[Libs-Or] The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion issue of the OLA Quarterly is now available! Guest Editor: Elaine Hirsch

[Meredith Farkas]

Thanks Max and Gesse. I was also deeply disappointed to see this article
included in *OLA Quarterly*, a journal many of us have contributed to over
the years with thoughtful and constructive writing. I want to second
Gesse's suggestion that *OLA Quarterly's* editorial team publicly address
this in some way in their next issue (or a future issue if that's not
feasible). I also hope that they will develop some editorial standards that
guide guest editors in making solid decisions about what to include in an
issue. I wrote a letter to the editor with my concerns
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1xuFin5HQ5rdtyKmoVRzhjq_bOnWg7W4ygmXb7j2Al_U/edit>
about this piece and I know others have as well.

Also, ALA has kindly made the text of Dr. Debbie Reese's Arbuthnot Honor
Lecture available to everyone
<https://journals.ala.org/index.php/cal/article/view/7101>, and I encourage
you to read her thoughtful remarks and come to your own conclusions about
them rather than relying on Ms. McNeil's second-hand account.

Kudos to the other authors of pieces in *OLA Quarterly*. There is so much
practical, thoughtful, earnest, and valuable content in this issue and it's
a shame that it is playing second fiddle to such an inflammatory closing
piece. I urge you all to read the other articles in the issue.

Best wishes,
Meredith

Meredith Farkas, Faculty Librarian, Library SAC Chair
Pronouns: she/her
*#YESSToAFairContract* <https://pccffap.org/>
Portland Community College Library, Sylvania Campus
971-722-4966
meredith.farkas at pcc.edu
www.pcc.edu/library


On Fri, Nov 1, 2019 at 12:09 PM Gesse Stark-Smith <gesses at multco.us> wrote:

> Hi All,
>
> Thank you, Max, for bringing this to our listserv's attention and
> courageously pointing out the bias in Ms. McNeil's article.
>
> I'm also confused about the inclusion of this piece in the EDI issue. In
> the introduction to the issue, the guest editor Elaine Hirsch writes: "This
> issue shares the important work that a wide variety of libraries are doing
> to help create equitable and inclusive communities in Oregon." Ms. McNeil's
> article does not share important work that is happening to make libraries
> more inclusive, rather it shares the perspective of an individual who is
> struggling with these concepts and critiquing those who are doing this
> important work. (As Max has pointed out, BIOPOC are so often told what they
> can/cannot say in these and so many other spaces.) This is a pervasive
> perspective in our society and not one that needs an additional
> platform--especially in an issue with the above stated purpose.
>
> I'm wondering if the editors of the OLA quarterly plan to address this.
> Perhaps, by publishing a letter to the editor or a future article on this
> topic? Please keep me posted.
>
> Sincerely,
> Gesse Stark-Smith
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Oct 31, 2019 at 12:01 PM Max Macias <max.macias at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Except for the article by Heather McNeil, in which they attack indigenous
>> scholar Dr. Debbie Reese and other scholars who are doing anti-racist work!
>>
>> <http://goog_422301605>
>> https://commons.pacificu.edu/olaq/vol25/iss2/12
>>
>> In fact, I find it deeply offensive to be spoken down to by a white woman
>> of privilege about how to do EDI and anti-racist work 'right.'
>>
>> Or maybe that article is written for white people,,,?
>>
>> I'm confused.
>>
>>
>> Your article belittled Dr. Reese and others in the field who have moved
>> beyond begging for inclusion and also moved beyond the corpus of
>> traditionally white racist literature for children in the US.  This
>> literature does much to reproduce the racism that permeates our country.
>> We are in dire need of AUTHENTIC representation and AUTHENTIC critiques of
>> the traditionally white racist literature that we swim in and were raised
>> within.  The best people to do these critiques are BIPOC and people from
>> other oppressed groups.  Your article is an attack on these scholars.
>>
>> Dr. Reese's groundbreaking work is a harbinger of what is to come.
>>
>> BIPOC are constantly told how they should speak, behave, think and
>> believe by white people and those days are now numbered...
>>
>> This article is disturbing, offensive and racist.
>>
>> It is sad because there are some other really good articles in this
>> issue.
>>
>>
>>
>> Max Macias
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Oct 29, 2019 at 7:08 AM Max Macias <max.macias at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Great work Everyone.
>>>
>>>
>>> Thank you!
>>>
>>> Max
>>>
>>>
>>> On Mon, Oct 28, 2019 at 6:23 PM Charles Wood <wuchakewu at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion issue of the OLA Quarterly is now
>>>> available! The Guest Editor is Elaine Hirsch, Associate Director of Watzek
>>>> Library at Lewis & Clark College and our current OLA President. Please
>>>> download and read it here:
>>>> https://commons.pacificu.edu/olaq/vol25/iss2/
>>>> This year EDI is a specific area of focus for the Oregon Library
>>>> Association, and there will be many opportunities for OLA members to engage
>>>> in related efforts and conversations. The best place to start is to read
>>>> this issue! See if you know someone who wrote about their EDI work! :)
>>>> UX note: The links in this issue may work better if the reader
>>>> downloads it into an Adobe DC Reader. The table of contents is clickable.
>>>>
>>>> Best wishes,
>>>> Charles Wood
>>>> OLA Communications
>>>>
>>>
>
> --
> Gesse Stark-Smith
> Community Outreach Librarian
> Multnomah County Library
> 503-988-4679
> gesses at multco.us
>
> Pronouns: She/Her
>
>
>
>
>
>
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