Chapter Topics is published two times a year by the Chapters Council of the Association of College and Research Libraries, a division of the American Library Association.
Next Chapter Deadline:
October 31, 2020
Send submissions to:
Leslin Charles
leslin.charles@rutgers.edu
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Delaware Valley Chapter
The Board Leadership of ACRL DVC upholds that Black Lives Matter.
We condemn police brutality, violence, and the legacy of enslavement that overtly and covertly perpetuates systemic racism, racial injustice, and human rights violations against black people everywhere.
We hold in our hearts the lives, families, and communities of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, while also remembering the millions of black lives murdered by white supremacist individuals, institutions, and the ideologies on which this country was founded and built.
As librarians, we recognize that saying that we believe in access and equity is not enough, but know that the power of those words lies in committing to doing the work of reflection and correction, acknowledging the ways in which our libraries and institutions perpetuate systemic racism and dismantling those systems such that equity is embodied in all aspects of our work.
We believe that social justice necessitates action. We will not put the burden of this work on our Black and non-Black colleagues of color. And so we ask that you all as members of the ACRL DVC community stand with us in holding our respective workplaces, unions, and communities accountable in striving toward antiracist policies, practices, and procedures.
We will create programming addressing antiracism in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, please consult these resources developed by our professional community.
New England Chapter
We, the Board of Directors of the Association of College and Research Libraries’ New England Chapter (ACRL/NEC), unequivocally affirm that Black Lives Matter. We stand with the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA), the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA), the Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL), and other groups in condemning racism, hate crimes, and police brutality. The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Ahmaud Arbery, compounded by the tragic loss of countless other Black lives, are the culmination of centuries of oppression and violence directed against Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). We further denounce the brutal and unwarranted violence directed against protestors by militarized police forces.
As library workers, we stand for racial equity and social justice. We commit to speaking up when we witness injustice, listening to and amplifying the voices of Black people and People of Color, and educating ourselves. We commit to combating systemic racism in our teaching, cataloging, hiring, collection development, and other practices. Libraries are not neutral. We acknowledge the role of libraries in perpetuating inequality. We will reflect and do better in fostering equity, diversity, inclusion, and antiracism in ACRL/NEC and the New England library community.
In particular, we urge our White colleagues to educate themselves and take action.
New Jersey Chapter
ACRL-NJ/NJLA CUS opposes racism in all its manifestations. We share the sorrow and the rage of our community against a history of police brutality experienced by Black people and communities of color in this country. We stand in support and solidarity with those seeking social and racial justice. This statement affirms our commitment to anti-racist practices, and pledges to use our resources to promote social justice.
Chapters Council Roster
Alison Marie Larsen
Chair
Leslin Charles
Editor
Dawn Behrend
Vice Chair
Lisa T. Nickel
Past Chair
Eric Anthony Edwards
Secretary
Ryan Gjerde
List Administrator
Amber Willenborg
LibGuide Adminstrator
Lauren Carlton
Staff Liaison
Carrie E. Dunham-LaGree
Legislation Representative