[tblc-diversity] social justice & law librarianship
Marilyn Sheck
Marilyn.Sheck@spl.org
Wed, 20 Sep 2000 08:12:05 -0700
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I still lurk on several of the TBLC lists, so I saw your post, Greg. I =
couldn't
have said it better myself. That is exactly the reason I withdrew my
membership in ALA several years ago. I didn't feel the membership was
worth the cost, and I felt that it was tantamount to taxation without
representation (remember what happened over that). If I have a strong
position on a social issue, I will go out and fight for or against it =
myself.
I saw a glimmer of hope that ALA was becoming more library-centric,
so I re-joined this year. But the jury is still out as to whether I'll
renew next year. =20
Now, down off my soapbox--hello and best wishes to both of you.
>>> "Greg Carlson (SCFN)" <zonefive@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us> 09/20/00 06:44AM =
>>>
Greetings:
Thank you, Kathleen, for the forward on social responsibility.
Does anyone recall the censure that Dorothy Broderick faced at ALA
conference years ago when she opposed an ALA resolution on
businesses, including book sellers, the press, etc., with ties to
apartheid South Africa? Free speech champion Nat
Hentoff wrote a scathing indictment of ALA's position; Library Journal and
American Libraries covered the vote as well, quoting Broderick as saying
something like "How can libraries claim to solve a problem by with
withholding information (from South Africans and US library userate).
I urge caution when it comes to professional organizations taking
positions on social issues. ALA has enjoyed the trust of Congress on
funding issues for LSTA, access to government information, and like
professional issues. We have never, to my knowledge, been invited to
address a committee on nuclear disarmament or trade policy. When we take
positions which appear partisan or ideological, we threaten our
credibility with funding agencies and the public.
I want an association that empowers me to provide quality, relevant,
innovative services for everyone in my community, not one that complicates
my job by inflicting its political opinion on the issue du jour.
Libraries change lives through services developed and shared by the
diversity SIG, Dr. McCook, and others who work with a strong sense of
social justice and understanding of community dynamics. Robust funding to
keep outreach programs going is more important to me than what a small,
assertive group of library leaders have decided will be the Association's
position on the West Bank.
I am playing the provocteur to engender discussion. Would be pleased to
have this argument refuted.
thanks,
GC=20
R. Greg Carlson ! "Much virtue in waitresses;
St. Petersburg Public Library ! little in men." =20
zonefive@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us ! --zonefive
On Tue, 19 Sep 2000 kmccook@chuma.cas.usf.edu wrote:
>=20
> ------- Forwarded message follows -------
> Date sent: Tue, 19 Sep 2000 16:37:17 -0700
> To: SRRT Action Council <srrtac-l@ala.org>
> From: Rory Litwin <rlitwin@earthlink.net>
> Subject: [SRRTAC-L:5256] Article
> Send reply to: srrtac-l@ala.org
>=20
>=20
> There's a new article which might interest some of you.
>=20
> In _Law Library Journal_, Summer 2000, v. 92, n. 3, p.263-286
>=20
> Leslie M. Campbell, "Keeping Watch on the Waterfront: Social Responsibili=
ty
> in Legal and Library Professional Organizations"
>=20
> Leslie Campbell is a librarian at the University of San Francisco Law =
Library.
>=20
> Abstract:
>=20
> "At the 1997 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries,=
> the Social Responsibilities Specila Interest Section sponsored a program
> titled, "Keeping Watch on the Waterfront: A History of Social
> Responsibility in Legal and Library Professional Organizations." In =
this
> article, Ms. Campbell frames the issues surrounding social and political
> activism by professional organizations. her introduction is followed by
> edited remarks from the program's speakers, leaders of the American Bar
> Association, American Library Association, and American Association of =
Law
> Libraries."
>=20
> The article is balanced on the question of association involvement in
> social issues but ends with the following remarks from George E. =
Bushnell,
> Jr.: "Our political system, our social system, our economic system, our
> legal system - which, taken together, constitute our nation - are, I
> submit, in a state of confusion unlike any that has visited us since =
1789.
> This is no state of change. It is no state of transition. It is a
> whirlpool of confusion in which we all are spinning and from which we
> cannot find escape. I believe, and the ABA believes, that the reason =
for
> this frightening and threatening state of affairs is that we will not
> discuss the issues of the day. Rather, we remain dumb and intimidated =
by
> the shrill, loud voices of a handful of zealots, by the demagoguery (and =
it
> is demographic, too) of sleazy politicians. The rest of us have =
abdicated
> our First Amendment rights to speak out, to be heard. No one must be
> silenced and we cannot silence ourselves."
>=20
> The article is composed of Campbell's introduction and the remarks at =
the
> conference by Ann Puckett, Patricia Glass Schuman, and George Bushnell. =
It
> is interesting and informative. I was not aware of the difficult history =
in
> the ABA over their position on abortion rights (and other issues) over =
the
> years. The AALL has a Social Responsibilities Special Interest Section.
>=20
> Rory Litwin
>=20
>=20
> =3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D
> Rory Litwin, PO Box 720511, San Jose, CA 95172
> rory@libr.org - http://libr.org/rory
>=20
> ------- End of forwarded message -------
>=20
> Kathleen de la Pe=F1a McCook
> Coordinator of Community Outreach, College of Arts & Sciences
> Professor, School of Library & Information Science,
> University of South Florida, CIS 1040,
> Tampa, FL 33620 813-974-9182
> http://www.cas.usf.edu/lis/faculty/mccook.html kmccook@chuma.cas.usf.=
edu
>=20
>=20
>=20
> _______________________________________________
> tblc-diversity mailing list - tblc-diversity@lists.tblc.org
> http://lists.tblc.org/mailman/listinfo/tblc-diversity
>=20
_______________________________________________
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<DIV><FONT size=3D1>I still lurk on several of the TBLC lists, so I saw =
your post,=20
Greg. I couldn't</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>have said it better myself. That is exactly the =
reason I=20
withdrew my</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>membership in ALA several years ago. I didn't =
feel the=20
membership was</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>worth the cost, and I felt that it was tantamount to =
taxation=20
without</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>representation (remember what happened over that). =
; If I=20
have a strong</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>position on a social issue, I will go out and fight =
for or=20
against it myself.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>I saw a glimmer of hope that ALA was becoming more=20
library-centric,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>so I re-joined this year. But the jury is still =
out as=20
to whether I'll</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>renew next year. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=3D1>Now, down off my soapbox--hello and best wishes to =
both of=20
you.</FONT><BR><BR>>>> "Greg Carlson (SCFN)"=20
<zonefive@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us> 09/20/00 06:44AM=20
>>><BR>Greetings:<BR><BR>Thank you, Kathleen, for the forward on =
social=20
responsibility.<BR><BR>Does anyone recall the censure that Dorothy =
Broderick=20
faced at ALA<BR>conference years ago when she opposed an ALA resolution=20
on<BR>businesses, including book sellers, the press, etc., with ties=20
to<BR>apartheid South Africa? Free speech champion Nat<BR>Hentoff wrote =
a=20
scathing indictment of ALA's position; Library Journal and<BR>American =
Libraries=20
covered the vote as well, quoting Broderick as saying<BR>something like =
"How can=20
libraries claim to solve a problem by with<BR>withholding information =
(from=20
South Africans and US library userate).<BR><BR>I urge caution when it =
comes to=20
professional organizations taking<BR>positions on social issues. ALA =
has=20
enjoyed the trust of Congress on<BR>funding issues for LSTA, access to=20
government information, and like<BR>professional issues. We have =
never, to=20
my knowledge, been invited to<BR>address a committee on nuclear disarmament=
or=20
trade policy. When we take<BR>positions which appear partisan or=20
ideological, we threaten our<BR>credibility with funding agencies and =
the=20
public.<BR><BR>I want an association that empowers me to provide =
quality,=20
relevant,<BR>innovative services for everyone in my community, not one =
that=20
complicates<BR>my job by inflicting its political opinion on the issue =
du=20
jour.<BR>Libraries change lives through services developed and shared =
by=20
the<BR>diversity SIG, Dr. McCook, and others who work with a strong =
sense=20
of<BR>social justice and understanding of community dynamics. =
Robust=20
funding to<BR>keep outreach programs going is more important to me than =
what a=20
small,<BR>assertive group of library leaders have decided will be the=20
Association's<BR>position on the West Bank.<BR><BR>I am playing the =
provocteur=20
to engender discussion. Would be pleased to<BR>have this argument=20
refuted.<BR><BR>thanks,<BR>GC <BR><BR>R. Greg=20
Carlson &n=
bsp; =20
! "Much virtue in waitresses;<BR>St. Petersburg Public=20
Library ! little in men." =20
<BR>zonefive@scfn.thpl.lib.fl.us =20
! --zonefive<BR><BR>On Tue, 19 Sep =
2000=20
kmccook@chuma.cas.usf.edu wrote:<BR><BR>> <BR>> ------- Forwarded =
message=20
follows -------<BR>> Date sent: =20
Tue, 19 Sep 2000 16:37:17 -0700<BR>>=20
To: =
=20
SRRT Action Council <srrtac-l@ala.org><BR>>=20
From: =20
Rory Litwin <rlitwin@earthlink.net><BR>>=20
Subject: =20
[SRRTAC-L:5256] Article<BR>> Send reply to: =20
srrtac-l@ala.org<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> There's a new article which =
might=20
interest some of you.<BR>> <BR>> In _Law Library Journal_, Summer =
2000, v.=20
92, n. 3, p.263-286<BR>> <BR>> Leslie M. Campbell, "Keeping Watch on =
the=20
Waterfront: Social Responsibility<BR>> in Legal and Library Professional=
=20
Organizations"<BR>> <BR>> Leslie Campbell is a librarian at the =
University=20
of San Francisco Law Library.<BR>> <BR>> Abstract:<BR>> <BR>> =
"At=20
the 1997 Annual Meeting of the American Association of Law Libraries,<BR>&g=
t;=20
the Social Responsibilities Specila Interest Section sponsored a program<BR=
>>=20
titled, "Keeping Watch on the Waterfront: A History of Social<BR>>=20
Responsibility in Legal and Library Professional Organizations." =
In=20
this<BR>> article, Ms. Campbell frames the issues surrounding social =
and=20
political<BR>> activism by professional organizations. her =
introduction=20
is followed by<BR>> edited remarks from the program's speakers, leaders =
of=20
the American Bar<BR>> Association, American Library Association, and =
American=20
Association of Law<BR>> Libraries."<BR>> <BR>> The article is =
balanced=20
on the question of association involvement in<BR>> social issues but =
ends=20
with the following remarks from George E. Bushnell,<BR>> Jr.: "Our =
political=20
system, our social system, our economic system, our<BR>> legal system =
-=20
which, taken together, constitute our nation - are, I<BR>> submit, in a =
state=20
of confusion unlike any that has visited us since 1789.<BR>> This is no =
state=20
of change. It is no state of transition. It is a<BR>> =
whirlpool=20
of confusion in which we all are spinning and from which we<BR>> cannot =
find=20
escape. I believe, and the ABA believes, that the reason for<BR>> =
this=20
frightening and threatening state of affairs is that we will not<BR>> =
discuss=20
the issues of the day. Rather, we remain dumb and intimidated =
by<BR>>=20
the shrill, loud voices of a handful of zealots, by the demagoguery =
(and=20
it<BR>> is demographic, too) of sleazy politicians. The rest of =
us have=20
abdicated<BR>> our First Amendment rights to speak out, to be heard.&nbs=
p; No=20
one must be<BR>> silenced and we cannot silence ourselves."<BR>> =
<BR>>=20
The article is composed of Campbell's introduction and the remarks at=20
the<BR>> conference by Ann Puckett, Patricia Glass Schuman, and =
George=20
Bushnell. It<BR>> is interesting and informative. I was not aware =
of=20
the difficult history in<BR>> the ABA over their position on abortion =
rights=20
(and other issues) over the<BR>> years. The AALL has a Social=20
Responsibilities Special Interest Section.<BR>> <BR>> Rory Litwin<BR>=
>=20
<BR>> <BR>>=20
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D<BR>> Rory=20
Litwin, PO Box 720511, San Jose, CA =20
95172<BR>> rory@libr.org - =
<A=20
href=3D"http://libr.org/rory">http://libr.org/rory</A><BR>> <BR>> =
-------=20
End of forwarded message -------<BR>> <BR>> Kathleen de la Pe=F1a=20
McCook<BR>> Coordinator of Community Outreach, College of Arts &=20
Sciences<BR>> Professor, School of Library & Information Science,<BR=
>>=20
University of South Florida, CIS 1040,<BR>> Tampa, FL 33620 &=
nbsp;=20
813-974-9182<BR>> <A=20
href=3D"http://www.cas.usf.edu/lis/faculty/mccook.html &nb=
sp;">http://www.cas.usf.edu/lis/faculty/mccook.html =
</A>=20
kmccook@chuma.cas.usf.edu<BR>> <BR>> <BR>> <BR>>=20
_______________________________________________<BR>> tblc-diversity =
mailing=20
list - tblc-diversity@lists.tblc.org<BR>> <A=20
href=3D"http://lists.tblc.org/mailman/listinfo/tblc-diversity">http://lists=
.tblc.org/mailman/listinfo/tblc-diversity</A><BR>>=20
<BR><BR><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>tblc-div=
ersity=20
mailing list - tblc-diversity@lists.tblc.org<BR><A=20
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.tblc.org/mailman/listinfo/tblc-diversity</A><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>
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