[Libs-Or] About the Petition to the State Library of Oregon

[Scott Gallagher-Starr]

Thank you, Bryce, I was just coming to write this myself. Marci is
providing terrific leadership in this effort, and I also see her as an
excellent person to recommend to lead the recruitment process - if she is
willing to do yet another unpaid job for this community!

So far as the recruitment process goes, please correct me if I am wrong,
but the State library is obligated to go through the normal recruiting
process - put in a request to create and budget for an EDIA position,
advertise the position, solicit applications, review applications,
interview candidates and recommend a hire. That's a flawed process too, and
it's the process the library has to use as a state agency. I would advocate
for Marci (or Max, or anyone else who thinks they could do that hard work)
to apply when applications open, and I demand that OSL work with community
to create the position in the first place.

Scott
-----
Scott Gallagher-Starr
Instruction and Reference Librarian
Bushnell University

On Thu, Feb 17, 2022 at 10:00 AM Bryce Kozla via Libs-Or <
libs-or at omls.oregon.gov> wrote:

> For what it's worth, when I read in the petition, "We want to ask the
> State Library of Oregon (SLO) to create an EDIA Consulting position within
> their institution and provide the opportunity to our colleague Marci
> Ramiro-Jenkins to lead us in this effort", I interpret it to mean "due to
> her expertise, we [the people organizing and signing the petition] are
> suggesting Marci as a possible person to lead the recruitment effort."
>
> I do not see any communication in this thread or elsewhere confirming any
> other interpretation of this sentence by the petition organizers, OLA, or
> the State Library.
>
>
> Bryce
>
> On Thu, Feb 17, 2022 at 9:03 AM Meredith Farkas via Libs-Or <
> libs-or at omls.oregon.gov> wrote:
>
>> I recognize that everyone is in different places in their journey in
>> understanding their privilege and the insidious ways whiteness culture and
>> racism are baked into our institutions and beliefs (as evidenced by the
>> anonymous comments you shared). I recognize that people make mistakes on
>> that journey and I try to have empathy for folks when they do it, but,
>> Penny, you are not making that easy. I do not necessarily agree that asking
>> questions isn't being an ally, but many people have responded to you to try
>> to provide education and context and, rather than consider that you might
>> have something more to learn here, you seem to only focus on the responses
>> of a BIPOC man. Do you understand that for you and I, conversations like
>> this are merely an academic discussion, whereas for our BIPOC colleagues,
>> they are existential? I always try to keep that in-mind when I engage in
>> these conversations, because tone-policing BIPOC in extremely asymmetric
>> dialogues would make me look ignorant.
>>
>> It is the BIPOC library workers who have pushed OLA towards this work and
>> their unpaid labor helped create the progress that has been made so far.
>> And I'm immensely grateful for that because their initiative helped all OLA
>> units (including ACRL-Oregon when I served on the Board) to really look
>> inward and investigate ways to be more inclusive and equitable. I'm
>> honestly ashamed that I didn't focus on EDI work more during my year as
>> ACRL President. During the years I served on and chaired the OLA Membership
>> committee, including when you were President, there was no OLA focus on
>> antiracist work. OLA units were incredibly homogeneous and no one seemed to
>> have a concern about that beyond getting more representation from beyond
>> the Willamette Valley. That you're more concerned about current optics than
>> the lack of inclusion you helped to continue as a past OLA President is
>> disappointing.
>>
>> Progress is not made by people charitably encouraging and mentoring one
>> or two BIPOC librarians (and then taking credit for the good work they are
>> doing) -- it is made by fostering changes in systems. You are experienced
>> enough to know that as a government unit, the State Library has stringent
>> hiring policies and procedures that could not be railroaded by either
>> Arlene, Marci, or OLA. I'm grateful that the Board sent a very clear
>> statement of support for someone who has done SO MUCH for OLA and for BIPOC
>> librarians in Oregon (more than encouraging two BIPOC to go to library
>> school). Marci has helped to create SYSTEMIC CHANGE in how OLA runs and all
>> that even before her presidential year. I'm in awe.
>>
>> Your original post essentially accuses Marci and Arlene Weibel of
>> cronyism (or at least giving the impression of cronyism), which is really
>> insulting given your knowledge of how the OLA Board works. Are you also
>> concerned about the cronyism that has led to BIPOC being systematically
>> left out of positions of power in our field for generations? Are you
>> concerned about the cronyism that still has white men overrepresented in
>> positions of power in our field? Have you spoken up or tried to change
>> those things? What about the optics of only being concerned about cronyism
>> and partisanship when it is focused on supporting a BIPOC woman? And you
>> seem unwilling to see or care about the harm you are causing Marci, which
>> after publishing those anonymous comments is only growing. But worst is the
>> accusation that Marci and other BIPOC have bullied the OLA Board and others
>> into going along with something they disagree with. You've impugned not
>> only Marci's character, but that of each individual OLA Board member, and
>> you've made Marci doubt the very real support she has from many allies in
>> the profession.
>>
>> I hope you will reconsider your point of view.
>>
>> Meredith
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Feb 17, 2022 at 8:07 AM Penelope Hummel via Libs-Or <
>> libs-or at omls.oregon.gov> wrote:
>>
>>> Max--it is unfortunate that you appear to believe that *any *critique
>>> of a EDIA initiative, however respectfully and thoughtfully expressed, is
>>> hurtful to BIPOC people.  By saying “just stop” you are quite clearly
>>> telling me to shut up. That the only way I can avoid your repeated public
>>> censure is to either go silent, affirm everything you say, or recant my
>>> heresy.  It must be frustrating to you that unlike others, I haven’t
>>> cracked under your constant pressure.  This is exactly the toxic dynamic I
>>> was trying to address in my last post.  Thank you for demonstrating it so
>>> clearly.
>>>
>>> I’m not sure who you’ve cc’d on this message at the American Library
>>> Association but can only hope that they are affiliated with the Office of
>>> Intellectual Freedom.
>>>
>>> In general, I find virtue signaling to be pretentious and annoying but
>>> since I am being publicly accused of damaging my BIPOC colleagues, I will
>>> just say that there are currently two Oregon BIPOC librarians who are doing
>>> the great work they are doing in part because I saw their potential,
>>> mentored them and encouraged them to go to library school. I did so for all
>>> the same reasons that OLA is supporting its EDIA initiatives:  our
>>> profession needs to become more diverse and nurturing BIPOC talent is
>>> essential in that effort.  I fail to understand how the only way to support
>>> EDIA work is to never dare to question any of it.  And so far, no one who
>>> has been engaged in this current conversation has addressed this issue.
>>> Reiterating how important EDIA work is (which I wholeheartedly agree with)
>>> does not address this issue.
>>>
>>>
>>> You are entitled to behave on this listserv however you want.  What
>>> surprises me are the number of people in our community who continue to
>>> lavish public praise on you despite the nature of your discourse. You write
>>> below “Anyone who has eyes can make their own judgements about you and your
>>> behavior.”
>>>
>>> Yes, Max, that’s quite true.  Anyone who has eyes can make their own
>>> judgements about you and your behavior.
>>>
>>> I stand by mine.
>>>
>>> Penny Hummel
>>>
>>> PENNY HUMMEL CONSULTING
>>>
>>> penny at pennyhummel.com | 503.890.0494 | www.pennyhummel.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Ensuring that libraries survive and thrive in challenging times*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *From: *Max Macias <max.macias at gmail.com>
>>> *Date: *Thursday, February 17, 2022 at 6:05 AM
>>> *To: *Penelope Hummel <penny at pennyhummel.com>
>>> *Cc: *"libs-or at omls.oregon.gov" <libs-or at omls.oregon.gov>, "
>>> REFORMANet at googlegroups.com" <REFORMANet at googlegroups.com>, <
>>> thall at ala.org>
>>> *Subject: *Re: [Libs-Or] About the Petition to the State Library of
>>> Oregon
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Ms. Hummel,
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Thank you--it is great to know where people stand.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> When white people are scared to talk and they find a spokesperson for
>>> them--such as you--a mass of pity is created for them.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> However, when BIPOC raise concerns on this email list they are labelled
>>> as aggressive, as 'using tactics" to intimidate people--they are castigated
>>> and ostracized.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> You, Ms. Hummel are being aggressive, unprofessional and are using
>>> intimidation tactics against BIPOC who are doing Equity, DIversity,
>>> Inclusion and Antiracism work in Oregon.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I'm not going to label your behavior--I wouldn't want to be accused of
>>> being aggressive.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Anyone who has eyes can make their own judgements about you and your
>>> behavior.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Please stop now--you are hurting people.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Max Macias
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Feb 16, 2022 at 9:58 PM Penelope Hummel via Libs-Or <
>>> libs-or at omls.oregon.gov> wrote:
>>>
>>> Since my post late Monday raising ethical concerns in light of the OLA
>>> Executive Board’s endorsement of a petition promoting its president-elect
>>> for a position at the state library, I’ve had 20 different people contact
>>> me about it privately. (It’s been a busy couple of days.)
>>>
>>> One of them likened my original post to a public lynching.
>>>
>>> The other 19 were from people I know well and people I don’t know at
>>> all.  They live all over the state, are early career, mid-career and
>>> retired, are managers and front-line staff.  They are your colleagues and
>>> quite possibly, your good friends. They may see some things differently
>>> than you do regardless of whether you know that about them or not.
>>>
>>> Almost all stated that they did not feel safe publicly disclosing what
>>> they had to say to me.  So, with their permission, I am sharing some
>>> representative comments anonymously.  My focus here is not to rehash points
>>> I’ve already made about the EDIA petition, but rather to raise the issue of
>>> how we (as the Oregon library community) hold respectful space for each
>>> other to express dissenting points of view.  As you encounter the recurring
>>> themes in these comments, I hope you will ask yourself: * how are we
>>> doing on that?  *
>>> _________________________________________________________________________
>>>
>>> *I feel silenced and unwelcome in this discussion given the language and
>>> the tactics that are being used.  I appreciate you speaking up and asking
>>> good questions because I obviously cannot. Libraries have an opportunity to
>>> provide a place where civil discourse can happen, a place where false
>>> dichotomies and polarization are discouraged.   There’s a real need for
>>> that in the world right now. The dialogue needs to be constructive. *
>>>
>>>
>>> __________________________________________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Thank you for speaking up about this. I am sorry to see, once again,
>>> anyone offering up constructive criticism of anything being done by anyone
>>> having to do with EDIA efforts is being labeled as, “those who would keep
>>> whiteness in control of everything”. Unfortunately, this always turns
>>> personal and misses the point.*
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Your assessment of the issue of conflict of interest was spot on, as
>>> well as your assessment of how things may have gone with the executive
>>> board. I have spoken with several colleagues today that saw it that way as
>>> well. But we fear speaking up publicly about it because of how we’ve seen
>>> things pan out in the past. I am still relatively early in my library
>>> career and don’t feel I can speak up in good faith without it being seen as
>>> a personal attack that leads to potential retaliation.*
>>> __________________________________________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>> *Thank you so much for this statement. This is exactly how I felt when I
>>> read the petition, which I did not sign for this very reason. I am
>>> concerned that this will be noted by some and hurt my standing within the
>>> OLA ranks.*
>>> __________________________________________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>  *I share the same concerns as you, regarding the appropriateness of
>>> the petition and the conflict of interest, but I do not feel like that I
>>> can step forward. So I appreciate you giving voice to the potential ethical
>>> issues with the petition.*
>>>
>>>
>>>  _________________________________________________________________________
>>>
>>> *What you did is very brave and currently I am not brave enough to stand
>>> with you publicly and I am ashamed of that. While it may sound extreme, I
>>> am afraid of losing my ability to keep my job, or get another library job,
>>> if I speak up.*
>>>
>>>
>>> __________________________________________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *I felt compelled to write and just let you know I appreciate what you
>>> shared on libs-or about “groupthink” and concerns about conflict of
>>> interest regarding the EDIA petition. I, too, have been concerned about
>>> both of these things, both in this instance and many others.  *
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *I do feel like we (the collective ‘we’ of OLA) have been demonstrating
>>> some concerning behavior where if an idea/request/thought/initiative is
>>> presented under the lens of EDIA, it appears through repeated examples that
>>> they are accepted, cart blanche, without active discourse of clear critical
>>> thought.  I personally do feel unsafe bringing up dissenting opinions for
>>> the exact fear that was just enacted on you, which is public ridicule and
>>> criticism, immediately casting one out as not being an “ally” or supporting
>>> the needs and advances of our EDIA directives.*
>>>
>>>
>>> __________________________________________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>> *I have concerns with the EDI Toolkit distributed, was it vetted by an
>>> HR attorney of reasonable experience? If not, I would consider it slanted
>>> advice, I don’t need the grief in my life to ask that question at this
>>> point. I am glad you made the points you did today. I was not surprised to
>>> see the responses that came.*
>>> ___________________________________________________________________________
>>>
>>> *My colleague and I discussed this and we do not believe commenting on
>>> the forum would accomplish much of anything other than creating trouble for
>>> us and possibly destroying our respective careers.  I read the petition and
>>> was dismayed at its divisive language and also that the author of the
>>> petition was being promoted as the perfect person to fulfill the new
>>> prospective job position, especially in light of her current position of
>>> being an incoming OLA president.  Like you, I felt this to be a conflict of
>>> interest. I would like to see the petition worded differently and the
>>> conflict of interest in naming Marci Ramiro Jenkins specifically for it be
>>> taken out in order to garner my support.  If I state this however then I’m
>>> labeled instantly as a racist so I won’t say anything. I appreciate that
>>> you took the leadership to address what you saw as problems with the
>>> petition in a way that I’d not be surprised was similar to the way a number
>>> of us saw it.  However open discussion and diversity of opinions no longer
>>> seems to be allowed, not even in the library world.*
>>>
>>>
>>> __________________________________________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>> *I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your posts to Libs-Or
>>> concerning the petition. I don't feel capable of navigating the hazardous
>>> trail of this discussion openly but have shared your concerns with this
>>> process. You have eloquently addressed them in a respectful way, which I so
>>> appreciate.  Like so many librarians I know and respect, I want to see
>>> BIPOC rise in the profession. I see this issue making it more difficult to
>>> navigate, especially after reading the September statement by WOC-LIB.
>>> Carry on and know how much you are appreciated for your ability to speak
>>> out. I am not alone in knowing that you are doing so with the best interest
>>> in the advancement of all libraries and librarians. *
>>> __________________________________________________________________________
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Penny Hummel
>>>
>>> PENNY HUMMEL CONSULTING
>>>
>>> penny at pennyhummel.com | 503.890.0494 | www.pennyhummel.com
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> *Ensuring that libraries survive and thrive in challenging times*
>>>
>>>

-- 
-----
Scott Gallagher-Starr
scott.gallagherstarr at gmail.com
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