New Resource Provides Tools for Confronting White Nationalism in Libraries
This vital new toolkit is designed to strengthen libraries as inclusive, pro-democracy spaces better prepared to counter the growing threat of white nationalism.
The Western States Center released today its newest resource titled Confronting White Nationalism in Libraries: A Toolkit. Libraries are increasingly on the frontlines of defending democracy, and resisting growing efforts to disrupt LGBTQ+ programming, ban books focused on inclusivity, and attack critical race theory. Western States Center’s toolkit gives librarians, administrators and communities the tools needed to effectively push back against these efforts.
“White nationalist and anti-democracy groups increasingly take advantage of public and community spaces like libraries to disrupt and organize, and library staff urgently need tools and strategies to defend libraries’ core educational mission,” said Lindsay Schubiner, the Momentum Program Director of Western States Center. “Responding to the unique challenges libraries face requires smart and effective strategies that take into account limitations library staff face as public employees, while also empowering them to guard these important public spaces against anti-democracy assaults.”
The toolkit, written by and for librarians in collaboration with Western States Center, is organized around six realistic scenarios, highlighting proactive and reactive practices for taking action along with communications approaches.
“Anti-democracy groups target institutions like libraries in order to undermine their work upholding democracy, such as serving as an inclusive community gathering place, making knowledge broadly accessible, or even acting as ballot drop box sites. And the job of defending them is increasingly falling to library staff and the community members who support them,” added Schubiner.
The toolkit is part of the Western States Center’s ongoing efforts to strengthen those on the frontlines of defending democracy against white nationalism, especially in public institutions like schools and local governments that often need support.