Just Wondering - How Do We Combat Ignorance?

Image by Michael Hourigan from Pixabay

This month's column by Manitowoc (WI) Public Library Youth Librarian Susie Menk is thinking about how to help people understand the how and why's of library work. And she's wondering....what do you think? 

Recently we had a patron come in and request that we remove a book from our collection.  We followed protocol and issued our request for reconsideration form.  After the patron filled out the form, we read it and the patron had put on the form “I don’t have to read the book to know it’s bad”.  Statements like this show so much ignorance.  Other examples include patrons condemning books they haven’t read and parents wanting books removed from the collection because they don’t want their child to read it, and the list continues.  

How do we as librarians and information gatekeepers help educate our communities?

 

How do we gently lead our patrons to a better understanding of how a public library operates?

How do we show our patrons the time and effort that goes into cultivating a rich and diverse library collection of books?

How do we share with our community that all people in our community should be able to come into the library and find books representative of themselves?

 

I feel lately that it has been a long uphill climb to diversity, inclusion and equity in the library.  For every program or book or activity that we offer, we have some community members questioning and arguing and showing up at board meetings to contest them. 

 

I have always believed that the main purpose of the library is to offer a lifelong love of books and reading.  In more recent years, the library has become a place to gain access to technology and equipment that is not readily available to all our patrons.  We are a cornerstone of our communities where every person is welcome and helped and can find something that interests them or helps them. 

 

So what to do?  Our library has tried to get patrons to share their “library stories”—times when the library made an impact on them or their family.  We have also made videos highlighting our digital resources and tutorials on how to get into the digital resource and then how it works.  We also share pictures and events on social media so others can experience the wonderful programs and activities we offer to patrons of all ages.  

 

Maybe we should do a monthly video entitled “A Day in the Life of…” and have staff in various departments explain what their job entails and show their work space.  This could possibly give a better awareness to our community of how complex library work can be and the overall process of getting material shelf-ready for checkout. What do you think?  What have you done to help combat ignorance in your community? 

 

Just wondering…