Iris Afantchao
Iris Afantchao is a MLIS student from Windsor, CT working in archives and academic libraries. Growing up in a Togolese family began their love for Black cultural heritage, which is only supplemented by their exploration of sports history, gender/sexuality, and zines. Iris is a recent graduate of Smith College after studying Government with an Archives concentration. She volunteers at the Sexual Minorities Archives, tries to make the reading room an approachable space, and finds community with other marginalized library and museum workers. Iris’ current professional interests include oral histories, instruction, documentaries, and more. They find inspiration in book arts, fashion, and nature.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Iris completed a summer 2024 practicum with Magik Press, a micropress studio based in New London, CT. Of note was the Zine Party hosted at the New Haven Pride Center on June 1st with required covid-19 protocols. The event featured local zine makers, musicians, and food!
Iris hopes to continue learning about indie publications and printing techniques such as letterpress and cyanotype.
Iris also attended the Rare Books and Manuscript Section 2024 conference for the first time in Costa Mesa, CA, June 25-28, and was able to reunite with past colleagues and project partners.
Iris started a new position as an Acquisitions Specialist at Amherst College in September 2023.
Iris Afantchao will participate in the AUC Woodruff Library x STAND Archives Residency with four other archivists/memory workers dedicated to learning ethical ways to document student activists and their movements. This year’s topic, “Archiving Joy and Trauma: The Humanization of BIPOC Communities”, will take place in September 2023 and culminate in the creation of new and updated educational resources. Project STAND hopes these tools will create “an ecosystem of care, including knowledge sharing and collaborative learning between a network of information professionals.”
MY SJ4A ROAD MAP [STRATEGIC EDUCATION PLAN]
FALL 2024
CIS 675: Community-Engaged Scholarship
This is an e-Portfolio (CE-eP) created during my time as a student at the University of Alabama’s School of Library and Information Sciences. This work fulfills the requirements of the course CIS 675 Community Engagement. Through this website, I will highlight and evaluate the community-engaged practices of KyKy Archives, a “digital archive and educational resources focused on lesbian, queer, trans, and gender non-conforming people in the African diaspora (KyKy Archives, n.d.).” Their work has included a digital archive, printing and distribution of zines and posters, and leading workshops.
Evaluating the Community-Engaged Practices of KyKy Archives – https://isafantchao-cis675-fall24.myportfolio.com
SUMMER 2024
LS 570: Internship
I was surprised by all of the car problems I had this summer! It caused most of my work to shift to remote besides direct event preparation, but I still learned a lot through discussions and research. I hope to make up for the in-person opportunities I missed by continuing to work with the Magik Press studio this fall.
FALL 2023
CIS 668: Social Justice and Inclusion Advocacy
I have created this Social Justice ePortfolio (SJ-eP) as part of my work for CIS 668
(Social Justice and Inclusion Advocacy) course during fall 2023. In my SJ-eP I propose social justice actions based on analysis of existing communication and information responses to working class artists seeking guidance about collaborating beyond non-profits (while recognizing potential exploitation from such organizations) through the micropress and art education space Magik Press, located in New London, Connecticut.
I also propose and implement a responsive strategies and actions plan (as relevant) to
further community needs, expectations, and representation in the specific setting and workforce environment of this studio to identify future directions of progressive growth and professional practice. The SJ-eP provides a glimpse of social justice actions proposed and/or taken through application of select systematic methods. It documents this process upon reflection of this limited term to gather insights that can get
operationalized in greater depth during future initiatives.
Amplifying Artistic Autonomy: Building Community through the Un*named Zine Library –isafantchao-cis668-fall23.myportfolio.com
SUMMER 2023
CIS 650: Applying Diversity Leadership Theories and Praxis
I have created this Diversity & Inclusion ePortfolio (D&P-eP) as part of my work for the CIS 650 (Applying Diversity Leadership Theories & Praxis) course during Summer 2023. In my D&P-eP I analyze existing diversity and inclusion responses for the largely Black in Hartford’s bordering communities of Wilson and Deerfield in Windsor, Connecticut in the context of Windsor Public Library – Wilson Branch’s services. I also propose a range of responsive strategies to further cultural competence and effective leadership in the diverse workforce environment. As part of my analysis, I critically evaluate a variety of existing information responses (e.g., collections, services, programs, resources, policies, and best/promising practices) to ensure equality/equity of representation, access, and information use of diverse stakeholders in the library’s community-centered setting. The focus is on an evaluation of website-based and/or on-site information offerings. I also develop a strategic diversity action plan for Wilson Branch to identify future directions of progressive growth and professional practice.
An Examination of Website-Based Information Offerings of the Windsor Public Library System –isafantchao-cis650div-sum23.myportfolio.com