The Subversive Librarian – That Special Drawer and Cabinet

I recognize that many of my library folk friends live in communities where displaying so-called woke values is difficult.

With some states and municipalities (dare we say library boards) making  achieving the library’s mission difficult and, sometimes, proposing or enacting criminal penalties for just sharing books, library folk need to be careful.  It can be scary and. frankly, expensive if charged or challenged with crimes. However, if we don’t defend what we are, we can’t remain what are.

That doesn’t mean you can stop, but you need to adjust.

So, here’s some advice for that special drawer in your desks.

Lists – lots of lists.

• Trans helplines and websites
• Mental Health and abuse support resources
• Women’s shelters
• Addiction resources including Nalaxone
• EpiPens and First Aid (and understanding the Samaritan laws)
• Women’s menstrual health products (if you can’t keep them on open, stigma free display)
• Immigration  support for less than well documented residents (helplines, legal advice, etc.)
• LGBTQ2S+ resources
• LGBTQ2S+ shelters
• Counselling services
• Suicide hotlines
• and more . . .

Many of the above ARE about life and death.  It’s a shame that we might need to hide it.

And, of course and sadly, we have a long tradition of the special cabinet or back-room shelf, containing:

Not displaying resources in our collections is a tragedy, but some libraries have to consider this.  Dogmatics using censorship as a strategy may, in the short term, require work-arunds, while we address constitutional rights issues trhough our legal and associations work.  Working through our associations protects many of our members from direct risks.  Moving resources can be one strategy.  Not buying them is not an option from a values- and needs-based reality.  Carefully curating the back-room shelf or cabinet drawer for your special users – that kid with same sex parents, that teen sturggling with their identity, those mental and physical health conditions that people try to deny, and those identities that some try to victimize, and that abuse victim trying to survive with her kids (and so many more) MUST be available.  Find your strategy and do right.

Anti-poverty work:

• Community food donation fridges.
• Special spaces for homeless people to connect with social services and rest.
• Warming/cooling centres for all residents
• Social worker visits
• Educational supports
• Whatever people try to punish the needy step in with a space, service, or program.

Be that librarian.  The subversive one who has the best intentions for helping your residents in challenging times.

Libraries are highly trusted, stigma-free, neutral, non-judgemental, places in our communities.

Yes, it’s hard.  You’re a hero.  I commend you.

Share other items in your kits in the comments