This special episode is dedicated to the librarians and media specialists who are holding it down in their schools!  I had the honor of interviewing K.C. Boyd, Sandra Albini, and Forrest Evans, who took the time to share their personal journeys to librarianship, the significant role that librarians play in supporting students and teachers, the need for racial equity and diversity within the librarian media specialist field, and much more!  To learn more about their work, you can check out their respective websites or follow them on their social media handles:  

K.C. BOYD:  Website: kcboyd.com;  Social Media: (IG & TWITTER  - @boss_librarian)  

SANDRA ALBINI: Social Media: IG - @hoodlibrarian  

FORREST EVANS: Website: favoritelibrarian.com  Social Media: (IG - @favoritelibrarian, TWITTER - @MsForrestnoGump)

BIO: K.C. Boyd is currently a school librarian with the Washington D.C. School System.  She has previously worked as the Lead Librarian for the East St. Louis District #189 in East St. Louis, IL., a Area Library Coordinator for Chicago Public Schools and a District Coordinator for the Mayor Daley Book Club for Middle School Students.  She is a second generation educator and holds Master’s degrees in Library Information Science, Media Communications, and Education Leadership.  Boyd currently serves on the executive boards for the District of Columbia Library Association and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association.  She is an active committee member for the American Library Association Chapter Council representing Washington, D.C., American Association of School Librarians Digital Tools, American Library Association’s Center for the Future of Libraries Advisory Group, Every Library Institute and Advisory Board, and the Washington Teachers’ Union Equity Collaborative.  In addition, Boyd is a National Ambassador representing the Washington D.C. are for the Checkology Virtual Classroom and The News Literacy Project.

Sandra (Maríne) Albini earned a BA in English from Cal Poly Pomona. As an undergrad, she worked as a Foster Child Caregiver in a group home for teenage girls in L.A. County. She earned an MA in English from Cal State University, Los Angeles. Sandra has worked as an English and AVID teacher for almost two decades. She has taught in Orange County, Los Angeles County, and Santa Clara County, all at Title I schools. She occasionally teaches night classes in adult education. Sandra has recently completed an MLIS degree and Teacher Librarian credential from San José State University.  Sandra has worked as a Teacher Librarian for three years. She was also the 2020 recipient of the California State Library Association’s Leadership for Diversity scholarship. Sandra is now an active member of the CSLA Leadership for Diversity committee. 

Forrest Evans is an Atlanta-based, licensed librarian working at the Auburn Avenue Research Library. Evans has worked in various libraries from Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the south to special collections and television. The avid DC Comic Book collector combating under education, and fighting for gender equality. Their love for reading fuels my passion to circulate Black and Queer Literature, and resources. The low country native, also known for her published poetry in Pen+Brush, Lavender Review: Lesbian Poetry and Art, TQ Review: A Journal of Trans and Queer Voices, and The Apogee Journal. When the poet is not in the library, they are with their Queer Tribe combating xenophobia or sharing joy. For more information about Evans, visit favoritelibrarian.com or their official social media.