Final Call for Book Chapters: ++ Global survey [$25 Gift card, enter to win ]

 Thank you if you have responded to this call. In case you missed, I again cordially invite you to submit a chapter proposal by April 8 2021 for the forthcoming scholarly book:

The book is Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums in Achieving Civic Engagement and Social Justice in Smart Cities, to be published by IGI Global, an international publisher of progressive academic research. https://www.igi-global.com/publish/call-for-papers/call-details/5071 

First section of the book is the subject of this call for chapters. The book editorial board has a team of six professional thought leaders (for their details, see below).

For the second section of the book I invite you, now to participate and provide your input in the two surveys:

• On-going (since two weeks-- please ignore if you have already completed this): Five Minute survey: Library, Archive, and Museums' during COVID-19, a link to the survey  is here, or here: https://forms.gle/C1ZCxRiKpJNniXzQ6

• NEW: Eight Minute Post-COVID-19 survey entitled, "global survey of Library, Archive, and Museums' digital readiness in building a better “new normal.” (survey link is here :or here  https://forms.gle/PTEq3EmUfCcgpzBW6  ). 

(with a chance to win $25 gift card; some conditions apply, see below).

Editorial Board :

John Pateman, Chief Librarian / CEO, Thunder Bay Public Library, Canada

Betty J. Turock, Ph.D. Past President and Honorary Member American Library Association Professor and Dean Emerita Rutgers University School of Communication and Information

Prof. Kanwal Ameen, PhD. Vice-Chancellor, University of Home Economics, 'Former Chairperson, Dept of Information Management, University of the Punjab, Lahore'. Pakistan

Prof. P. B. Mangla, Tagore National Fellow (Govt. of India Ministry of Culture) Earlier: University of Delhi: India

 Prof. (Dr.) Ramesh C. Gaur, Dean and Director (Lib.& Inf.) Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Ministry of Culture, Government of India, New Delhi, India.

Stephen Abram, MLS CEO, Lighthouse Consulting, Inc Canada

Sincerely

Dr. Mohamed Taher, PhD., DLitt. Certificate Records & Info Mgmt. Practice. University of Toronto..

Fulbright Scholar (Rutgers Univ., NJ.,, USA).

Faculty, Seneca College, Library Information Technician Program 

Author: : Cyber Worship in Multifaith Perspectives, 2006, Scarecrow Press

Job Search The Canadian Way. 2010, Akbani Informatics

Blogger :Multifaith Information Gateway : www.multifaith.blogspot.com

Editor's Contact  Email: mt@akbani.info

===============

$$$ Chance to Win a $25  Gift CARD. $$$  You must complete, both, and entire surveys [COVID-19 survey link is here:- https://forms.gle/C1ZCxRiKpJNniXzQ6  ].

Five Minute Survey: Bridging the Digital Divide During COVID-19 -- Win a gift card & Join with book Chapter contributors

  

As a professional colleague, I request that you take five minutes of your time to complete the survey and provide me with your feedback.  Please respond by Wed., 10th March, 2021.The survey can be accessed by clicking on this link. Five Minute Survey: COVID-19

NOTE:

• We want to hear from you! Most questions are optional!

• Two questions (#8 & #10) have a sample list of trendsetters. If your institution has made a distinct contribution, and is missing, Please choose "Other" and send me your details, for the next survey probably in the coming week or so. Thanks 

We really appreciate your help. 

Thank You!

---------------

INTRODUCTON

Libraries, Archives, Museums (LAM), and community-based organizations (CBO) do have partnerships - - mainly because both are information providers. This survey is focused on the post COVID-19 era, and the strategies, that are expected or are  ready for Social Justice (SJ) & Civic Engagement (CE).

The results of the survey will  help in developing content for the forthcoming book: Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums in Achieving Civic Engagement and Social Justice in Smart Cities, a forthcoming publication. of IGI-Global. For  more details of the book visit. 

https://www.igi-global.com/publish/call-for-papers/call-details/5071

The book chapter proposal submission date is extended to March 23, 2021:  Thank you to all those who have already submitted. 

This survey is anonymous. The results of this survey will be used for scholarly purpose only.

---------------

Terminology:

>>>>>LAM =  Libraries, Archives, Museums (LAM), 

>>>> CBO =  Community-Based Organizations (CBO) 

>>>>> SJ = Social Justice 

>>>> CJ =  Civic Engagement 

>>>>“Social justice is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities.” (National Association of Social Workers)

>>>>"Civic engagement is simply fulfilling your role as a citizen in your community and society through active participation in civic life." [www.wright.edu/]  -- ""Examples can range from creating a home assessment offer to keep citizens safe, using a website as an emergency platform for community disasters, or creating an emergency response team for a disaster." [civicplus . com]

>>>>:"Libraries, archives and museums (or LAMs) coexist in a variety of organizational settings and face increasing pressure to provide more integrated access to their collections." [www.oclc . org]

>>>> "...community based organizations are providers of adult education." [Teaching Social Justice through Community Engagement https://files.eric.ed. gov/fulltext/EJ1136524. pdf ]

Thank you.

Mohamed Taher, Toronto

mt  at  akbani dot info

Call for Chapter Proposals Date Extended: March 23, 2021, Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums

 Call for Chapter Proposals Date Extended: March 23, 2021, due to a high number of requests.

This is a call for Book Chapters: Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums in Achieving Civic Engagement and Social Justice in Smart Cities

The deadline for proposal submission has been extended until March 23t due to a high number of requests.

https://www.igi-global.com/publish/call-for-papers/call-details/5071?

Thanks to everyone who has already submitted a proposal

Interfaith Literacy, Multifaith Literacy, Religious Literacy, in relation to civic engagement and social inclusion --- Call for Book Chapters:

Call for Book Chapters: Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums in Achieving Civic Engagement and Social Justice in Smart Cities

Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums in Achieving Civic Engagement and Social Justice in Smart Cities. Details are https://www.igi-global.com/publish/call-for-papers/call-details/5071

Currently, I am in the process of editing a forthcoming book entitled, Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums in Achieving Civic Engagement and Social Justice in Smart Cities, to be published by IGI Global, an international publisher of progressive academic research. 

I am certain that your contribution of scholarly work on the topics such as, Digital literacy, social inclusion community engagement, civic interfaith literacy, etc., will make an excellent addition to this book.

I would like to take this opportunity to cordially invite you to submit your proposal for consideration in this publication.

Inquiries:

Editor:
Dr. Mohamed Taher
Chief Information Officer
Canadian Multifaith Federation
mt@akbani dot info

Sincerely
Dr. Mohamed Taher, PhD., DLitt. Certificate Records & Info Mgmt. Practice. University of Toronto.
Chief Information Officer Canadian Multifaith Federation

Fulbright Scholar (Rutgers Univ, NJ.,, USA).
Faculty, Seneca College, Library Information Technician Program 
Author: : Cyber Worship in Multifaith Perspectives, 2006, Scarecrow Press
Job Search The Canadian Way. 2010, Akbani Informatics
Blogger: Multifaith Information Gateway: www.multifaith.blogspot.com

Please visit the IGI-Global Website for more details regarding this publication and to submit your work. You can also find detailed manuscript formatting and submission guidelines [https://www.igi-global.com/.../contribu.../before-you-write/]. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. email : mt@akbani dot info

Imp Dates:
Proposals Submission Deadline: February 23, 2021
Full Chapters Due: May 8, 2021

About the Book (a quick glance):
The focus of the book is on two themes, civic engagement, and social justice. This brings in two perspectives that become the value of this book. First, it is to illustrate that librarians are not just stamping books, and libraries are not just lending books. Libraries and librarians are actively engaged in social goals and encourage community-led partnerships. Second, it presents evidence that library-led engagement does facilitate in bridging the digital divide and therefore a social good.

Social inclusion and civic participation, as a social role of Libraries, Archives and Museums (LAM), have been dealt with individually (e.g., social justice in libraries, 9). The book presents a holistic approach to understanding implications of the collective work of LAM, as it evolves today.
Little of the existing research has identified the requirements of community leaders and experts (they are not even included in PEW's Digital Age survey, 1.) with regard to social inclusion or community engagement. Furthermore, the voices of LAM have not been heard collectively--presenting the other side of the coin.

Thank you very much for your consideration of this invitation, to hear from you with your proposal of 1,000 words by February 23, 2021,.

Here are a few suggested areas of research:

General areas:
e. Conduct a survey, focus group or interview with LAM leaders, and ask: If communities are creating an atmosphere for engagement, such as civic interfaith literacy programs will LAM's be interested in being collaborators?
example. ["Forum is From Interfaith Encounter to Engagement:, Stories of Interfaith Dialogue; Tackling Prejudices; Learning from Differences; Engaging a Racialized Society, and The Life Cycle of Dialogue."(2)]

Specific areas of research:
1. LAMs, Community organizations (schools, academia, NGO, non-profits) and Information Studies (LIS) are, hypothetically, mutually dependent and therefore well connected? Need evidncen based studies.
2. Digital literacy services, (e.g., media bias, fake news, civic interfaith orientation) can be more attractive, only when libraries market their services as more reliable than oral sources, deceptive sites, digital dividers, hidden Web, etc.

Objective
a. Identify plans for the next five to ten years for better social inclusion or community engagement: The book aims to bring new voices from the community and LAM- - two sides of the coin. Community leaders & experts will bring their expectations, experiences and insights (with this data, LAM community leaders and experts will bring their voices, enabling both sides to work closely, benefitting the readers, in many ways).
b. Identify projects that are short term and long term, for a better role of LAM's services in the digital age: The book will present the lessons learned from digital literacy to reduce social isolation,, and enhance civic engagement (empowering to detect channels of discrimination, hate, violence, etc.).
c. Highlight measurable outcomes for increasing satisfaction of the community: Provide current issues, trends and challenges faced by LAM's in service delivery/customer feedback, first in increasing civic engagement and second in restoring social justice.
d. Assess the accomplishments: Present the state-of-the-art review of community engagement and social justice models in practice and in curriculum 
 
 Target Audience
Community organizations
Educational leaders and faculty in iSchools
Information management leaders and professionals
Social and community specialists in smart city design
Front line workers in all public and private sectors
Policy makers engaged in training and HR in diversity
Researchers, and developers of digital tools
Recommended Topics

Part I: Digital Literacy Framework (social and civic)1. Big data literacy 2. Civic engagement literacy 3. Cultural competency literacy 4. Cyber crime literacy 5. Digital scams literacy 6. Eco-Spiritual literacy 7. Fake news literacy 8. Gender literacy 9. Hate crimes literacy 10. Religious literacy (Averting Violent Extremism)
Part II: Social Justice/Civic Engagement Framework 1. Acceptance 2. Advocacy 3. Civic-minded 4. Collaboration 5. Compassionate 6. Diversity 7. Respect
Part III: Interfaith Literacy for Civic Engagement, Strands: 1. Dialogue Dimension; 2. Dialogue of Life; 3. Dialogue of social involvement; 4. Theological dialogue; 5. Dialogue of Experience Part
IV: Emerging Trends
• Community (organizations, leaders, experts, planners, methodologists, consultants, stakeholders, participants)
1. Partnership with LAM &/or Information Studies programs: What works?
2. Social justice and civic engagement: policies, programs, process: Best practices
3. Civic Interfaith and other literacies: Lessons learned
• Information Studies Programs (organizations, faculty, researches, students, alumni, leaders, experts, planners, methodologists, consultants, stakeholders)
1. Partnership with LAM &/or Community programs: What works?
2. Digital Literacy Instruction: Models for LAM
3. Social justice and civic engagement: Train the trainer program
4. Civic Interfaith and other literacies: Hands on experience, critically evaluated success stories • LAM (organizations, leaders, experts, planners, methodologists, consultants, stakeholders, participants) 1. Partnership with Community Organizations &/or Information Studies programs: What works? 2. LAMs partnership: Public,/Private. Local, Global: What work's 3. LAM-led community activities: Lessons learned 4. Community-led activities: Success reports 5. Evaluating tools (e.g., LibQUAL) and Techniques: Best practices.
Submission Procedure
Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit on or before February 23, 2021, a chapter proposal of 1,000 to 2,000 words clearly explaining the mission and concerns of his or her proposed chapter. Authors will be notified by March 9, 2021 about the status of their proposals and sent chapter guidelines.Full chapters are expected to be submitted by May 8, 2021, and all interested authors must consult the guidelines for manuscript submissions at https://www.igi-global.com/.../contribu.../before-you-write/ prior to submission. All submitted chapters will be reviewed on a double-blind review basis. Contributors may also be requested to serve as reviewers for this project.
Note: There are no submission or acceptance fees for manuscripts submitted to this book publication, Role of Libraries, Archives, and Museums in Achieving Civic Engagement and Social Justice in Smart Cities. All manuscripts are accepted based on a double-blind peer review editorial process.
All proposals should be submitted through the eEditorial Discovery® online submission manager..

Intelligence is endowed. Wisdom is learned - Quotes from Islamic, Chinese, Israelite, Christian, & Hindu Sources

• Wisdom in Early Confucian and Israelite Traditions, By Xinzhong Yao (Routledge, 2016. p. 79): (ZiGong BCE), one of the closest disciples of Confucius, reportedly said: 'Not to tire of learning is wisdom' :

  Wisdom is an integratal part of all philosophical and religious traditions in the world. Focusing on the concept of wisdom, this book examines the difficulties and problems facing comparative studies of the early Confucian and Israelite traditions by exploring the cosmological and ethical implications of wisdom in the older layers of Christian and Confucian texts. Presenting a detailed discussion of how wisdom was understood in philosophical, religious and social contexts by the writers of the socalled early Confucian and Israelite wisdom texts, this book offers an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the significance of wisdom in the East and West, and to our knowledge of different and yet related ways of life as understood in their literature.
  
  For the Israelites the divine is YHWH, the creator of the world and of human beings, and YHWH is the sole source of human nature and wisdom, as explained in the Book of Ben Sira: He [YHWH] gave to men few days, a limited time, but granted them authority over the things upon the earth. He endowed them with strength like his own, and made them in his own image … he filled them with knowledge and understanding, and showed them good and evil. (Sir. 17:2–7)(page 122)... Continue reading (ebook)

• Intelligence is endowed. wisdom is learned, IslamiCity Bulletin
• Prophetic Wisdom – Generation Gap By: Sadullah Khan   Source: IslamiCity
• Knowledge of the Sacred, According To to S H Nasr: Intelligence is endowed with the possibility of what? -- it is endowed with the possibility of knowing the Absolute
• Wisdom of Imam Ali  Source: IslamiCity
• Narayaneeyam - Dasakam: 5 (Cosmic Evolution): Oh Guruvayoorappa! This principle of intelligence is endowed with the three gunas. Being activated by that Supreme Consciosness,and being roused by Time. The principle of Intelligence was projected by Maya.This came to be known as "MAHAT". Although a f "Prakriti" with its constituent qualities of Sathwa, Rajas and Tamas,the 'mahat' was predominantly Sathwa in nature with no separate individuality or status of its own.A bit more of "TAMAS" was then added to "Mahat"and it now came to be known as "AHAMKARA" (Egoity),rooted in separateness, difference and plurality. [see also THE ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE --(The Concept of the "VIRATA PURUSHA")]
• Daniel 1:4 : biblehub: youths in whom was no defect, who were good-looking, showing intelligence in every branch of wisdom, endowed with understanding and discerning knowledge, and who had ability for serving in the king's court; and he ordered him to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans.
• Intelligence is endowed, but wisdom learned: Holy Trinity Primary School Environmental Garden
• Wisdom is learned through the School of Hard Knocks and is the result of struggle and mistakes. When one is arguing from Wisdom, one argues from a place of folk tradition, intuition and common sense. Wisdom gives acuteness of judgment. It is the Sophia, the innate knowing that we have and aren’t aware of. This is the power attributed to the great seers, oracles and Biblical judges. Seekers and Guides: Knowledge, Wisdom and Gnosis (Paganism)
• Chinese Wisdom - Poem by Lawrence CH Hiun : audio
  In crisis, wisdom growth,
  And gained.
  Intelligence endowed,
  But wisdom is learned.
  

Robot Buddhist monk delivers message to digital generation

• Religion News: Robot monk delivers message to digital generation, Sault Ste. Marie Evening News· Extract: In an effort to reach the digital generation, a buddhist monk at thel Longquan Temple in China developed a 2-foot tall robot monk that answers simple questions and chants mantras. (Wikimedia Commons)
• Meet Xian’er, the robot monk spreading the teachings of Buddhism around China, The Toronto Star -- The creator of the two-foot-tall monk hopes the robot’s wise words can satisfy the questions of millions of Chinese Buddhists.
• Robot Monk Seeks to Merge Buddhism and Cutting Edge Tech popularmechanics-- ​The cutest bridge between technology and spirituality you'll ever see.
• This 500-Year-Old Chinese Temple Has A Robot Buddhist Monk To Help You Find Inner Peace! IndiaTimes Kunal Anand [above image courtesy: IndiaTimes]