The American Library Association (ALA) represents not only thousands of professionals but also hundreds of thousands of constituents in more than 120,000 academic, public, school, and special libraries. Our professionals strive every day—in often challenging circumstances—to build community and help transform the lives of those in our community.
Being all things to all people, however, is impossible. This is why the Association steps in, to set the vision and tone for professionals to follow throughout their working days, though it is not always easy. In the past months I have experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and I have at times felt helpless during one of the most sustained, vitriolic election seasons in our nation’s history, watching as policy issues affect our communities and our very institutions.
Because of this, I released a statement in late November, stating, “ALA believes that the struggle against racism, prejudice, stereotyping, and discrimination is central to our mission. We will continue to support efforts to abolish intolerance and cultural invisibility, stand up for all the members of the communities we serve, and promote understanding and inclusion through our work.”
I meant it.
As a profession, we have remained consistent in our beliefs, no matter the difficulty or challenge.
As a profession, we have remained consistent in our beliefs, no matter the difficulty or challenge, and we must continue to do so.
Some have chided me for saying we must move forward, because they think it means acquiescing in our vision and values. To me, moving forward means carefully planning for how we take our next steps. We can’t ignore where we are now, but we must educate others as to what our ideals are and what our values mean. We must continue to be inclusive beacons for meaningful and equitable public discourse, push for social justice, champion intellectual freedom, fight for equitable access to resources and services for our constituents, protect privacy, commit to diversity, and strive to ensure that we help build and sustain a literate constituency.
Support through difficult times
Though these difficult times are unprecedented, they are not insurmountable. We need to rethink how we illustrate what we do and the incredible impact we have. This means identifying expertise in our practices and processes and divvying responsibilities. We should commit to supporting those who research and identify; those who create; and those who deliver. When I deliver, and when all of us deliver, we must reaffirm and illustrate that every single message is founded on our longstanding principles.
We have much to offer in the years ahead, creating, for instance, pathfinders to crisis toolkits that ensure equity and diversity; materials and resources that celebrate our differences; links to guidelines for managing harassment and bullying; statements affirming our beliefs; and a wide range of other resources. In addition, we have unique expertise and leadership in our ALA offices and divisions, providing mission statements, goals, and initiatives, not to mention tireless support for us. We also have unique expertise in our member groups—via committees, task forces, and other working groups that advance both general organizational roles and specific projects. And we have unique expertise and commitment from our membership, including librarians, library workers, and stakeholders.
My hope is that decision makers will focus on working together to improve the lives of all Americans, including the most vulnerable. We will continue to work together to aggressively defend what we do and who we are, and we will advance our agenda in our communities and transform the lives of our constituents.
Julie, thanks for this statement, which is stronger and clearer than your earlier ones. As many of us said, the issue wasn’t your statement committing to diversity. It was the disregard of that commitment in subsequent (now retracted) statements that proposed collaboration with the administration of an emerging autocrat who has enlisted unabashed racists, xenophobes, and neo-Nazis in his employ. And moving forward as you describe – to fight oppression, to support our communities’ most vulnerable members, to build networks and resources to meet our commitment to social justice – that’s great! But the continued messages from CoL and OGR about “business as usual” and “political realities” undermines your message. The ALA cannot be committed to social justice, and simultaneously collaborate with an administration that loathes the very concepts of diversity, intellectual freedom, and equal access. Where is our contemporary equivalent to ALA’s response to the PATRIOT Act? Can we please work on making a statement like that? There are so many of us willing to help. Let’s not be together in keeping our heads down and hoping for the best; let’s be together on the right side of history.
It is actually getting harder and harder to support ALA. Libraries are supposed to be about neutrality. Welcoming to all people without offering their own PERSONAL opinions about their own beliefs. Libraries are welcoming to all people – no matter, age, race, culture, religion, gender identity – yup agree 100%!! We offer a neutral space to talk about all ideas. That means ideas that don’t always appeal to you or me – check!. ALA as an organization boycotting conferences, invitations, etc. because they go against personal beliefs is not where this organization should be headed. We all have the right to our opinions and beliefs and they should not be brought to this table. Individually you are welcomed to boycott or support whatever you want. ALA should be fighting for the right to serve all, provide access to information, ideas, experiences to all who come to us, and for the right to be that neutral space where ALL are welcome – conservative or liberal. We do not all agree on these issues and it is disheartening to me that you are speaking as if we do.
I would generally agree with this. However, sometimes the politics are lobbed at the front doors of our institutions. I feel libraries are having to play the defensive now. Sitting out to appear more “neutral” will not serve us- or our communities.