Don't Muzzle Librarians

It is utter hypocrisy to label any communication—anonymous, ad hominem, or otherwise—as “unprofessional” in a profession for which the primary core value is freedom of expression. We are justifiably proud of the record of librarians as fervent and effective defenders of free expression. Librarians have upheld and collected obscenity, anarchy, dissent, and certainly every kind of personal attack. This is not “unprofessional,” it is our professional duty.

So when librarian and LJ Mover & Shaker David Rothman calls the writings of the Annoyed Librarian (AL) “unpleasant” and “unprofessional,” I get angry. I blow up when he proceeds to tell everyone in what he calls “libraryland” how they should express themselves with such drivel as “stop feeding the trolls.” I am delighted, of course, that, according to our recent online poll, most LJ web site readers agree with me and are glad the LJ site carries the AL blog.

Many of our colleagues, apparently including Rothman, would ban anonymous expression. They neglect the crucial tradition of using anonymity to protect against reprisals in ancient and modern battles for free speech. Malthus first published his “An Essay on the Principle of Population” anonymously for that reason. James Weldon Johnson published his The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man anonymously in 1912 and wasn't revealed as the author until 1927. Poe's first publication, Tamerlane and Other Poems, was issued unsigned. Library shelves are loaded with such works. We at LJ see nothing wrong with publishing unattributed comment and even paying AL for it.

It is more of an outrage when owners and moderators of library discussion lists suggest, as too many have, that they will throw contributors off the list if they express themselves in an “inappropriate way.” Here is how Dan Hoare, who runs one of my favorite lists, NEWLIB-L, put his attempt at censorious control: “As we've discussed before, we need to keep the list professional and our comments appropriate. Complain all you want about this being censorship. I've had the opportunity to browse other lists, and they do not go down the drain/into the tubes like our community has a penchant [for] and a habit of doing. Personally, I find this disgusting and a disgrace to our profession....”

At least Hoare admits he took it “personally.”

Hoare sees this violation of our most basic value as part of our “responsibility to develop the next generation of librarians and information professionals.” God help us if we decide that the new librarians need tutorials in “appropriate” expression, or lessons in the avoidance of offensive discussion. Surely our most important message for them has to be to urge them to support free expression strongly, appropriate or not, in their personal and professional lives. We must be sure they know we believe that whether or not that expression turns out to be unpleasant or unprofessional, it is protected. This is job number one in librarianship, and all else in our field flows from that.

This disease of deciding what is “appropriate” has spilled over to discussions of the Council of the American Library Association (ALA) on what items are “fitting” for the agenda of ALA. A survey conducted by the New Members Round Table suggests that its members feel ALA should avoid expressing itself on what they call “nonlibrary issues.” Even that Annoyed Librarian has chimed in on the wrong side on this one. Clearly, what is and is not a library issue is highly arguable. I remember when some members of ALA said racial segregation was a “nonlibrary” issue. I was proud that ALA went ahead anyway, expelled its segregated chapters, and took repeated public stands against all forms of racism in America. As an ALA member, I'm very proud that ALA opposed the Vietnam War, supported the Equal Rights Amendment, and stood against the USA PATRIOT Act.

Sure, I disagree with a great deal of what AL writes on the LJ web site. What is more, I believe more often than not that AL could express those views in a much more “pleasant” and readable style. But that is personal. Professionally, I am obligated to support AL's rights of free expression and those of anyone else in whatever form or style they choose. The only unprofessional behavior in all of this is for one librarian to try to muzzle another.