<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font size="4"><span id="gmail-docs-internal-guid-a0248f7d-7fff-4584-1086-40f5d62ab13b" style=""><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Oregon Library Association Intellectual Freedom Committee </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Tuesday Topic, December 2020</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><br></span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Welcome to Tuesday Topics, a monthly series covering topics with intellectual freedom implications for libraries of all types. Each message is prepared by a member of OLA's Intellectual Freedom Committee or a guest writer. Questions can be directed to the author of the topic or to the </span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(17,85,204);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">IFC committee</span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(5,99,193);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><span style="border:none;display:inline-block;overflow:hidden;width:237px;height:94px"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/l7DYzdxmWM_JrcfszUjSY9L06KOoAv41YrajSmWkofmz9ubWWVxfj6qHDShrNErb9aNz7FoGqWmU2oeTKRN_KgU0N0MU3R_fph1_xZFPkcy2cMD2xq5eqSjYg7YseJ_ySKWjZeU5" width="237" height="94" style="margin-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></span></span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Bias and Librarian Censorship</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">You may have </span><a href="https://slate.com/culture/2020/01/goodnight-moon-nypl-10-most-checked-out-books.html?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">read</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> a while back about </span><a href="http://archives.nypl.org/mss/2048" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Anne Carroll Moore</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, who effectively censored </span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Goodnight Moon</span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> during her tenure as a children’s librarian at the New York Public Library. The reason seemed to be she simply didn’t like it, saying, among other things, that it was “too sentimental”. It’s easy to chuckle at this old-school iron-bun librarian (to be fair she was pretty awesome in a lot of other ways), but it gives us a good opportunity to examine our own biases and how they play into our selections.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">As librarians, we pride ourselves on determining what is right and what is not right for our collections. This can and should be based on strong collection policies, professional research and knowing our communities and their wants and needs.  But inevitably, our biases also come into play. Acknowledging our biases and thinking about them are good first steps in avoiding this kind of censorship.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">There are a lot of good resources out there to help us learn about, examine and overcome bias. Here are a few to start with:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://opb.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/pov-biased-lpclips/who-me-biased/" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">OPB: Who me biased?</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="http://www.ala.org/acrl/publications/keeping_up_with/bias" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">ALA: Keeping up with...Implicit Bias</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://yourbias.is/" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Yourbias.is</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><a href="https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Harvard Project Implicit</span></a></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Anne Carroll Moore may have asserted that the omission of Goodnight Moon was about professional judgement. But the determination that something is badly produced and the determination that it’s not “good for” our patrons or our library collection is where we really have to examine all of our biases and be sure that they are not undermining our missions and ethics. Next time you are making selections, creating a display, recommending reading or even in your own reading, recognize your biases and work to overcome them!</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">And if you’re interested in diving deeper into the concept, here are a few articles:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"></p><ul style=""><li><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Quinn, Brian. “Collection Development and the Psychology of Bias.” </span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy</span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, vol. 82, no. 3, 2012, pp. 277–304. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Wheeler Ronald. “We All Do It: Unconscious Behavior, Bias, and Diversity.” </span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Law Library Journal</span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, vol. 107, no. 2, Spring 2015, pp. 325-331.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Dalton, Shamika, and Michele Villagran. “Minimizing and Addressing Implicit Bias in the Workplace: Be Proactive, Part One.” </span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">College & Research Libraries News</span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, vol. 79, no. 9. Oct. 2018, pp. 478-485.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Remember, Oregon libraries can report intellectual freedom issues and get support: </span><a href="https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/oifc" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">The Oregon Intellectual Freedom Clearinghouse</span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,255);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">(OIFC) </span><a href="https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/c.php?g=843530&p=6029014" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">collects</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> and </span><a href="https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/c.php?g=843530&p=6029009" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">compiles</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> information about intellectual freedom issues at libraries in Oregon. The OIFC also provides information to libraries to help them </span><a href="https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/c.php?g=843530&p=6029011" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">prepare</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,255);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">for and </span><a href="https://libguides.osl.state.or.us/c.php?g=843530&p=6029012" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">address</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,255);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">intellectual freedom issues. </span><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(60,64,67);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Find additional resources to deal with challenges and develop robust policies at the </span><a href="https://www.olaweb.org/if-toolkit" style="text-decoration-line:none"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Intellectual Freedom Committee's toolkit page</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></span>  </font><br clear="all"></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font size="4"><br></font></div><div class="gmail_default" style=""><font size="4"><span style="font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;background-color:transparent;font-family:Arial;color:rgb(0,0,0);vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"><b>Lori Moore 
</b></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Arial;white-space:pre-wrap">OLA Intellectual Freedom Committee Member
</span><font color="#000000" face="Arial"><span style="white-space:pre-wrap">Librarian, Multnomah County Library</span></font></font></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>