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Once out of prison in 2005, James earned his MLIS from University of Texas at Austin. It was at his first ALA Annual Conference, at the invitation of his advisor and ALA President Dr. Loriene Roy, that he was introduced to the Prisoners Forum. Despite his apprehensions about sharing his formerly incarcerated status, the forum welcomed him with open arms, and he became chair not long afterwards. James also served as director-at-large of the Intellectual Freedom Round Table. He\u2019s also widely recognized for his fine-free interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights \u2013 the impetus behind a historic movement to phase out late fees from public libraries.<\/p>\n Largely inspired by the difficulty he faced in the US carceral system, James has dedicated his own life to making others\u2019 easier. He was a driving force behind an amendment to the \u201cPrisoners\u2019 Right to Read,\u201d a document detailing the ALA\u2019s interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights regarding the rights of incarcerated individuals to access information. This document has become a mainstay in any conversation about the role information access plays in the reform of not just the United States incarceration system but in other countries\u2019 systems as well. James\u2019 work has influenced national and international standards, incorporating the voices of formerly incarcerated individuals themselves into prison library reform.<\/p>\n After learning of James\u2019 extensive resume, it\u2019s unsurprising that such a person would be driven by empathy, something he deems the most important aspect of librarianship. In his words: \u201cKnowledge is great, but knowledge without empathy is rote service. And I don\u2019t think that works for the world in the long run. You have to be able to feel what those around you are feeling and respond in kind.\u201d Perhaps we wouldn\u2019t be ill-advised in adopting a little bit of James\u2019 guiding philosophy \u2013 in both the library world and the world at\u00a0 large \u2013 to help us through our present struggles in the field.<\/p>\n When faced with the current crisis regarding book-banning censorship, and inequitable access to information resources, we can turn to people like James (if there can ever really be anyone like such a singular individual) for wisdom. When asked about his thoughts on the current atmosphere in the field, James reflected on his memory of the long-fought battle for equitable access and had this to offer: \u201cIt\u2019s hard to get through this time. Because it is so thoroughly unpleasant and even life-threatening for some librarians, but eventually, this too shall pass. And we will be stronger for it.\u201d<\/p>\n And isn\u2019t that a comforting thought?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Screenshot](\"http:\/\/wordpress.library.illinois.edu\/ala\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/74\/2024\/01\/JamesOralHistory2-300x170.jpg\")