Heterodorx

Librarians Losing Their Spine, with Penny Hummel

Nov 20, 2023

Library consultant Penny Hummel discusses how librarians are suppressing speech and intellectual diversity for the sake of social justice. They touch on incidents where speech was suppressed and emphasize the role of library staff in advocating for marginalized communities. They also discuss challenges in distinguishing fact, fiction, and opinion, the controversy surrounding drag queen story time, challenges to controversial books, preserving privacy and intellectual freedom, the evolving role of libraries, and encourage library activism.

01:21:16

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Episode guests

Penny Hummel

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Quick takeaways

Libraries are facing a growing trend of censorship attempts and the suppression of speech, undermining their role as champions of intellectual freedom and access to information.

Selective collection development in libraries, influenced by dominant ideologies, limits the representation of diverse viewpoints and undermines the principles of intellectual freedom and access to information.

Libraries face the challenge of serving marginalized communities while dealing with ideological battles, leading to the suppression of alternative viewpoints and compromising intellectual freedom and diversity of thought.

Deep dives

Challenges in Libraryland: Censorship Attempts and Suppression of Speech

One of the main issues in libraries today is the growing trend of censorship attempts and the suppression of speech. Libraries, which are meant to champion intellectual freedom and access to information, are now facing concerted efforts to ban books, displays, and programs. Some library staff themselves are leading the charge, objecting to certain viewpoints or topics. The dominant culture in libraries now promotes a specific ideology, and dissenting voices, especially those critical of gender ideology, face backlash and career obstacles. This suppression of speech not only harms libraries from within but also damages their reputation and public trust.

Introduction

2min

Penny Hummel's Journey as a Librarian and Their Unique Perspective

2min

Perspectives on Beliefs and Library Challenges

11min

Training on Transgender People in Libraries and Combating Antitransmit Information

2min

Challenges in Distinguishing Fact, Fiction, and Opinion

13min

Drag Queen Story Time and Underserved Communities

16min

Challenges to Controversial Books in Libraries

6min

Preserving Privacy and Upholding Intellectual Freedom

15min

The Evolving Role of Libraries

13min

10.

Expressing Gratitude and Encouraging Library Activism

2min

Librarians once stood for intellectual freedom and access to information, but today many prefer to suppress speech and intellectual diversity for the sake of a misguided concept of "social justice". One Davis, California library recently violated the First Amendment when they ejected a group of women discussing male athletes in female sports. Collections and programs are regularly distorted and compromised by ideologue librarians, while those watching in dismay fear to speak. Library consultant and advocate Penny Hummel breaks the silence to tell the Dorx what’s really happening in America’s libraries.

Links:

Penny Hummel on Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeeWeave

FIRE article on Davis library violating First Amendment: https://www.thefire.org/news/california-library-violates-first-amendment-boots-speakers-referring-transgender-women

FIRE’s letter to Yolo County Library: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/fire-letter-yolo-county-library-august-24-2023

ALA Webinar, "Transgender People In Libraries": https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=1005

Does Sex Matter? panel at the Urbana Free Library, 2019: https://blog.ninapaley.com/2019/03/26/q-and-a-from-the-does-sex-matter-panel/

I Am Jazz: https://socialjusticebooks.org/i-am-jazz/

My Body Is Me by Rachel Rooney: https://www.transgendertrend.com/product/my-body-is-me/

Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/irreversible-damage-abigail-shrier/1133754701

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Gender-Queer-A-Memoir/Maia-Kobabe/9781549304002

“NO TERFS”: https://www.news-gazette.com/opinion/columns/jim-dey-terf-battle-in-urbana-averted/article_cdf7ecd4-2e0d-5759-84b7-fbbe653de2a5.html

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