Philosophy of LIS Practice
Few establishments allow individuals to simply exist without expectation of purchase or service in return. Public libraries have long been seen as trusted institutions in good times and bad, connecting users of all circumstances to information and resources (Cassell, 2021). In recent years, public libraries have risen to meet the growing need for community support and social services (Freudenberger, 2022). Serving as sites for civic events including naturalization ceremonies and election polling places, the dial is moving away from institutions and towards community centers (Osuna, 2019). Public library services, policies, and procedures need to reflect this changing tide.
As a new librarian, I find myself guided by the American Library Association’s (ALA) Core Values of Librarianship, “an essential set of core values that define, inform and guide our professional practice” (American Library Association, 2019). Of these, I believe access to be the most fundamental, with the remaining values built upon it. While public libraries should be for everyone, overlooking matters of access can continue to keep already underserved populations away. Due to lack of or negative past experiences, some see public libraries as austere authoritarian institutions (Hoyer, 2013). Through community outreach, user-centered assistance, and accessibility, I aspire to change this view of libraries one positive experience at a time. As fierce defenders of the First Amendment right to information, it is imperative public libraries provide welcoming spaces where all feel comfortable and respected. Public libraries need to not only be ADA compliant, but ADA friendly to affirm all library users are valued and deserving of equitable information access (Stevenson, 2021).
With a passion for cultivating community partnerships, I believe outreach efforts are an essential component of public library service. Collaboration actively engages libraries within their communities, spreading awareness of services to those who may be interested but unfamiliar (Freudenberger, 2022). Building mutually beneficial relationships with area businesses and organizations provide public libraries the opportunity to support and be supported (Cassell, 2021). Outreach provides valuable insight into communities by highlighting gaps in services that public libraries can work to intentionally fill.
In an ever-evolving world, public libraries have stayed exceptionally relevant, arguably more so now than ever before. The rapid onset and lengthy duration of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a true testament to public libraries’ enduring resiliency, adaptability, and creativity. Library staff have continuously modified service models to meet the changing needs of their communities amidst rapidly evolving health and safety protocols (Jones, 2020). This ingenuity allowed public libraries to remain or re-open to continue serving the public. The many service improvements resulting from the pandemic are likely here to stay well beyond it. Public libraries need to remain agents of change, embracing what it can mean for the communities they serve as well as the longevity of their profession.
Unlike traditional calls for libraries to remain neutral on the basis of professionalism, I believe today’s public librarians should be outspoken regarding their support on matters including anti-censorship, social justice, and equal rights. The myth of the neutral librarian has been passionately debunked in recent years with mounting social issues and the growing political divide within our nation (Scott & Saunders, 2021). As Cassell simply states in Public Libraries and Their Communities, “Advocacy is part of a librarian’s job” (Cassell, 2021). According to the American Library Association (ALA), social responsibility and public good are core values of librarianship, which I believe advocacy to fall within. While some argue libraries were never truly neutral to begin with, I believe citing neutrality itself is in fact taking a side (Gibson & Chancellor, 2017). In doing this, libraries are harmfully ignoring and/or avoiding prevalent events affecting the nation, world, and its people for fear of controversy or criticism (Gibson & Chancellor, 2017).
At a time when libraries, particularly those in schools, are increasingly under attack by conservative groups and oppressive legislation, it is vital public libraries hold their ground, continuing to advocate for their profession as well as the individual right to information, expression, and privacy (Gowen, 2022). As stated by ALA’s Freedom to Read Statement, “the freedom to read is essential to our democracy” (American Library Association, 2006). With book bans and challenges on the rise across the country, particularly against LGBTQ+ materials, public libraries have a central role to play in the fight against censorship plaguing the nation.
I see public library service as a living, breathing organism, continuously growing, learning, and changing as time persists. Those working within public libraries are often tasked with what can feel like the impossible. Meeting a mountain of community needs with unpredictable funding amidst staffing shortages and naysayer cries of irrelevance. This can feel even more daunting during periods of health crisis, civil unrest, and political turmoil. Simultaneously experiencing all three, public libraries are still standing tall with more fans discovering or rediscovering their value. Moving forward, public libraries and their staff will continue to rally as they’ve always done. Mindfully shifting and adapting to uphold their societal significance time and time again. While we don’t know what the future holds, public libraries and their staff will surely devise a way to assist, educate, entertain, or serve as a place for the public to just “be.” I look forward to being part of it.
Resources
Allyn, C. (2021). Windows and mirrors: Why positive representation of disabled and lgbtq+ people in media matters. The Lion’s Pride. Retrieved April 25, 2022, from https://openwa.pressbooks.pub/lionspridevol14/chapter/windows-and-mirrors-why- positive-representation-of-disabled-and-lgbtq-people-in- media-matters/
American Library Association. (2006, July 26). The freedom to read statement. Retrieved April 25, 2022, from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement
American Library Association. (2017). The small but powerful guide to building support for your rural library tips and tools you can use from the ALA office for diversity, literacy, and outreach services. Retrieved from https://www.ala.org/aboutala/sites/ala.org.aboutala/files/content/diversity/ODLOS_Small-but-powerful_2017.pdf
American Library Association. (2019, July). Core values of librarianship. Retrieved April 25, 2022, from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/corevalues
Benson, D. (2022, January 3). Why your local library might be hiring a social worker. NPR. Retrieved April 25, 2022, from https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/01/03/1063985757/why-your-local-library-might-be-hiring-a-social-worker
Cassell, K.A. (2021). Public Libraries and their Communities. Rowman & Littlefield.
Freudenberger, E. (2022). Outstanding outreach. Library Journal, 147(1), 25-27.
Gibson, A.N., Chancellor, R. L., Cooke, N.A., Park Dahlen, S., Lee, S.A. and Shorish, Y.L. (2017), Libraries on the frontlines: Neutrality and social justice. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion, 36(8), 751-766. https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-11-2016-0100
Gowen, A. (2022, April 17). Censorship battles’ new frontier: Your public library. The Washington Post. Retrieved April 25, 2022, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/04/17/public-libraries-books-censorship/
Hicks, D. (2016). Advocating for librarianship: The discourses of advocacy and services in the professional identities of librarians. Library Trends, 64(3), 615-640. doi:10.1353/lib.2016.0007
Hoyer, J. (2013). Finding room for everyone: Libraries confront social exclusion. CUNY Academic Works. https://academicworks.cuny.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1810&context=ny_pubs
Jones, S. (2020). Optimizing public library resources in a post COVID-19 world. Journal of Library Administration, 60(8), 651-957. https://doi.org/10.1080/01930826.2020.1820281
Keer, G. (2015, October 30). The stereotype stereotype: Our obsession with librarian representation. American Libraries. Retrieved April 25, 2022, from https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2015/10/30/the-stereotype-stereotype/
Osuna, L. (2019). Welcome to the united states: Naturalization ceremonies at your public library. Retrieved from http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2019 /08/welcome-to-the-united- statesnaturalization-ceremonies-at-your-publiclibrary/
Piper, P.S. (2001). For Jorge Luis Borges, paradise was not a garden but a library. American Libraries, 32(7), 56-58. https://www.jstor.org/stable/25645997
Scott, D., Saunders, L. (2021). Neutrality in public libraries: How are we defining one of our core values? Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 53(1) 153-166. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0961000620935501
Stevenson, R. (2021, June 15). Make your library ada friendly, not just ada compliant. Public Libraries Online. Retrieved April 25, 2022, from http://publiclibrariesonline.org/2021/06/make-your-library-ada-friendly-not-just-ada-compliant/
The Trevor Project. (2021). National survey on lgbtq youth mental health 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2022, from https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2021/?section=Introduction