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

Thu Apr 22 15:11:03 EDT 2021

Interesting discussion! I appreciate hearing everyone's thoughts,
experiences and interpretations. You've all inspired me to add my own!

First of all, I believe this is an appropriate vehicle for the discussion,
and I'm glad it was raised here.
Secondly, I have always interpreted my own role in collection development
as acquiring the best that's out there. My patrons generally do not have
the same access or tools to find out about new titles, formats, resources,
etc., that I do, nor do they have the time to take on that level of
digging. I do. I'm paid to do just that. I am supposed to be part of the
group that brings the world into our small library. In fact, I've used that
phrase countless times over the years, "Discover the world at your
library", and I've seen countless pairs of children's eyes light up at that
thought. It inspires me still, today!
Lastly, I see it as my job to provide what I know my community already
enjoys and to share with them those gems they might never know of,
otherwise. The fact that these may include ideas differing from the
community's dominant culture is just a win-win for us all. We can never
know exactly what our community members may want, no matter how
homogeneous it may appear to be. We offer diversity because human beings
are interesting and complex, no matter our outward appearance.

It's a celebration of human growth, thought and culture. That's what I
think we're about. And everyone is invited to the party!

Thanks, again, for raising this topic, and for this platform to share our
own.
-Sharon

On Thu, Apr 22, 2021 at 12:56 PM Kat Boyer via Michlib-l <michlib-l at mcls.org>
wrote:

> It has come to my attention that I should clarify my statement that; I
> agree Amy's statement that libraries are for everyone and no one should be
> made to feel uncomfortable within this space.
>
>
> Kat Boyer
> Director
> Benton Harbor Public Library
> 213 E Wall St.
> Benton Harbor, MI 49022
>
>
>
> On Thu, Apr 22, 2021 at 11:39 AM Kat Boyer <librarykat.15 at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> 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
>>>> ----------------------------------
>>>>
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>>>> Michlib-l at mcls.org
>>>> https://mail3.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
>>>>
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>>>
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-- 
Sharon Crotser-Toy
Director
*Watervliet District Library*
333 N. Main Street
Watervliet, MI 49098
269-463-6382

Connects People, Inspires Ideas, Transforms Lives
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