In every MLIS class, we focus on the core truth of libraries: they are first and foremost about community. We complete environmental scans about the community around the library, tailor our collections to our patrons, and discuss the wants and needs of the people who will participate in programming. We focus on the importance of the library’s community outreach. Without these communities, there are no libraries. The need to serve our community is at the center of our profession.
When we look at a community, though, it is not one monolith. Every community has groups that are marginalized and underserved, and it is imperative that libraries especially focus on these populations. Two of the largest issues that these groups face are equity of access and intellectual freedom. It is my role as a librarian to promote and advocate for ways to increase access and protect intellectual freedom.
Access is one of the American Library Association’s (ALA) Core Values of Librarianship, which says “[a]ll information resources that are provided directly or indirectly by the library, regardless of technology, format, or methods of delivery, should be readily, equally, and equitably accessible to all library users” (American Library Association, 2019a). Currently, we most often see a lack of equity in the digital divide, which tends to affect people of older generations and those from low-income households. Libraries fight this inequity by providing assistance from library staff and specific technology programming. Because of the increase in library of things, many have wifi hotspots patrons can check out. The use and understanding of technology is now a necessary part of equity of access, and because of this, I have spent time better learning technology myself. At the library, I help patrons with small but very important tasks such as connecting to the internet, figuring out printers, and understanding how to use their email. I also work in the maker studio to connect patrons to technology such as sewing machines, a recording studio, and a 3D printer. As technology advances, every population deserves equitable access to it. Assisting with equity of access is deep-rooted in my philosophy of librarianship.
Fighting to protect intellectual freedom is a fire in my soul. In the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights, they state that libraries should provide resources for the use of all members of the community, and none of these resources should be excluded because of “the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation” (American Library Association, 2019b). It declares that “materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval” (American Library Association, 2019b). The amount of book challenges and bans has increased exponentially over the past several years, and as librarians, we watch as intellectual freedom is violated every day. This most affects the marginalized groups in our library community, specifically people of color and LGBTQIA+ people. I have focused much of my work in the MLIS program on book bans and intellectual freedom. In my career, I have worked with LGBTQIA+ teens and teens of color, and it is horrifying to see people demonize their existence in books. The ALA says, “Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment,” and this is something that is entrenched in my bones (American Library Association, 2019b). As a librarian, I believe that my job is to fight against actions flagrantly violating the Library Bill of Rights.
Libraries have the honor of serving their communities, but some community members may not always feel welcome in libraries. By focusing on equity of access and the necessary support and defense of intellectual freedom, we create a more open and welcoming space for the whole community. This is the heart of my philosophy of library and information science. This program has taught me so much about the principles, philosophies, and actions of librarianship, and I feel privileged to take what I have learned and apply it to my career.
References
American Library Association. (2019b). Core values of librarianship. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/advocacy/intfreedom/corevalues
American Library Association. (2019b). Library bill of rights. https://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill