As readers of this blog know, one of the most important training programs I offer is the series I do with my presenting partner Robin Bradford entitled, Actively Anti-Racist Service to Leisure Readers. We have an entire page about it here.
One of guiding principles that you are required to agree with before hiring us [and let me tell you, some people have NOT hired us because of this requirement] is that LIBRARIES ARE NOT NEUTRAL. They aren't now and they never have been.
I our program, Robin and I, actively attack ALA for not supporting this stance even as they have added a 9th Principle to the ALA Code of Ethics which basically says you should abandon neutrality in order to fulfill said principle. That 9th Principle reads:
“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.”
--Passed by ALA Council 6/29/21: https://www.ala.org/news/member-news/2021/07/ala-adopts-new-code-ethics-principle-racial-and-social-justice
Well, it turns out that there is a committee who has also been working on this, behind the scenes for a while now, and on Monday at ALA they are sharing their results in person and in the virtual conference:
News You Can Use: Updates from the Working Group on Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice.Virtual and In PersonMonday, June 272:30-3:30Convention Center Rm 151 B
Over the last year, the Working Group on Intellectual Freedom and Social Justice has been exploring alternatives to neutrality rhetoric. In this session, you will have the opportunity to learn about three frameworks that can be used to inform how we work with our communities: radical empathy, trauma-informed response, and cultural humility. This will also be another chance for dialogue about these topics before the Working Group submits its report to the ALA Executive Board. Please join us as we consider these ways to help us build and strengthen trust with our users.
The speaker is the head of the Committee, Martin Garnar, the Director of the Amherst College library. As an alum, Friend of the Amherst College Library, and the parent of a current student, I was able to have a great conversation with Garnar about the progress of the committee when I was on campus in late May. He is one of the people fighting the good fight. When we finished our conversation, I realized that the word I chose to summarize our conversation was "heartened. At least Garnar has things moving in the right direction through his committee.
I will attend the program above to hear what he has to say officially, and then it is up to the ALA Executive Council to take action when they meet in July. After that, Garnar and I plan to meet up in late August [when I am on campus again] to talk about next steps So stay tuned.
I will say, this conference is the final chance for ALA to finally kick "neutrality" to the curb. I think so, Garnar thinks so, and the next 2 ALA Presidents seem willing. at least unofficially. Of course anything can happen, but you know Robin and I won't give up no matter what, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, I also wanted to share some more perspective on why Libraries are NOT, and NEVER HAVE BEEN neutral.
First, there is this article from PW, "Once More for Those in the Back: Libraries Are Not Neutral," featuring five prominent library educators defending the profession’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion You can access that article for free at this link. It serves as an eloquent response to the loudest supporters of neutrality-- who are 100% in the wrong.
Second you can watch an hour long presentation on the topic by Dr. Andrea Jamison as part of the Illinois Library Association's Noon Network programming. It is entitled, "Balancing Equity and Freedom in Collection Development Policies," and you can view it free here.
One way or another, this neutrality discussion is coming to a head and will be resolved soon. Get yourself up to speed with those two links right now.
If you are not attending ALA Annual nor are part of the virtual conference, don't worry. You have these links now and I will have a full report on the program with Garnar posting on Tuesday morning.
Back tomorrow with my full ALA Annual klick off post including the blog recap schedule.
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