[Michlib-l] Discomfort with Wednesday post about "neutrality"

Thu Apr 22 11:39:37 EDT 2021

I would like to second what Amy has said.
It can be a fine and hard line to determine, as information can have
political ramifications, but librarians are not necessarily to use their
job to make a political stance.  Everyone should feel welcome in the
library, everyone.
Kat Boyer
Director
Benton Harbor Public Library
213 E Wall St.
Benton Harbor, MI 49022

On Thu, Apr 22, 2021 at 11:09 AM Amelia Nolan via Michlib-l <
michlib-l at mcls.org> wrote:

> Karyn, I would like to thank you for posting your concerns to the listserv
> that many of us share about the profession becoming too political. I think
> the fact that many emailed you privately but were afraid to put their names
> out there speaks volumes.
>
>
> Activism isn't our calling but instead we should continue to provide the
> public with equal access to information of all stripes and to treat all
> people with dignity and respect. I believe that is what makes libraries
> such vital places in a democracy and makes me proud to be in this
> profession.
>
>
>
> *Amy Nolan*
>
> *Children's Services Supervisor*
>
> *St. Joseph Public Library*
>
> *269-983-7167*
>
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org> on behalf of Jennifer
> Noble via Michlib-l <michlib-l at mcls.org>
> *Sent:* Wednesday, April 21, 2021 7:31 PM
> *To:* kruley at uproc.lib.mi.us
> *Cc:* michlib-l at mcls.org
> *Subject:* Re: [Michlib-l] Discomfort with Wednesday post about
> "neutrality"
>
> Hello all,
>
> I don't feel qualified to touch on the Hillsdale article cited, nor really
> to open up a discussion about racism in general, as a white woman. I would
> like to respectfully push back on the point raised about community
> demographics, though. While I agree that we should make sure all patrons
> can see themselves represented in our materials, and I myself have fallen
> back on buying "less diverse" titles that I think my community will
> appreciate more when my budget is tight, I don't think demographics should
> be a priority consideration when doing collection development. We can all
> read/watch/listen to and enjoy books and movies about people who differ
> from ourselves; in fact, I'd say that's frequently the point of fiction,
> and not uncommon in nonfiction. We don't have to force our patrons to read
> about topics they have no interest in, but we shouldn't inhibit their
> imaginations for the sake of hewing strictly to reported demographics,
> either.
>
> There will always be loud patrons who disagree with something we're doing,
> rightly or wrongly. But there will also always be patrons who silently
> appreciate that we got that title by a person of color or LGBTQ person or
> religious person that they were too afraid to request under their own name
> in case we judged them. Let's not forget the latter group as we shape our
> collections, programs, and policies. After all, they pay taxes, too.
>
> Sincerely,
> Jen Noble
> Adult & Teen Services Librarian
>
> On Wed, Apr 21, 2021, 6:03 PM Karyn Ruley via Michlib-l <
> michlib-l at mcls.org> wrote:
>
>>   Hello to everyone who responded to my post to Kim True. I had sent two
>> more
>> responses that did not get posted, I believe due to an email/subscription
>> mixup. They are below. I continue to get emailed, off-list thank yous and
>> encouragement for what I said, and I appreciate them immensely but REALLY
>> wish someone would post to the listserv so it does not appear I am the
>> only
>> one in the library world with these thoughts. The only time a difference
>> is
>> ever made is when people are vocal and unafraid.
>>
>>   I'd also like to say that just because training exists promoting the
>> topics
>> we've been discussing, it doesn't prove they are correct or that they
>> should
>> exist at all.
>>
>>   We've seen a couple sources posted to support the topics. I am posting
>> one
>> that does not. It perfectly illustrates that there ARE two sides involved.
>> We are not to be promoting this with other people's tax dollars. Nor
>> would I
>> be posting anything on a library social media page arguing against it.
>> Offer
>> books, documentaries, etc. from both perspectives for your patrons to
>> decide
>> for themselves. And continue to not discriminate when it comes to who has
>> access.
>>
>> https://imprimis.hillsdale.edu/critical-race-theory-fight/
>>
>> Thank you, THIS will be the last of my comments on this specific post.
>>
>> Karyn Ruley
>> Technology Associate
>>
>> Crawford County Library
>>
>> (1st response)
>> Hello -
>>
>>   First, I would like to thank everyone for their kind and civil
>> responses. I
>> know this is a delicate subject. That being said, I actually did receive
>> several responses to my post - all of them positive, all of them private.
>> Many
>> unfortunately fear speaking out about this topic when they have a certain
>> view. I wish more would find the courage.
>>
>>   I'd like to clarify my use of the word neutral. As libraries, we are
>> funded
>> with taxpayer dollars and are therefore not to take public stances on
>> political issues. This IS a political issue with opposing sides and
>> statistics, some believing that white privilege is not a true concept,
>> that
>> our country is not systemically racist, that "decolonizing" our
>> collections is
>> wrong, etc. Posting about diversity and inclusivity (linked topics) DOES
>> upset
>> a good portion of the patronage whether you agree with the subject and
>> feel
>> it's your mission or not. We have to be mindful that we serve our
>> individual
>> communities and not our own causes with our library positions and other
>> citizens' tax dollars.
>>
>>   As long as we are following the ALA guidelines and asking ourselves the
>> questions I mentioned, as well as creating collections that fit our
>> communities and not our own ideals, we are on the right track. It is not
>> our
>> place to tell our patrons what to think or how to behave on the world
>> scale,
>> it is our job to provide them with materials that fit their needs and
>> interests to let them make up their own minds.
>>
>>
>> Karyn Ruley
>> Technology Associate
>>
>> Crawford County Library
>>
>> (2nd response)
>> Hello, again -
>>
>>   I feel I need to clarify a couple more things and then I am no longer
>> commenting on this particular post as I don’t believe this is the place
>> for
>> continuous debate. I will remain a voice on the subject and any other if I
>> feel I need to be, and hope the fear of cancellation doesn’t keep others
>> quiet.
>>
>>   I want to say I didn’t assume everyone’s patron demographics are
>> majority
>> white. I was originally speaking directly to the OP and took a look at her
>> area. The stats I saw showed the population to be 94% white. I don’t live
>> there, that may not be the most accurate number, but it gave me an idea
>> before I made any assumptions.
>>
>>   The ALA Code of Ethics may not use the words “be neutral” but it does
>> use
>> the word unbiased and states that we should “distinguish between our
>> personal convictions and professional duties and not allow our personal
>> beliefs to interfere with fair representation of the aims of our
>> institutions or the provision of access to their information resources.”
>>
>>   This type of neutrality is not the neutrality Elie Wiesel spoke of. Our
>> service is to be fair and impartial and I’m sure the majority of the
>> libraries on this listserv would already consider their service as such.
>> But
>> we are not to go looking for problems. If a group feels underrepresented
>> or
>> underserved, they do have some responsibility in bringing it to our
>> attention and they are welcome to make suggestions. Removing certain items
>> from your collection and adding others to represent “everyone” might just
>> create a collection your community didn’t really want or ask for.
>>
>>   Please remember people are not defined by their skin color or ethnic
>> backgrounds or sexual orientation. Our experiences may be different or the
>> same for many reasons. Sometimes, there just isn’t a problem. When we
>> insist
>> on highlighting what we believe to be underrepresented groups are we
>> diversifying or dividing? Maybe the group identity you gave them wasn’t a
>> big part of their identity to begin with.
>>
>>   The first question shouldn’t be “How can we welcome a wider swath of the
>> population?” it should be “How can we better serve OUR community?”
>>
>> Sincerely,
>>
>> Karyn Ruley
>> Technology Associate
>>
>> Crawford County Library
>> 201 Plum St.
>> Grayling, MI
>> 49738
>> Phone: 989-348-9214
>> Fax: 989-348-9294
>> ----------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Michlib-l mailing list
>> Michlib-l at mcls.org
>> https://mail3.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
>>
> _______________________________________________
> Michlib-l mailing list
> Michlib-l at mcls.org
> https://mail3.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail3.mcls.org/pipermail/michlib-l/attachments/20210422/cb7e69ea/attachment.html>