In asking myself these questions two experiences from my past came back to me.  The first, I recalled teaching women’s studies classes, watching talented, smart, capable, young women become alienated by a strident, authoritarian and narrowly defined dogma.  It wasn’t even that these young women disagreed with feminism, but that the manner in which it was presented, they found abrasive and unyielding.  The result, “feminism” became another bad F-word and the ideology and goals of the movement were set back in many frightening ways.  The second recollection was my favorite Star Wars quote.  Princess Leia looks to her capturers and says, “The more you tighten your grip…the more star systems will slip through your fingers.”

I see both of these memories as highly relevant in today’s world.  No one can deny that polarization of our country is present. There are groups with radically opposing views, but each believes their position to be morally correct. Even those who fundamentally agree are swiping at each other for how stridently positions should be put forth. Everyone’s grip seems white knuckle tight. I venture to say, all side are terrified.

Fear is a dangerous thing.  It makes us think dumb things, say hurtful things, and behave in ways we cannot explain.  It triggers flight or fight responses, each equally fatal for improving the situation. Ultimately what is needed is to show that fear is not warranted, but this requires time and the ability for opposing views to coexist. It is highly unlikely society will reach universal agreement.  But we can respond with sympathy and empathy. We can be strong enough in our beliefs to allow the beliefs of others to exist.  Like it or not, each side must listen to the other respectfully and reach an arrangement in which each side is allowed basic human rights and freedoms.  This includes the right to say what we think, feel, and believe.

The tighter the grip, the less flexible and more strident in our views we become, the more dangerous the situation becomes.  Social changes occur but in ways that ultimately are detrimental to all, as both sides use identical tactics to silence the other.

The public library by our mission and place within communities across the country is in a position to help facilitate positive social change. By illustrating and accepting multiple viewpoints and personalities, opinions and ideas, and treating ALL people as equal, we set an example. We can set a tone for our communities. We can, through our programs and daily interactions, educate on practicing civility. We can model appropriate responses to opposing viewpoints. We can show how by loosening the grip, we catch many more star systems.

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This may seem like an absurd question as librarians are proud to be defenders of free speech and intellectual freedom. The Library Bill of Rights states, “Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.”[1] Unfortunately, our high and mighty reasoning gets tricky when those “beliefs and affiliations” creep into the realm of hate speech.

Much has been discussed about the role of the public library as a neutral territory for the free exchange of ideas. There have even been challenges to the notion that libraries should be[2], or ever were[3], truly neutral spaces. If you dig into ALA’s interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights as it relates to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, it more clearly charges libraries that they “should not merely be neutral places for people to share information, but should actively encourage socially excluded, marginalized, and underrepresented people to fully participate in community debates and discussions.”[4]

For library administrators, it can be difficult to reconcile providing a venue for potential hate speech while actively encouraging marginalized populations to participate in community discussions. These seem to be at odds with one another. Luckily, library policy does not live in a vacuum. Most public libraries are governed by a board of directors or municipal authority which approves policy. It is in this intersection between professional library ethos and this community connected governing body, that a reasonable middle ground can be reached. It is in this same intersection where library director and library board thrive.

It is also in this space where one can find an alternative to library as neutral, or biased. Libraries are rational. It is not the library’s responsibility to provide a platform for any viewpoint whether it is in our meeting rooms or on our shelves. It is their responsibility to be a democratic institution where the public feels safe. For these reasons, it is good practice for library boards and administrators to thoughtfully review meeting room policies on a regular basis with a goal of keeping your environment welcoming to your community while allowing for the respectful exchange of viewpoints.

References

[1] http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

[2] https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2017/01/03/never-neutral-critlib-technology/

[3] https://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2017/09/01/whose-rights-matter-more/

[4] http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/EDI

The post Gathering Space: Meeting Room Policies in the Age of Charlottesville first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The debate followed a line of logic going something like this: libraries are public spaces; public spaces are publicly funded; library meeting rooms are therefore publicly funded; libraries should not allow religious groups to use publicly funded meeting rooms because it shows support for whatever religion is meeting there; religious groups have churches, temples, and mosques to meet in, so they should use those. If it wasn’t for pesky ethics, this line of thinking might not look half bad.

We have all heard in library school that we are gatekeepers of information. This is true, but we must not forget that we are also gatekeepers of library materials and services. Being that we have so much power and influence, our professional association, the American Library Association, has created a Code of Ethics for librarians and a Library Bill of Rights to give patrons inalienable rights as they use library resources. Why, you may ask? It’s for when situations like this arise, when a library staff person tries to install their own beliefs as legitimate library policy in violation of our professional principles.

According to Section VI of the Library Bill of Rights, “Libraries which make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.[1]“

This statement succinctly sums up how librarians should regard the use of public meeting rooms. Everyone should be allowed to use them, no matter their affiliation. And, if one is still in need of clarification, ALA created an interpretation to answer specifics about the meeting room clause in the Library Bill of Rights: If a public library makes a meeting room open to the public, library staff cannot deny anyone from using it based on the subject matter of the meeting.[2]

ALA’s interpretation gives guidance on creating meeting room policies: A public library may set limits on meeting rooms, such as “time, place, or manner of use,” but those constraints cannot be based on the groups meeting in the rooms.[3]

Some librarians may have their hearts in the right place by not wanting to put the library in a spot of suspected advocacy of a religious group, since libraries should be religiously neutral places; however, not wanting religious groups using meeting rooms for the reason that the groups have no right to them (“they have their own places of worship to meet”) is judgmental and is an unethical denial of meeting rooms that violates our profession’s beliefs.

When librarians begin to negatively target groups (religious, teens, LGBTQIA patrons, etc.), tailoring library policy to under-privilege them in some way it is unacceptable and should be stopped immediately. As stated earlier, that is why libraries have codes of ethics: to keep us in line and to make sure that we are not biasing ourselves, our collections, or our properties. We need to follow these codes and professional statements, not out of obligation, but out of a desire to be the most welcoming and helpful professionals that we can be.

References

[1] ALA Council, “Library Bill of Rights,” §VI, American Library Association, January 23, 1996.

[2] ALA Council, “Meeting Rooms,” American Library Association, July 2, 1991.

[3] Ibid.

The post Ethics of Library Meeting Rooms first appeared on Public Libraries Online.

The first three spaces all deal with groups of different sizes. Being able to work with a group is important for projects, whether you’re working on a class assignment, a new marketing strategy, or other discussions. Rendina suggests having several different ways of sharing information, like dry erase boards and technology sharing options.[2] Working in a library, I’ve seen the use of these tools prove to be highly useful for collaboration. The importance of flexible furnishing is also stressed. Larger spaces also make it possible to hold functions and special events for big groups. Even if you don’t have a large meeting room, if you have easily movable furnishings, you can make this kind of event possible in another area of your library.[3]

Technology isn’t really optional anymore. Too many parts of life depend on Internet access for libraries not to be providing technology to patrons in one way or another. In a 2013 Pew Internet study, 77 percent of survey respondents reported technology access as an important library service.[4] As Rendina points out, many tech options can be offered from desktops, laptops, and tablets to specialty software that allows for creation and learning. As more technology is readily available, libraries need to continue to evolve and provide access to things patrons may not be able to access as easily, like specialty software and hardware.[5]

The fifth area that Rendina cites is a quiet place.[6] Often when I’m working on the public service desk, I’ll be asked where a quiet place can be found. Many people need a more silent environment to focus on their work, and when you have several places that focus on group meetings, you need to also try to provide for the person working on his/her own. The Pew Internet Study found that quiet spaces were important to respondents even while some libraries have become a bit more boisterous over time.[7]

Finally, makerspaces are recommended as an important active learning space.[8] I work in a department that has two rooms specifically for making. They provide fantastic opportunities for using fabrication machinery and attending hands-on learning activities; however, makerspaces don’t have to be a permanent structure. Any meeting room or open area can become a makerspace for a few hours. Activities can be just about anything—coding to coloring to sewing to 3D printing. Makerspaces can provide something for any interest.

The beauty of the library is that it can be many things to many people. Providing a variety of spaces to your patrons will help you meet their needs and have many happy returns.

References:

[1] “Active Learning,” Center for Research on Learning and Teaching.

[2] Diana Rendina, “6 Active Learning Spaces Your Library Should Have,” Knowledge Quest Blog, January 27, 2016.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Kathryn Zickuhr, Lee Rainie and Kristen Purcell, “Library Services in the Digital Age,” Pew Internet and American Life Project, January 22, 2013.

[5] Diana Rendina, “6 Active Learning Spaces Your Library Should Have,” Knowledge Quest Blog, January 27, 2016.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Kathryn Zickuhr, “Should libraries shush? ” Pew Internet and American Life Project, February 6, 2013.

[8] Diana Rendina, “6 Active Learning Spaces Your Library Should Have,” Knowledge Quest Blog, January 27, 2016.

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So, why are we so worried about the future of our libraries? People love us, right? Yes, they do, but that love is not always measured by their willingness to allocate funding to our budgets. Which begs the question, “How do we transform this unquestionable love for public libraries into increased funding?” Enter the librarian.

As I wrote in October, if the library is “the place,” then the librarian (and by librarian, I mean everyone who works in the library) may very well be what saves the public library. Listening to Patrick Sweeney’s keynote session at the Arizona Library Association conference, I was reminded of OCLC’s findings in a report that states that “The factors that determine residents’ willingness to increase their taxes to support their local library are their perceptions and attitudes about the library and the librarian.[2]  Sweeney, who works for EveryLibrary, (a Super PAC), informed us that most voters will not vote against a library referendum if they have a relationship with the librarian.[3]

Sure, I am making several assumptions, and perhaps drawing lines between dots that might not otherwise be connected, but play along with me, will you? Librarians humanize the library. They put a face on the institution as they connect people to books, programs and resources. Librarians are true community connectors and therein lay the potential that Wiegand brings to light—our transformative potential, that is what causes change or causes a shift in viewpoint usually for the better. When a patron experiences this transformational change, it can be exactly the type of emotional catalyst needed to motivate them up the ladder of engagement—from patron to volunteer to advocate to voter—and send them straight to the polls to vote for the library referendum (if and when that time comes).

What if librarians were fully engaged in their communities (yes, I know many are) and well-networked with their municipal counterparts, stakeholders, elected officials, trustees, and patrons (yes, even patrons). Wouldn’t forging such positive professional relationships help boost the perception and attitudes about the library and the librarian?

So, let’s drop our wasted energies on defending ourselves and our existence. People love us. Yes, libraries do matter in the age of Google. They always have and they always will. Libraries will outlive the printed books so long as we continue to evolve, grow, and innovate (just as we always have). In the words of Roy Bennett, “Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, focus your energy on what you can create.”[4] Let’s continue to create the future of public libraries with innovative services and a well-connected community of librarians.

Reference

[1] Wiegand, Wayne A. Part of Our Lives: A People’s History of the American Public Library. New York: Oxford University Press, 2015.

[2] De Rosa, Cathy, and Jenny Johnson. “From Awareness to Funding: A study of library support in America.” Report to the OCLC Membership (Dublin: OCLC, 2008). Web. https://www.oclc.org/content/dam/oclc/reports/funding/fullreport.pdf.

[3] Sweeney, Patrick. “Opening Session: Party Hard.” Key Note, Arizona Library Association Conference, Flagstaff, AZ. November, 19, 2015. Libraray Association Conference, Flagstaff, AZ. November, 19, 2015.

[4] Http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/7349842-instead-of-worrying-about-what-you-cannot-control-focus-your. Accessed January 22, 2016.

Resources-Further Reading

Berry, John N., III. “By the People: The Library future resides in the users’ perception.” Library Journal. (15 October 2015). Web. http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/10/opinion/john-berry/by-the-people-the-library-future-resides-in-users-perception-blatant-berry/#_.

Wiegand, Wayne A. “Why Americans love their Public Libraries.” The Northwestern. (27 October 2015). Web. http://www.thenorthwestern.com/story/opinion/2015/10/24/americans-love-public-libraries/74563880/.

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