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In practice, library neutrality provides a cover for banning identity-based displays such as Black History Month or Pride Month, for allowing hate groups to use meeting spaces, for harassing programs like Drag Queen Story Hour, and on and on. Meanwhile, we’re fighting against political and social campaigns-even members of our own library boards-bent on removing books, programs, and other informative materials that provide essential resources on civic engagement, accessible education, and are anti-racist, LGBTQ+-affirming, and otherwise critical of the bigotries and inequities underpinning our history and institutions. In fact, the actions many libraries take in the name of neutrality are anything but, especially when library workers are being asked to financially support and dedicate valuable shelf space to books and authors promoting anti-LGBTQ+, transphobic, racist, misogynist, abelist, xenophobic ideologies, and intentionally provide misinformation to our patrons. However, the way I and many other library workers see it, libraries cannot be neutral. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.” Many library workers believe they’re ensuring a well-rounded collection of materials that, as the Library Bill of Rights puts it, “ materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues.

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Neutrality is a core principle, represented in three of the main guiding policies for librarianship: the American Library Association Library Bill of Rights, the ALA Code of Ethics, and the Freedom to Read Statement (co-authored by ALA and the Association of American Publishers). The old adage, “A truly great library contains something in it to offend everyone,” is a mantra for many in this field. Within libraries, staff are also having conversations about where we are headed as a profession, and the issue of neutrality is a big part of that. Lest you think this is homegrown, grassroots activism, it is not many of the people pushing back against diversity initiatives are backed and encouraged by well-funded conservative groups and individuals. Bigots are taking over school and library boards, removing LGBTQ+ and BIPOC books from shelves, pushing collection development legislation, and accusing library workers and authors of “ grooming ” children (a similar tactic used to target LGBTQ+ educators in the past). Conservative officials are intimidating librarians with job loss, fines, and threats of jail time for simply doing their work.

Conservatives and white supremacist hate groups are verbally and physically harassing and threatening library workers. We’re seeing an avalanche of challenges, censoring, and bans on the public side.

Libraries are a hotbed of tension right now.

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