SHSU Professor of Library Science and Technology Visits Home of Gloria Steinem for Talking Circle

Professor of Library Science and Technology Visits Home of Gloria Steinem for Talking Circle

Rose Brock, a professor in the Department of Library Science and Technology at Sam Houston State University, was recently invited to the home of legendary journalist and activist, Gloria Steinem, to contribute to a Talking Circle discussion about libraries and the state of literacy in the United States.

A passionate advocate for youth literacy, Brock has spent more than 30 years inspiring young people to become lifelong readers. The Sam Houston State professor is co-founder of the North Texas Teen Book Festival, a nationally recognized, library-run event that connects young readers with authors and literature. Her contributions to the field have earned recognition from the American Library Association, the Texas Library Association and Library Journal, which named her a national "Mover & Shaker." Brock is also an accomplished author and editor whose works include “Young Adult Literature in Action: A Librarian's Guide,” “Hope Wins” and “Hope Nation.”

“When I received the email inviting me to Gloria’s home to participate in her Talking Circle meeting about literacy, I was a bit gobsmacked. I immediately thought they had inadvertently sent it to the wrong person,” said Brock. “Once I confirmed that, in fact, the invitation was for Rose Brock from SHSU, I was both overwhelmed and in a bit of a state of disbelief that my professional work and efforts to support literacy for young people had somehow come to the attention of her foundation, and they wanted me to come have a seat in her circle.”

According to her website, Steinem is a writer, political activist and feminist organizer. Steinem is a widely recognized leader of second-wave feminism in the United States during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Steinem helped found New York Magazine while contributing as a political columnist and editor. Throughout her distinguished career, Steinem has earned numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, which was presented to her by President Barack Obama in 2013.  While her awards reflect decades of advocacy and leadership, her influence also lives on in the Gloria Steinem Foundation’s Talking Circles, discussion-based gatherings designed to encourage listening, storytelling and collective reflection.

“One of the things that was most exciting about being included in the Talking Circle was having no idea who else was invited,” said Brock. “Besides getting information from Gloria’s Foundation about what date and when to arrive, there was no information about the other guests, so arriving and immediately seeing two renowned librarians that I deeply admire – Mychal Threets, PBS’s resident librarian and the new host of “Reading Rainbow” and Amanda Jones, a prominent intellectual freedom advocate and recipient of the American Library Association’s Paul Howard Award for Courage, was such a joy.”

Concerns about declining literacy rates and growing debates over book access in public school libraries have drawn national attention in recent years. For librarians and literacy advocates, these challenges have only reinforced their commitment to promoting literacy, encouraging lifelong learning and supporting the communities they serve.

“As a career-long educator, serving young people has always been at the heart of my professional work, so hearing others share about how they overcome the limitations they face for their own efforts and find creative solutions to work past them was really inspiring,” said Brock. “While our work may not always get showcased, our service to others matters deeply. This is what I want my library science students at SHSU to understand about librarianship; service is truly at the heart of what we do.”

During the Talking Circle, participants shared how public, academic and special libraries, including those serving incarcerated individuals, inspire their work. The discussion generated new ideas, renewed enthusiasm and strengthened a collective commitment to encouraging young people to read.

“When thinking about the future of the nation’s libraries and the role literacy will play in society, I think libraries and librarians will prove to be more valuable and important than ever,” said Brock. “When a population is literate, communities grow and improve in numerous ways, and libraries are at the cornerstones of that growth. Libraries are the ultimate equalizers in society, providing free, open access to information, technology and community services for everyone and the librarians working in those spaces are the community anchors making it all happen.”