Taking it to the Streets

The 6th point caught my attention because it is very close in text to our mission statement: The Durland Alternatives Library (DAL) is dedicated to providing free and open access to materials expressing viewpoints and information not readily available through mainstream publications and mass-media sources. Our collection development policy goes further in directing staff to build a collection that reflects progressive viewpoints. Most libraries have a broader collection scope, but it's necessary to include some direction for the collection of alternative materials in the overall policy. Otherwise it's too easy for those areas to be ignored or discounted. Once we can affect change in the stated policies of our organizations, we'll have a mandate to invigorate library collections with materials that reflect the areas covered in Mark's ten points. As librarians who have given much attention to a progressive agenda, we are well positioned to assist in the expansion of library collections to include alternative, independent, and progressive viewpoints. We can also strengthen our ties to other information workers and develop our solidarity as librarians committed to the broader issues of justice and social change. As progressive librarians, we can support and share the work we do; help each other to have a voice in what goes on in this world; give voice to underrepresented peoples, at home and throughout the world; and expose the destructive forces that would deny human rights and social justice through print, electronic media and any other means necessary. The points [Mark Rosenzweig] has offered are meaningful to me, not as form, but as catalyst for action. We're not talking about words on paper here, we're talking about getting out there and doing something to move the world in a better direction for the greatest number of people. It doesn't matter if it's in the office or in the street--we've got to keep doing the work and doing it together. I look forward to hearing about the work of other people in who read this and keeping the ideas flowing freely.