Don’t Write Off Libraries Yet. They Are Still Needed To Break Down Structural Inequities

A library as a quiet space has long been heralded...but what happens to those who need to talk and speak up? Can libraries reinvent themselves to have the ‘spoken’ and the ‘unspoken’ co-exist?

Representational image of a library.

Source : Canva

By Kirti Kaul

To the outside world, a popular perception is that a library is a storehouse of data and information. However, amidst the numerous books and other learning materials, neatly lined up on shelves, meticulously catalogued and monitored, is a space that holds the way to bring about change, alter perceptions, and widen perspectives.

Beyond the confines of physical space, libraries hold a special place in allowing people to meander through the worlds of imagination and reality, and it is this unique distinction that makes libraries transformative. Libraries, whether in schools or other institutions, go beyond catering to the mere academic requirements of their students, working proactively towards creating nurturing and inclusive spaces. Libraries around the world are waking up to the power they hold as spaces that advocate freedom of inquiry and expression, upholding student agency and ensuring literacy and lifelong learning. Keeping these goals together is the premise of equity — a shared aspiration that all teachers and students should have as they work towards being successful people and professionals.

While some may believe that libraries can be insulated spaces, they remain a crucial predictor of easy access, opportunity, safety, well-being and mindful practices in a world that is marred by discrimination and exclusion based on race, gender and identity.

At the centre of this transformation are ‘Library Educators’ and ‘Librarians’, who are pillars of safety, inclusion, diversity and democracy for their communities. Libraries provide people access to information and resources, regardless of their differences. In secure and inclusive spaces provided by libraries, diverse voices can express themselves, and civic discourse can occur, fostering respectful interactions among people regardless of their differences. Through thoughtfully curated collections, collaborative community partnerships and focused outreach efforts, libraries purposefully engage and cater to the needs of diverse populations. More so, libraries are taking courageous stances and vocalising to call out and combat social injustice.

This can, however, happen only if libraries can open themselves up to the idea of being a 'safe space’ that is interested in the well-being of its users as much as them as readers. However, how do libraries build ‘sensitive readers’? Does reading naturally make us sensitive by bringing diverse authors and multiple viewpoints to the forefront?

While this may be the case for some who may look at libraries as ‘home’, the space is ‘work’ related for others. Expanding the work beyond the display of reading material and other resources could be library-led programmes designed to focus on reader wellness. These could include writing labs with a specific purpose, diverse reading material displayed purposefully, community reading sessions, and bringing in diverse groups, including parents, writers and artists within the realm of the space. 

Can Libraries And Library Educators Reinvent Themselves?

According to Victoria Raish, Online Learning Coordinator at the Penn State University Libraries, “Diversity of thought is very valuable”. Bringing these diverse groups together will help libraries create effective pathways towards reducing the impact of the existing inequities. Implementing this can, however, be a challenging process as libraries may sometimes be viewed as insular spaces with the objective of assisting their users’ academic pursuits.

Breaking the mental barriers and the stereotypes attached to libraries is part of this exploratory process. A library as a quiet space has long been heralded, but it now needs to pay heed to the listener for whom the library may be a second home. But what happens to those who need to talk and speak up? Can libraries and library educators reinvent themselves and the space they hold that has the ‘spoken’ and the ‘unspoken’ exist in simultaneity? 

Breaking these barriers and reimagining the library may be the first step towards a radical change. Though change is the only constant, changing these deep-seated notions is not for the faint-hearted. Often, this will require the courage to alter rules, interventions towards changing certain notions, taking people along -those who may not be open to change as well, bringing in strategic conversations at the appropriate time, resources that will make a difference and people who can inspire the change. 

Bringing diversity within the role holders in the library space can hugely alter how collections are curated, resources are identified and acquired, and how they are shared and described. This, in turn, can substantially impact breaking down existing inequities, as you hold 'diversity' at the very foundation of library procurement and projection. This could also pave the way towards building libraries that take as much pride in being sensitive, diverse, and compassionate spaces as they do in the quality resources they bring. 

Libraries as research and learning centres promoting mindfulness and peaceful co-existence may be a huge step towards peacebuilding and sustainability as the larger society grapples with the ill effects of conflict, climate change and displacement. Keeping this in mind, Thomas Padilla, Senior Director of collections, technology and partnerships at the Centre for Research Libraries, very aptly says, “To me, it’s an existential threat to the future of the profession not to be sufficiently representative of the populations we serve. It creates all kinds of blind spots regarding our collections and services, ensuring we create welcoming spaces for students or researchers”. 

Seeding this transformation may require a deeper understanding of the multiple ecosystems within schools or universities. Focusing on the cultural informatics that will lead towards accessing, preserving, and displaying materials important to certain cultural sensibilities. Advocating programmes and projects promoting social justice can help libraries make the world a better place to live and thrive. 

The author of the article is Resource & Research Facilitator at Shiv Nadar School, Noida.

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