Diversity Services Roundtable (DSRT)

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DSRT Statement Against Violence Towards LGBTQIA+ Communities

The Diversity Services Roundtable (DSRT) condemns discrimination and violence towards LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities. DSRT stands with the American Library Association (ALA) in “stringently and unequivocally maintain[ing] that libraries and librarians have an obligation to resist efforts that systematically exclude materials dealing with any subject matter, including sex, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation. [We] also encourage librarians to proactively support the First Amendment rights of all library users, regardless of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression.”1

“Libraries can serve LGBTQIA+ people by ensuring that this population is reflected in library collections and provided with services at the library.  As a population that is often the subject of discrimination and harassment, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people can benefit from the access to information which libraries provide, and the sense of community which library programs can help foster. It is important to note that the LGBTQIA+ population is diverse, spanning age groups, ethnic and racial groups, socio-economic groups, and personal identities.

“The Library Bill of Rights affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas and provides for access to information for all people. Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender peoples’ access to libraries may be limited or prohibited by many issues, including:

  • Collections which do not present LGBTQIA+ experiences or perspectives. LGBTQIA+ materials can often be censored under partisan or doctrinal disapproval;
  • Environments which are not welcoming or inclusive of LGBTQIA+ people and which, through actions by staff or other patrons, may be made unwelcome to LGBTQIA+ people and their families;
  • Programs which do not address the LGBTQIA+ experience;
  • Services which are not promoted to LGBTQIA+ populations or in collaborations with local LGBTQIA+ organizations.”2

Erasure of marginalized groups, including LGBTQIA+ communities, is harmful to all individuals, whether they are seeking to find themselves represented in library collections, or hoping to learn empathy and compassion from reading about others’ experiences. Censorship of LGBTQIA+ materials in public libraries is a violation of First Amendment rights and a suppression of intellectual freedom.

DSRT calls on Utah public library and information services leaders, staff, and advocates of all backgrounds to abolish prejudice, discrimination, and violence against LGBTQIA+ people and to ensure it has no place in our institutions, our policies, our practices, or our behaviors.3

The Diversity Services Roundtable is committed to our mission of promoting inclusivity, equity, and diversity in our profession and association, and to our goals of communication and promotion, and training, programming, and diversity initiatives.3

 

Signed,

Karen Liu, Chair of DSRT
Daniel Thurston, Vice-Chair of DSRT

1“Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Sex, Gender Identity, Gender Expression, or Sexual Orientation: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights”, American Library Association, May 29, 2007. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill/interpretations/accesslgbt (Accessed November 21, 2022) Document ID: d2cfccce-bec0-8104-1d02-7ebb85a6e3bf
2“Libraries Respond: Services to LGBTQIA+ People”, American Library Association, August 19, 2019. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/diversity/librariesrespond/Services-LGBTQ (Accessed November 21, 2022) Document ID: 3c899e6e-c185-4fe9-b006-0f73c74b4c5a
3DSRT & ULA Board Statement on Racism & Violence

Diversity Communication Guidelines

Diversity Communication Guidelines were developed to ensure that all meetings, communications, etc. done by members of the Utah Library Association are spaces where meaningful and respectful conversations are held. The communication guidelines outline best best practices to ensure that everyone has an opportunity for expression, accountability, and growth. Click here to read the guidelines.

APALA Statement Against Anti-Asian Violence

The Diversity Services Roundtable (DSRT) stands with the American Library Association (ALA) and the Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA) in recognizing and condemning anti-Asian hate crimes.

Resources:

New Opportunities

DSRT & ULA Board Statement on Racism & Violence

The Diversity Services Roundtable (DSRT) and Board of Directors of the Utah Library Association (ULA) stands with the American Library Association (ALA) and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association (BCALA) in condemning violence and racism towards Black people and all People of Color.

The Diversity Services Roundtable and ULA condemns the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers within the Minneapolis Police Department and denounces all acts of violence against Black people and People of Color. Racism weakens our institutions and destroys our communities.

DSRT and ULA stands in solidarity with library workers, with library users, and with members of the communities we serve and support who are susceptible to acts of prejudice, threats of violence, and even death based solely on their race or ethnicity. The pervasive racism present in our nation denies its residents equal rights and equal access and as such is a barrier to the goals of the library profession.

DSRT and ULA calls on Utah library and information services leaders, staff, and advocates of all races and backgrounds to abolish racism against Black people and against all People of Color and to see to it that it has no place in our institutions, our policies, our practices, or our behaviors.

The Diversity Services Roundtable is committed to our mission of promoting inclusivity, equity, and diversity in our profession and association, and to our goals of communication and promotion, and training, programming, and diversity initiatives.

In the following video, DSRT Chair Chaundra Johnson reads the statement in full.

Resources on Social Justice, Activism, and Anti-Racism

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Mission

The mission of the Diversity Services Roundtable of the Utah Library Association is to promote inclusivity, equity, and diversity in our profession and association.

Goal 1: Communication and Promotion

Librarians may use the Diversity Services Roundtable website to learn about providing equitable library services to everyone. The website will be updated with information about relevant training opportunities and resources.

Summary of Objectives: The Diversity Services Roundtable leadership will use the website to communicate with members and librarians. The website will be used to promote the Diversity Services Roundtable, recruit members and leadership, and share valuable resources on diversity, equity, and inclusion in library services.

Goal 2: Training, Programming, and Initiatives 

The Diversity Services Roundtable will advocate for and promote training and development opportunities at the ULA Annual Conference.

Summary of Objectives: The Diversity Services Roundtable leadership will encourage members to lead and attend training and conference sessions focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion within librarianship.

 

Join the Diversity Services Roundtable

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4. Under the “Roundtables” section, check the box next to “DSRT- Diversity Services Roundtable”.

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