress delivered at home. Hear her heartfelt stories from her childhood about her family and a beloved teacher whose personal story about her father told in the classroom made a long-lasting impact on her. Find out how the books she read and the special stories are closely connected to her life.
Episodio 3 (Español) Berta Berriz - April 17, 2019
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La historia de Berta Berriz es un viaje que nos lleva a aquel tiempo cuando ella era una niña pequeña en La Habana, Cuba, y escuchaba los cuentos de su abuelita, y cómo esas historias la ayudaron después a superar los retos que enfrentó como niña inmigrante en los Estados Unidos. Ella nos relata en BibliObservatorio las leyendas, episodios históricos y poesía que la han formado, la han emponderado e inspirado a lo largo de su vida. Este episodio es un importante recordatorio acerca del abrazar nuestra propia identidad cultural como un proceso dinámico y significativo que siempre está evolucionando.
Episode 3 (English) Berta Berriz - April 17, 2019
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Berta Berriz’s story is a journey that takes us to a time when she was a little girl in La Habana, Cuba, listening to her grandmother's stories, and how those stories helped her overcome later on the challenges she faced as an immigrant child in the USA. She recounts in BibliObservatory the legends, historic episodes, and poetry that have shaped her, empowered her, and inspired her. This episode is an important reminder about embracing our own cultural identity as a meaningful and dynamic process that is always evolving.
Episode 4 (English) Beckee Garris - May 7, 2019
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Based on her early memories, Beckee Garris, a citizen of Catawba Nation, South Carolina, shares tales about the Yesahuri, or Little People. She also shares the wisdom of her grandfather and great grandfather, and in addition, relates some stories written about her tribe, as well as ones maintained throughout Catawba Culture. In this episode, the legacy of oral tradition reveals how that little girl was encouraged to honor the person she is now.

Basado en los recuerdos más tempranos de su infancia, Beckee Garris, ciudadana de la Nación Catawba, en Carolina del Sur, comparte los cuentos sobre los Yesahuri (la gente pequeña). Asimismo, la sabiduría que le fue transmitida por su abuelo y su bisabuelo; la historia escrita sobre su tribu y la que pervive en la cultura indígena Catawba. En este episodio, el legado de la tradición oral revela cómo esa pequeña niña fue animada a honrar a la persona que es hoy.

Episodio traducido de la versión original en inglés.
Episodio 5 (Español) Juan Felipe Herrera - May 24, 2019
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El poeta laureado Juan Felipe Herrera (Fowler, California), vino a Carolina del Sur para la celebración del evento Mentes Juveniles Soñadoras y pasó a visitar BibliObservatorio. Compartió algunos de los cuentos que escuchaba de niño. Eran historias de su familia que le sorprendían y le maravillaban. Relató también algunas de sus vivencias predilectas de esa época. Son memorias llenas de afecto, retos, chispa y juegos verbales. Descubra en este episodio cómo esas historias y experiencias llevaron a Juanito, un niño migrante, por los caminos de la poesía.
Episode 5 (English) Juan Felipe Herrera - May 24, 2019
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The poet laureate Juan Felipe Herrera (Fowler, California), came to South Carolina for the Young Minds Dreaming Poetry Celebration and stopped by to visit BibliObservatory. He shared some of the stories that he heard when he was a child, family stories that surprised him and filled him with wonder. He also retold some of his favorite childhood experiences. They are memories filled with affection, challenges, sparks, and verbal games. Discover in this episode how those stories and experiences took Juanito, a migrant child, toward the path of poetry.
Episode 6 (English) Allen Hinnant - June 18, 2019
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Allen Hinnant, a traditional music advocate in Sumter, South Carolina, shares stories from his childhood and his experiences growing up in the fifties in the small town of Kingstree, South Carolina, with a caring family. He tells us how kindness and children’s books have guided him since then and also brought him clarity in the midst of confusion and stereotypes.

Allen Hinnant, defensor de la música tradicional en Sumter (Carolina del Sur). Comparte su infancia y sus experiencias creciendo en los años cincuenta en un pequeño pueblo del Condado de Kingstree en el seno de una familia cariñosa. Él nos cuenta cómo la amabilidad y los libros infantiles le han guiado desde entonces, y también le han dado claridad en medio de la confusión y de los estereotipos.
Episode 7 (English) Frank Baker - October 8, 2019
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Frank Baker is a media literacy advocate who has published five books on the topic for parents, educators, and students. In this episode, he shares his early history with media and how he became interested in taking a critical look at how stories are told. He also gives a few suggestions for encouraging media literacy in younger generations of students.
Episodio 8 (Español) Lucy Vicioso-Harris - October 31, 2019
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Este episodio nos lleva a “Nica, La Suerte”, contada por Lucy Vicioso-Harris (Bogotá, Colombia), quien nos relata por qué este audio libro que escuchaba de pequeña una y otra vez se convertiría en uno de los tesoros de su infancia; y cómo el mudarse a Polonia enriquecería su adolescencia e impactaría positivamente su vida. Asimismo, nos ofrece su visión sobre la formación lectora a temprana edad como factor vital para el bienestar humano.
Episode 8 (English) Lucy Vicioso-Harris - October 31, 2019
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This episode takes us to Nica, La Suerte, retold by Lucy Vicioso-Harris (Bogotá, Colombia), who tells us why playing this audiobook over and over again became one of her most treasured childhood memories, and how moving to Polonia when she was teenager made a positive impact on her life. Furthermore, she offers us her views on early literacy as a vital factor for human well-being.
Episode 9 - Ann Chadwell Humphries - December 27, 2019
Episode 10 - Charles David Brooks - January 31, 2020
Episode 11 - Steve Sawyer - February 28, 2020
Episode 12 - Dr. Pat Feehan - April 2, 2020
Episode 13 (Catawba and Spanish) Beckee Garris - November 16, 2020
Episode 14 - Ellen Stringer - December 17, 2020
more... less...

Ellen Stringer (Maryland, PA) calls Richmond (VA) her hometown. The Cow and the Silo would be the first of many stories that she remembered read by her mother. These stories mark the beginning of a path in which stories and books became essential not just in her life but the lives of families and diverse communities that she served as a childrens and youth librarian. Why are books and storytelling so important for us and indispensable during challenging times? Find out in this episode!
Episodio 15 (Español) Gigi Towers - January 27, 2021
more... less...

La infancia de Guillermina (Gigi) Towers fue de una gran riqueza cultural. Panamá y Puerto Rico fueron el eje central de su historia familiar, así como lo fueron aquellos cuentos e historias que escuchó de pequeña. Historia y tradición, el español y el inglés, viajes por distintas latitudes y la versión abreviada de su primer nombre son algunas de las claves de su mundo maravilloso que le da amor, la reconforta, y le ofrece guía.
Episode 15 - Gigi Towers - January 27, 2021
more... less...

For Guillermina (Gigi) Towers, growing up was a very rich cultural experience. Panama and Puerto Rico are the axis of her family history, as well as all of the stories and tales she heard from her early years. History and tradition, Spanish and English, traveling overseas, and a short version of her first name are only a little hint of her marvelous world that always give her love, comfort, and a sense of direction.