“We are the change we have been waiting for” ~  Loida Garcia-Febo.

There were many eye-opening readings in this module, but given what’s happening worldwide, Loida Garcia-Febo’s article “Serving with Love” stuck with me the most. This article was written in 2018 and has a line from the beginning that states, “While hate, authoritarianism, and open oppression are seemingly on the rise worldwide, I am heartened as I travel to various communities across the country and see light, hope, and commitment in each one of you.” As someone who likes to stay informed and has been overwhelmed by the news, this growth of hate and oppression only continues at what seems to be a higher rate today. It is frustrating to see this hate seem to be so widespread. It is easy to feel hopeless with all the bad news circulating. However, looking at those who are committed to fighting against this and care so deeply is essential.

Many individuals in the news are spreading love and showing their commitment to others. A great example of this is Greta Thunberg. For us in the library and information science field, it is essential to see who is making these commitments within our libraries. One way that oppression impacts libraries directly is through Book Bans. Book bans have recently been increasing across the United States, especially in southern states such as Texas and Florida. These bans target the representation of people of color, the LGBTQ community, and other minority groups within literature.  This is all explained in the new documentary that came out this year: The Librarians. I went to see this documentary, and while upsetting, it is a must-see. This documentary goes into detail about both the dangers and the importance of standing up. Amanda Jones is a librarian who stood out the most to me within the film. She is fighting against these bans in Louisiana and has experienced death threats from members of her community that do not agree with her. There are also many librarians who have been fired in recent years because they would not removed banned books off their shelves. It is inspiring to see their passion and what they are willing to risk. They love their community and are willing to be brave for them.

How do we take the example from these individuals? How do we make sure we are leading with our hearts and showing up for the things we care about? Michael Stephens in “Reaching All Users” found in The Heart of Librarianship discusses a time where he was sitting next to Louise Berry and she said LIS students should “Be innovators. They should be the ones watching and planning for the future.” I both agree with this quote and with Dr. Stephens thoughts that proceed this quote. It is important to be a leader, however it is not necessary to wait. With how fast our society is changing, waiting with good ideas will do more harm then good. We can watch and make our own actions now that are inspired by these individuals.

References:

Garcia-Febo, L. (2018). Serving with love: Embedding equality, diversity, and inclusion in all that we do.

Stephens, M. (2016) . “Reaching All Users” in The Heart of Librarianship