Alternatives to Neutrality with ALA Office of Intellectual Freedom

Today I am sharing the press release that came out from ALA's Office of Intellectual Freedom entitled, "ALA Working Group on Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice schedules online discussions on potential alternatives to neutralit.y"

The event for Public libraries is Monday-- April 25th. There are also specific events for School and Academic libraries as well.

I am looking at this event with a hopeful, but skeptical eye. Please note, this is still the group that defended Nazi's right to use a public library meeting space. This was never okay, despite how ALA OIF talked around the issue to make it seem okay. As the granddaughter of a Holocaust refugee, I think they owe everyone an apology-- then and now.

And I say now because the 9th Principle of the ALA Code of Ethics that was passed in June of 2021, now no longer allow ALA OIF to justify allowing hate into our libraries. Obviously the office of Intellectual Freedom has a problem not following its own Code of Ethics these days, hence the needs to find alternatives almost a full year after the Ethics told them to.

I am hoping that these discussions lead us to abandon the false idea of neutrality-- which the 9th Principle requires we do. As it states:

“We affirm the inherent dignity and rights of every person. We work to recognize and dismantle systemic and individual biases; to confront inequity and oppression; to enhance diversity and inclusion; and to advance racial and social justice in our libraries, communities, profession, and associations through awareness, advocacy, education, collaboration, services, and allocation of resources and spaces.”

This statement literally tells us to stop being neutral. It makes allowing Nazis in your building against our Code of Ethics. And yet, officially ALA is still defending the old ways.  

Again, I am hopeful, but skeptical. I will be there and I will write up a report of what happens. But, you can be there too if you want.

See below and sign up. You can access it from the ALA site directly, here or read and use the links where indicated below.

ALA Working Group on Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice schedules online discussions on potential alternatives to neutrality

Contact:

Deborah Caldwell-Stone

Director

Office for Intellectual Freedom

American Library Association

dstone@ala.org

CHICAGO — The ALA Working Group on Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice will host three online sessions for members and library workers that will provide opportunities to learn more about potential alternatives to neutrality.  The alternatives to neutrality for discussion include radical empathy, trauma-informed response, and cultural humility.

Meeting times:

Monday, April 25th at 1 p.m. Central (Focus on public libraries) (Zoom Registration Link)

Tuesday, May 17th at 4 p.m. Central; (Focus on school libraries) (Zoom Registration Link)

Wednesday, June 8th at 2 p.m. Central; (Focus on academic libraries) (Zoom Registration Link)

Each session will begin with an overview of the working group's charge to explore alternatives to neutrality rhetoric before giving attendees a chance to learn more about and discuss one of the three alternatives in breakout rooms.  Participants will then reconvene to share the highlights from each discussion.

Though the sessions will be open to all, each session will focus on specific library types, since the Working Group recognizes that different approaches may be necessary depending on the nature of the communities served by the library.

We hope you are able to join us for these important conversations.  Registration is limited to 300 participants for each session.  We are also planning a final session at the Annual Conference, which will be announced in the coming weeks.