October was
LGBT History Month and to those in the LGBTQ community,
it represents a month that is both hopeful and one that is fraught with fear
and anxiety. If you have any LGBTQ friends or family, you probably know of
their struggle to come out and to live an authentic life; one that reflects who
they are, and not who various parts of society says
they must be. Still, in too many parts of
the US and across the world, LGBTQ people are treated as 2nd class
citizens or worse. They are discriminated against at work, by the government,
and by many of their families. Suicide is still a major problem for LGTBQ
youth. They are bullied and ridiculed. They see coming out or living an
authentic life impossible and suicide as a way out.
The need to
be authentic is not limited to the LGBTQ community. Most under-represented
minorities face pressure to conform to societal norms, usually the norms of the
white, English speaking majority. Members of the Hispanic or Asian community
are regularly shamed when they speak their native language in public. Growing
up, my grandmother was shamed for speaking French, so much so that when she
learned English she never spoke French again or passed it on to her children. African
Americans, Hispanics, Jews, and Asians are still in many, many places treated
as if they don’t belong to this United States. They live in fear of being
beaten, killed, or harassed just for existing, or for being in places where
someone thinks they should not be.
Women,
especially over the last hundred or so years, have emerged from the shadows and
become a force in education and the workforce. The women’s liberation movement,
beginning in the late 1960’s and well into the 1980’s, radically changed the
role of women and how they are perceived. However,
too many women and girls are still not afforded the opportunities to use their
talent and skills. The #MeToo movement, which exploded on social media in October
2017, illustrates that way too often women are still not afforded the
opportunity to live an authentic life; but rather are belittled through sexual,
verbal, and emotional abuse.
People from
many religious traditions often feel they cannot live an authentic life as
others mock their beliefs. Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and
followers of every other religious traditions
comes in for their share of mocking and
ridicule in some part of society. Tolerance for the beliefs and customs of
others has not been a part of the vocabulary and ethos of most religious
traditions, and this leads to hatred of the other. This makes it difficult for
any individual who struggles with or against their own tradition.
There are
two grand challenges for living an authentic life. One is for any normative
group (in my case- white, male, Christian) to not demonize or belittle anyone
who is not like us. The second is to welcome those not like us to community; to treat others as we wish to be
treated. Easy words to write, difficult to live.
What then do
Libraries have to do with living an authentic life? The answer is quite simple. Libraries support
individuals and families with information and programming that supports people
across all of society. Librarians and libraries consistently build collections
and put on programs that support people across the spectrum of their
communities. While some will consider libraries to be bastions of the liberal
left, they are in reality pretty balanced in purchasing books and media that
cover all perspectives and reach a wide audience. They open their meeting rooms
to community and religious groups.
I can walk into most public libraries and find
a Koran, a Bible, the Torah, Buddhist texts, and books on paganism. I can find
books representing the broad political spectrum of the US and find literature
and film that broadly represents the community the library serves. If you
happen to be in a major city you will also find books in multiple languages and
ones that represent the rich cultural tapestry of the city.
Over the
past 10 years or so, I have become acutely aware of the role that libraries and
librarians play in advancing social justice. Broadly speaking, social justice,
is the idea of providing support for marginalized people to the point that they
have access to the same opportunities and
privileges of the majority. Libraries make a concerted effort to build
collections and services that are broad and representative. Librarians are
often at the forefront of standing up for
those who are marginalized in many ways.
I’ve been
impressed by the work that libraries, like the Los
Angeles Public Library and New York Public Library, are doing with the homeless
and with new Americans. Both groups are struggling with creating an identity
and a safe space and society is not
always welcoming. Libraries across the
US are stepping up and saying, “we can
help”, “we’ve got your back”.
Librarians have certainly been very active in the LGBTQ
space and have not only made the library profession more welcoming but also
have tried to provide resources and programming to make LGBTQ folks feel
welcome, safe, and valued. Libraries consistently push back when individuals
and groups attempt censorship of LGBTQ materials in libraries; arguing that
LGBTQ people should be able to find materials that represent their lived experiences
in their local libraries. Likewise, libraries have been at the forefront of making members of the Muslim community feel
welcome.
Libraries
value and advocate for privacy and confidentiality. This is critical for people
who may want to research a topic that they don’t want others to know about. This
could be a woman in an abusive relationship looking for information on
shelters, or an LGBTQ youth trying to find out if they’re normal, or a young
teen wanting information on sex. Ensuring that authorities don’t poach
circulation records or Internet search
histories, libraries provide a level of freedom for people to be themselves.
Live an
authentic life. Love your library. Support others in fulfilling who they are
meant to be.
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