Library Alchemy

I had a few blog post drafts in the hopper, but I’ve deleted all of them. Given the events of this past weekend here in Pittsburgh, to say nothing of the multiple murders committed in Binghamton, NY; Tacoma, WA; and, sadly, far too many other places lately, writing about library issues seems, well, trivial.

I know this is false, but I don’t seem to have the words to express how I’m feeling about our profession, and its role in helping the world become more peaceful, less violent. Talking about this sort of thing is, Elvis Costello help us, like dancing about architecture.

Fortunately, Nick Lowe has already written the theme song for all of us who proudly consider ourselves “regressive” librarians (the AL can bite me), so we shall give him the bulk of the words and sentiments for the day.

Never doubt, progressive librarians, that your efforts to build a safer, saner world through socially responsible programming and collection development will someday prevail. Perhaps it’s idealistic folly, but I have to believe that statement. The alternatives strike me as decidedly unpalatable.

The personal is political. Librarianship is political. What are you doing to create a more socially just world in your library?

ETA: When you wear your heart on your sleeve, your librarianship occasionally slips. Many thanks to DW for the corrective.