by Rebeca Rubio
Canadian School Libraries is a member organization of the International Association of School Librarianship (IASL). CSL sponsored Rebeca Rubio to attend the IASL’s conference in July 2022, where she presented CSL’s Collection Diversity Toolkit.
On a hot, humid day in July 2022, I found myself in Columbia, South Carolina, attending the IASL conference on behalf of Canadian School Libraries. I was there to share the CSL Collection Diversity Toolkit, a project that I am fiercely proud of. This toolkit recognizes that library collections need to be developed through an informed equity lens, embodying the democratic nature of libraries with commitment to fairness and justice for all. It was an honour to be a small part of this incredible repository, and I was eager to share this important work.
As I waited to present, I sat nervously fidgeting, wondering how this work would be received. I was, after all, in the “Deep South”, an area that recently had a skyrocketing number of attempted book bans and direct attacks on school libraries and librarians. There was a palpable culture of fear in the library world. Parents, organized groups and politicians were lobbying for the removal of books from library shelves – primarily those dealing with race or gender themes. Would this audience of librarians be welcoming of Canada’s commitment to reconciliation, racial equity and LGBTQIA2S+ rights? Would they share our belief that we must recognize historical injustices and entrenched systemic bias in order to achieve equity? Would they agree that we have a duty to ensure that all our patrons are safe and represented in our spaces?
As I listened to other presenters, I marvelled at how libraries have had the ability to stay relevant in an ever-changing world, moving away from print, embracing technology, and supporting inquiry and collaboration. The presenters highlighted the dexterity of teacher librarians to pivot, stay connected and stay relevant in a quickly changing landscape. I couldn’t help but wonder, though, if this audience would also embrace the idea that we have a responsibility to ensure that all identities be represented and protected in our spaces? Would this audience embrace that our libraries can be places to disrupt systems of oppression and power?
As I ruminated on this, I entered a session led by Dr. Tutaleni Asino, an animated and engaging speaker, who not only dispelled my doubts, but also reminded me how profoundly I had underestimated my American librarian colleagues.
Drawing from the book Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Alblom, Dr. Asino spoke of the five people we meet in “library heaven” and challenged us to answer the question: what is our responsibility to them?
- The first person we find in library heaven is the person fighting to be included, fighting to be seen and accepted as enough. This person needs a safe refuge and a sense of belonging in a world that is often hostile towards them.
- The second person we find in library heaven is the person fighting to tell their story. This patron comes to our library to be respected, accepted and heard. They have learned, through experience and through life, that those who own the story control the narrative. These people come to our libraries to fiercely share their truth and reclaim their story.
- The third person we meet in library heaven is the person fighting to find their story. For a multitude of reasons (historical injustices, systems of oppression and power, displacement etc.) they have lost their histories. They are fighting to learn who they are because the dominant culture has erased and distorted their story. They don’t see themselves accurately depicted in media and seek to right those misconceptions and to deepen their understanding of self.
- The fourth person we find in library heaven is the person fighting to be educated and be an ally. These people understand that knowing about others helps them know about themselves. They enter with an empathetic, open heart and mind, curious to learn and with a burning need for social justice.
- The fifth person we find in library heaven is the person fighting to be connected. They are acutely aware of the digital divide, knowing that technological knowledge is social currency. They come seeking to balance the unbalanced.
So, what is our responsibility to them?
School Library Learning Commons are no longer just about reading and books. They are sophisticated learning environments and spaces of creativity, innovation and equity. Our responsibility to these patrons is profound. We have a responsibility to provide equitable collections that serve as mirrors and windows; to create safe spaces where they can seek refuge and know that they are valued, seen and included; to provide advocacy and allyship, using our voices to help amplify theirs and to demand equity; but above all, to do this work with both courage and humility, for it is difficult work. It is difficult, but it is at the core of all that is libraries.
Highlights from Rebeca’s IASL Conference Experience
Rebeca Rubio is the Coordinator for Libraries and Information Services in SD38 Richmond, BC. She supports Teacher Librarians in developing programs, redesigning flexible spaces and developing equitable and responsive Library Learning Commons. She supports teachers and schools with resource acquisition, database navigation, digital literacy and other literacy initiatives. She also manages and maintains the District Resource Centre, acquiring and circulating valuable resources for all educators.