Ciara Eastell began her TEDx talk by describing two libraries, the Exeter Library and the Ferguson Public Library, that stayed open amidst harrowing and somber conditions to become an oasis for visitors. My mind immediately went to the poem attributed to the Statue of Liberty, the hope of accepting and welcoming everyone.
“Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
–Emma Lazarus, The New Colossus
Eastell also shared data on the perception of libraries as a safe space for their communities. Libraries provide access to free shelter, resources, and services to support, inspire, and educate any visitor. And if the library cannot provide that outright, it will connect visitors to other community resources that can. I’m lucky to be surrounded by friends and family who participate in and appreciate their libraries, and contribute to my understanding of what I am capable of achieving for our communities. My family members remember libraries as a safe space to quietly study when you live with a large and loud family, to apply for jobs when you’re newly immigrated and can’t afford a computer, to bring your kids when everywhere else is too expensive.
Still, a part of me remains hesitant to be optimistic about libraries working toward diversity, inclusion, and equity to fully serve their communities. Librarians are just as human and influenced by unconscious biases as anyone else. When I just started this program, I learned that the majority of ALA members were white, middle-aged, able-bodied women (according to ALA’s Demographic Study Report in 2017). I had to reckon with the fact that I would be the minority in my own future field.
Additionally, librarianship is not immune to ugly histories nor critique thereof. In Fobazi Ettarh words, “Librarianship, like the criminal justice system and the government, is an institution. And like other institutions, librarianship plays a role in creating and sustaining hegemonic values,” (Vocational Awe and Librarianship, 2018). Ettarh also wrote on the job creep many librarians experience; when libraries do commit to fulfilling a specific social need, it can place a heavy, unexpected responsibilities on those on the frontlines. Is there a way to continuously serve the community while safeguarding everyone’s wellbeing?
There are never any easy answers, but there are actions we can take to move forward, which include acknowledging when our history includes censorship and discrimination. I appreciated Lauersen’s reflections on inclusion and the sheer effort it takes to enact change, especially because he reflected on his own privilege and biases. Likewise, self-reflection, unlearning biases, and developing cultural competency are all steps forward. Beyond this, I know my personal and professional life is dependent on sitting with discomfort, from acknowledging how my biases influence my behavior to being nervous with public speaking, and using it as a jumping off point for growth and action.
Citations
Ettarh, F. (2018, January 10). Vocational Awe and Librarianship: The Lies We Tell Ourselves. In the Library With The Lead Pipe. https://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/2018/vocational-awe/
Lauersen, C. (2018, June 6). Do you want to dance? Inclusion and belonging in libraries and beyond [Keynote address]. UXLibsIV, Sheffield, England, United Kingdom. https://christianlauersen.net/2018/06/07/inclusion-and-belonging-in-libraries-and-beyond/
TEDx Talks. (2019, June 13). How libraries change lives [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvt-lHZBUwU&t=330s