'Library collections ... proliferate whiteness with their very existence': Library Journal tweet promotes 'feminist' librarian's perspective
Library Journal — the self-described " most trusted and respected publication for the library community" — promoted a "feminist" academic librarian's blog on Twitter earlier this week, using a direct quote from the blog: "Library collections continue to promote and proliferate whiteness with their very existence and the fact that they are physically taking up space in our libraries."
She also wrote that "libraries and librarians have a long history of keeping
People of Color out" and "continue to do so," adding that "legal and societal standards revolve around whiteness and libraries are no different."
How did Twitter users react?
As you might expect, Library Journal's tweet got "ratioed," with replies (nearly 8,000) far outnumbering likes (just over 800) as of Thursday afternoon. Here's how some commenters reacted:
- "And this is why I've started collecting hardbacks of classic literature. We're not far before the serious calls for book burnings start."
- "In a few years you're going to have to bury fine literature in the garden and stuff currency in the mattress. I think liberals are confusing Progressive with Regressive."
- "You are a complete embarrassment."
- "I'm not sure if this is more insane or more racist. It is a ton of each! It is strange that a seemingly serious publication like Library Journal would want to be associated with such obvious trash."
- "Is this a joke? Library Journal is coming out against the fact that, in libraries, there are library books?"
But not everyone saw it that way:
- "As a library professional with 20+ years experience in collections, I'm grateful for this astute and helpful piece. Essential to have conversations that move our work forward, not shut it down like so many hateful comments here."
- "A great article about the important balance that must be struck in modern library collections. Detractors appear not to understand the first thing about building literacy in children and communities."
What did the blog post say?
Sofia Leung — whose Twitter bio indicates she's an academic librarian who likes "intersectional feminism" and "social justice" — penned a blog post Monday titled "Whiteness as Collections."
Leung noted that she spent some time with an "amazing librarian of color whose thinking continues to push me" and "one of the mind-blowing things she shared was this idea of how our library collections, because they are written mostly by straight white men, are a physical manifestation of white men ideas taking up all the space in our library stacks."
She also wrote that "libraries and librarians have a long history of keeping
People of Color out" and "continue to do so," adding that "legal and societal standards revolve around whiteness and libraries are no different."