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

[Charles Wood]

Hi Everyone,

Just a note, Elaine has asked me to let her do the responding to everyone's
valid concerns.  I have been forwarding her everybody's emails as they came
in, as her email fell of the thread, but I have to go out now, so I added
her email address above and here: olapresident at olaweb.org

Charles

On Fri, Nov 1, 2019 at 2:04 PM Meredith Farkas <meredith.farkas at pcc.edu>
wrote:

> 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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