"Recently, DPI shared the information for accessing the 2020 Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) online manual and store catalog. Upon reviewing the numerous materials in the manual and catalog, it has come to our attention that the 2020 artwork is problematic for many reasons."
In the following letter, the DPI expands upon the concerns:
Dear Wisconsin Library Staff,
Recently, we shared the information for accessing the 2020 Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) online manual and store catalog*. Upon reviewing the numerous materials in the manual and catalog, it has come to our attention that the 2020 artwork** is problematic for many reasons.
In particular, the poster artwork for all age groups--early literacy, children, teen, and adult-- uses imagery that is culturally appropriated from several American Indian nations. The stories that the raven and coyote images reference are sacred stories, not fairy tales or folk tales. On the poster intended for adults, there is an image near the bottom suggesting a woman imagining herself in what appears to be a feather headdress, which is inappropriate and offensive.
In addition, there are many images from the posters that reflect stereotypes, tokenism, and biased references. For example, there is a shirtless African boy sitting outside of a grass hut next to a zebra on the teen poster. In the Guide for Selecting Anti-Bias Children’s Books by Louise Derman-Sparks, examples of harmful/undermining stereotypes are listed. The 2020 slogan of “Imagine Your Story” carries the theme of fairy tales, mythology, and fantasy. The Guide identifies why fairy tales and folk tales are problematic:
•Folk and fairy tales have long been a mainstay of children’s literature. In the cultures from which they come, folk and fairy tales were used to teach important lessons and values related to their culture of origin. Children love them in their original versions—not their commercially sanitized adaptations. However, folk and fairy tales also carry messages that convey sexism, classism, and racism and must be used thoughtfully as part of introducing young children to diversity and anti- bias values of quality and fairness.
•Overuse of folk tales to “teach” about a specific ethnic/cultural group leads to misinformation and confusion. They are about animals and occasionally people from a mythical past and are designed to teach core values and beliefs in their culture of origin. They are not about how people actually live in contemporary society—and that is what young children need to understand. Information and images about how people really live now is what enables young children to build connections to people who are from different cultures while countering stereotypes that children have already absorbed (e.g., how American Indians really live).
With this context, we hope you can see why many of stories referenced in the artwork convey messages that are not in line with our priorities of inclusion and equity in Wisconsin public libraries. While we believe the intent of the illustrator was positive, the impact on our communities will still be negative. It is our recommendation that your library not use these images to promote the summer library program due to their problematic nature, and to evaluate any programs for appropriative or non-inclusive content.
This recommendation comes after careful review of the materials and through discussion with content experts such as the DPI American Indian consultant and the Cooperative Children’s Book Center library staff. In addition, Wisconsin is not the only state to respond in this manner.
The CSLP staff and board have been responsive to these concerns. If a resolution develops, we will share additional information with the Wisconsin public library community. In the meantime, we feel it necessary to communicate our concerns to you before your planning and purchasing begins in earnest.
Sincerely,
Tessa Michaelson Schmidt
On behalf of the Public Library Development Team
*Membership to the (CSLP), which includes access to the manuals and online store, is provided to all Wisconsin public libraries through the Public Library Development Team (PLDT) using federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant funding."
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Shortly after this was sent to library staff throughout the state, the following response from CSLP was shared:
"Dear CSLP Member Libraries,
We are writing to address the serious concerns raised over the use of Native American imagery in the 2020 poster art.
CSLP recently became aware that there were serious concerns over the use of Native American imagery being paired with fairytale and fantastic images in the 2020 poster art. These concerns apply to all four posters.
On November 6th the CSLP Board of Directors held their monthly Board meeting and a discussion of the artwork was added to the agenda. Library representatives from twenty-five different states participated in the conversation. It was decided that input from subject experts from the Native American community, as well as others, would be sought and a plan would be developed.
CSLP quickly reached out to tribal libraries, educators, and specialists in the field for their expert opinions. We believe this statement from the Utah Division of Indian Affairs best sums up the feedback we received:
"The Utah Division of Indian Affairs would like to encourage the CSLP Board to edit and remove the Native American imagery from the posters. The imagery is not bad, it just does not belong on a poster with folklore characters where it can be misleading to suggest that Native American beliefs and cultural stories are "fairy tales" or "make believe". We believe the artist's intent was good but it would have negative impacts towards the Native American Community.”
Taking this advice to heart, CSLP must take action. The following changes will be enacted for the 2020’s “Imagine Your Story” Program:
●Remove and/or replace (if possible) all artwork with Coyote, Raven, and/or a Totem pole image on the online manual
●Remove all posters from the online store.
●Remove product containing Coyote, Raven, and/or a Totem pole image from the online store.
●Update the PDF product catalog.
●Make building and codifying internal processes and procedures the “Strategic focus” for the next two years.
●Commission one poster design, and one "timed reading" record design for the 2020 program.
This has been a very important and hard lesson learned by CSLP. As an organization comprised of library volunteers, we often share the same blindspots that can afflict the profession as a whole. Historic library categories such as “myth”, “folklore” and “legend” are being examined in recent scholarship. CSLP must continue to strive to reach out to experts across all areas of work, and take steps to further develop CSLP processes. We will continue to engage with our libraries, educators and experts in the field to ensure we develop summer programming that is welcoming to all.
We ask that all member libraries consider the message shared above and to use your best judgement when representing cultures outside your own. If you received an early shipment of print materials and would like a refund or replacement, please send your request, along with your order number, to custserv@cslpreads.org. If you have access to the original manual art, CSLP is granting additional flexibility on how the artwork may be used. For the program year 2020, member libraries may modify the CSLP artwork to conform to their personal, or institutional standards of inclusivity.
CSLP looks forward to continuing to serve you as a collaborative and in light of CSLP being a volunteer-driven organization, we encourage you to serve by signing up for committees, offering survey feedback, submitting manual ideas, and continuing to work with us as we empower you to foster community through your summer library programs.
Sincerely,
CSLP Board of Directors and Staff"
**Per Tessa, the following solutions - - in addition to using your best judgement when utilizing the artwork and/or taking advantage of the CSLP's permission to modify this year's artwork--are available:
"Of note, a new poster design and timed reading record will be commissioned and available later this year.
Also, if you have any orders already placed, contact custserv@cslpreads.org for a refund or replacement."
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