<div dir="auto"><div>I disagree. But that is because I've actually been the victim of someone trying to bully me to silence someone they suspected might engage in hate speech at my library. I firmly believe in someone's right to free speech and their right to use the library space as long as they abide by library rules and do not stop someone else from using the library. We had someone (who is a very extreme person) rent our meeting room. His rental agreement had no mention of hate speech. I was harassed in-person, on Facebook, through email, and at Board meetings, for at least a month because I was allowing this man to rent our space. I even mentioned ALA's information that we can not deny use of the space to someone based on their views, beliefs, or what we think they might say. The harassment kept up, night, day, phone calls, Board pressure. </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">It honestly was about enough to make me look for another job.<br><br><div class="gmail_quote" dir="auto"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Aug 5, 2021, 1:20 PM Teresa Chase via Michlib-l <<a href="mailto:michlib-l@mcls.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">michlib-l@mcls.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr">Well said, Amber McLain.<div><br><div>I would also like to add, "tolerance must go both ways" is just a dog whistle to allow proponents of hate speech to say whatever they want in the name of their "personal beliefs." There is no place for that type of conduct in a public library system. To denounce said conduct is in no way "bullying people into silence." I strenuously object to that mischaracterization of what we are discussing.</div></div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Thu, Aug 5, 2021 at 12:06 PM OJ Amber Mclain via Michlib-l <<a href="mailto:michlib-l@mcls.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">michlib-l@mcls.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">No, there is no "agenda." This ninth addition to the code of ethics falls directly in line with EDI guidelines already set forth by the ALA, supported by MLA, and library institutions across the country. The groups singled out in this point are historically marginalized, their history has been censored, and their intrinsic identities - who they are BORN AS - make them targets for hate and abuse. Their very identities have been discussed to death and who they are has been deemed as less than which is unacceptable. This is not viewpoints and opinions. This is not about beliefs. These are people. People that are out patrons. The aspect about conduct is to prevent them from hateful conduct. I would be happy to provide the supporting documentation and data for why this is important. I recently did that research for Lakeland:<br>
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Amber McLainLibrary Director, Patmos Library<br>
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----- Original Message -----<br>
From: IL Jennifer Salgat via Michlib-l <<a href="mailto:michlib-l@mcls.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">michlib-l@mcls.org</a>><br>
To: mweston <a href="http://dowagiacdl.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">dowagiacdl.org</a> <<a href="mailto:mweston@dowagiacdl.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">mweston@dowagiacdl.org</a>><br>
Cc: <a href="mailto:michlib-l@mcls.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">michlib-l@mcls.org</a><br>
Sent: Thu, 05 Aug 2021 08:34:40 -0400 (EDT)<br>
Subject: Re: [Michlib-l] New equity and social justice principle added to ALA Code of Ethics<br>
<br>
I agree there seems to be an agenda to that last part. <br>
To truly be inclusive and diverse, we need to be willing to tolerate ALL opinions right? Even the 'far right' ideology that seems to be currently politically incorrect. Tolerance must go both ways, otherwise, we are also bullying people into silence. <br>
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From: "mweston <a href="http://dowagiacdl.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">dowagiacdl.org</a> via Michlib-l" <<a href="mailto:michlib-l@mcls.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">michlib-l@mcls.org</a>> <br>
To: <a href="mailto:michlib-l@mcls.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank">michlib-l@mcls.org</a> <br>
Sent: Wednesday, August 4, 2021 8:40:49 PM <br>
Subject: [Michlib-l] New equity and social justice principle added to ALA Code of Ethics <br>
<br>
I'd like to support Karyn Ruley's concerns about ALA's most recent addition to their Code of Ethics. Reading through the first eight principles, and into the first sentence of the ninth, there is a sense of the universal and of the common humanity we share with ourselves and our patrons. "...all library users", "...each library user's rights", and "...the inherent dignity and rights of every person", changes dramatically in tone with "dismantle systemic and individual biases" and "advance racial and social justice". <br>
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Absolutely this is worthy of discussion, and this is the place for it. <br>
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Matt Weston, Library Director <br>
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Dowagiac District Library <br>
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211 Commercial St. <br>
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Dowagiac, MI 49047-1728 <br>
<br>
269-782-3826 <br>
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<br>
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-- <br>
Jennifer Salgat <br>
Director <br>
Lake Odessa Community Library <br>
1007 Fourth Avenue <br>
Lake Odessa MI 48849 <br>
616.374.4591 <br>
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</blockquote></div><br clear="all"><div><br></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><b><font face="arial black, sans-serif">Teresa Chase</font></b><div><b><font face="arial black, sans-serif">Business Manager</font></b></div><div><b><font face="arial black, sans-serif">Lapeer District Library</font></b></div><div><b><font face="arial black, sans-serif">201 Village West Dr. S.</font></b></div><div><a href="mailto:tchase@lib.lapeer.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"><b><font face="arial black, sans-serif">tchase@lib.lapeer.org</font></b></a></div><div><a href="http://www.library.lapeer.org" rel="noreferrer noreferrer" target="_blank"><b><font face="arial black, sans-serif">www.library.lapeer.org</font></b></a></div><div><b><font face="arial black, sans-serif">(810) 664-9521 ext. 3111</font></b></div><div><b><font face="arial black, sans-serif"><br></font></b></div><div><font face="arial narrow, sans-serif"><b>"Libraries are sacred time machines where knowledge flows and magic is eternal." ~Mari Barnes</b></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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