Diversity in Librarianship is a Threat to White Librarians?

Today I read an editorial in the LJ (Library Journal) about minority hiring practices in the library field. It wasn't so much the article that got me started, but the ridiculous comments that people left in response to the editorial. Many of the responders commented that diversity is anti-White. You can imagine why I got upset and had to respond. Read my response below:

"As a Black Woman and Librarian, I take offense to some of the comments to this editorial. First, Diversity isn’t a dirty word or a threat and shouldn’t be used as such. To say that diversity initiatives are anti-White is both an uninformed and disparaging statement. Diversity is an action of INCLUSION not EXCLUSION. Diversity initiatives DO NOT seek to replace whites with minorities, but to include those who for far too long have been excluded in the workplace simply based on their racial background.

The field of librarianship has been a rather homogenous field for as long as I can remember. My school Librarian was White, the Public Librarian at my local library was White and when I started college, White Librarians assisted me with my research. With the exception of my mother, who is also a Librarian, it was very rare to see anyone who looked like me working at the library. These women were smart and competent, good role models in fact, but they didn’t know much about how to serve their non-White constituents. They assumed that whatever worked for Whites in terms of collection development, programming, and services worked for everyone else too. But this is just simply not the case and people in the field were starting to recognize that. 

It wasn’t until I entered grad school, did I really start to see a push for diversifying the field. I began to see qualified, creative, and forward-thinking African American, Asian, Native American, and Latino Librarians alongside White Librarians. 

I applaud those who strive to make the changes that are necessary to better serve their communities.  If it wasn’t for their efforts, people like my mother and myself, would have found it even MORE difficult to break into the field that we truly love. 

Due to her hard work, sacrifice, and persistence my mother is now a Dean of Library Services. It was her drive and talent that brought her to where she is now, not color of her skin or the academic merit scholarship she received to go to college. And I am where I am now, a Public and Academic Librarian, not because of my skin color, but because my employers recognized my skills, knowledge, and determination.

I hope that the field continues to open up and evolve. I hope that more minorities elect to enter the field of librarianship. Hiring qualified minority Librarians is good for everyone NOT JUST minorities. I believe we can all learn something from one another and we can work together to advance the profession."

To read the original editorial, nasty comments in all, click here.

-Black Librarian

Publishing Companies suing Librarians? WTH!

I must say, I was very disturbed by the article I read this morning in the Chronicle (of Higher Education).

Dale Askey, a University Librarian at McMaster University is being sued by the publishing company Edwin Mellen Press, after making disparaging comments about the company on his personal blog Bibliobrary.

According to this morning's article, in a blog post Askey referred to the company as "dubious" and saying its books were often works of "second-class scholarship (New 2013)." The founder of the publishing entity, Herbert Richardson, is now suing the librarian for more than $1 million dollars for libel for his comments.

Does anyone else see something completely wrong about this? First of all, FREEDOM OF SPEECH. I'm sure there's that right in Canada, where this is all taking place, too.

Second, as Librarians it is our job to question, test, and evaluate products and resources so we make sure we are meeting the absolute needs of our patrons. I've done several resource reviews in the past and honestly not all of them have been favorable. I use my judgement and my experience as a Librarian to weed out the products that would cost either too much for what's be offered or are just plain bad and not helpful. We are the gatekeepers of information-- the battle cry of Librarians everywhere. If we can't give our candid opinions about a product or company on our personal blogs, then there is something absolutely wrong with this industry.

What do you think?

Take a look at the article  Librarians Rally Behind Blogger Sued by Publisher Over Critical Comments by Jake New here.

-Black Librarian

The Brown Bookshelf

I came across this very awesome blog today through a professional listserv. It's called The Brown Bookshelf and it highlights African American authors who write children and young adult literature. Although this isn't my specialization, I think this project is really cool, definitely needed, and should be appreciated.

As many of you know, February is Black History Month. In celebration, this blog is featuring a new writer or illustrator for every day of the month. It's their flagship initiative called 28 Days Later, a month-long showcase of the best in Picture Books, Middle Grade and Young Adult novels written and illustrated by African Americans.

Every day of the month, you  can check out the author bios, read about their inspirations, and get information on their most notable publications. Pretty cool stuff!

To check out this blog now, click here!
You can read more about the founders of The Brown Bookshelf here.

-Black Librarian

Comics and Libraries: A relationship of convenience

In a recent article from Publisher’s Weekly, DC Comics has announced plans to expand their marketing to libraries and to include Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data in all publications.

My first response to that would be, HELL YEAH that’s awesome. My two favorite things, comics and libraries, forming a coalition to combat illiteracy and save all mankind! Well, at least that’s what I picture in my mind.

For those of you who have no idea what I’m blabbering about, here’s the back story.  In recent years, libraries have started to build extensive comic book and graphic novel collections in order to keep up with growing trends in teen and even adult literature. You can find anything from Walking Dead to X-men and Spiderman comics in teen and adult graphic novel library collections across the country.

In 2012 alone, DC Comics has seen tremendous growth in sales to libraries right into the double digits. This has DC Comic executives seeing dollar signs.

So what’s in the works for DC Comics in 2013? Check out the article below for further details.

DC Comics Looks to the Library Market in 2013 by Calvin Reed.

What are your thoughts on libraries getting into bed with graphic novel publishers? Good idea? bad?

-Black Librarian