Librarians joined teachers, nurses, off-duty police officers, firefighters, and others on February 26 to protest Wisconsin governor Scott Walker's bill to eliminate collective bargaining rights for most state workers.
Under a light snow, several dozen library students, librarians, and library staff gathered in front of the Central Library of the Madison Public Library system and marched to the State Capitol chanting "Kill the bill!" There they melded into the passionate and peaceful crowd who chanted, sang, beat drums, and played musical instruments. One contingent of firefighters wore kilts and played the bagpipes.
Omar Poler, holding sign, helped organize librarians in Wisconsin.
Omar Poler, a graduate of University of Wisconsin-Madison's (UW-Madison) School of Library & Information Studies (SLIS) and now Associate Outreach Specialist for the school's Continuing Education Services, initiated the march, and SLIS student Kim Pittman and grad Carrie Gostomski were quick to join as organizers.
Enthusiastic participants included Louise Robbins, SLIS professor and former SLIS director, and Julie Anne Chase, director of the Dane County Library Service. Other protesters included Nancy McClements (head of reference, UW-Madison Libraries), Michele Besant (director, SLIS Laboratory Library), and Richard Douglas Wambold (Dane County Library Service). Library historian Larry T. Nix was also spotted in the crowd.
Madison Police Department spokesman, Joel DeSpain, told LJ that this was the largest crowd yet of the nearly 2-week-long protest.
"Last Saturday's estimate was 70,000 and it's reasonable to think there were considerably more than that. It's difficult to estimate, so I don't have a specific number, but the Joint Law Enforcement Command Post thought it could have been 90,000 and it's possible it was as high as 100,000. I've been in Madison since the Vietnam War days, and this is the largest protest I've ever seen."
DeSpain went on to say that there were no arrests made on Saturday and "the event was very, very peaceful. We've been very pleased with the behavior of everyone involved."
Organizers said they would be back Monday after police backed away from threats to close the Capitol building and allowed protesters to continue the demonstration.
Reader Comments (18)
Here are some more photos, including librarian me!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/matt21cdog-pics/sets/72157625952792695/show
I'm the guy in the blue AFT shirt and cap! We tried to 'represent' well!!
Posted by Matthew Coan on February 28, 2011 01:22:44PM
Go Omar!! Go SLIS!
Posted by matthew Coan on February 28, 2011 01:23:48PM
Unsaid by Sharon is that she provided superb musical encouragement to the marching protesters with a powerful rendition of "This Land Is Your Land". Based on comments from Facebook library friends, numerous Wisconsin librarians have participated in the protest marches. In particular Paul Nelson, Wisconsin Library Association Legislative Committee Chair, has been a constant observer and reporter of the protests. WLA has taken an official postion in oposition to the budget repair bill.
Posted by Larry T. Nix on February 28, 2011 01:37:35PM
As a part time library worker in Contra Costa County, this shot makes me proud.
Posted by Mary Clough on February 28, 2011 02:41:08PM
A cold march but the marchers' (tax payers, all) actions warm the heart
of this librarian. Corragio!
Posted by Ruth I. Gordon on February 28, 2011 03:48:43PM
Awesome to see SLIS and beyond united! Truely in the spirit of intellectual freedom and equal access!!!
Posted by Jocelyne Sansing on February 28, 2011 07:34:14PM
Progressive Librarians Guild (PLG) Stands in Solidarity with Public Employees
February 27, 2011
The Progressive Librarians Guild (PLG) stands in solidarity with public employees in Wisconsin and in all other states across the nation where workers’ rights to collective bargaining are under attack by governors and legislatures determined to use budgetary exigencies as a pretext to try to decisively break the back of the public-sector unions as a key part of an ideological agenda which seeks to fundamentally remake America, taking the country back to a pre-New Deal, pre-Progressive era regime of unfettered, rapacious corporate rule.
The attack on the public employees unions is only part of a broader assault on all aspects of democratic society aimed to turn the clock back on issues like women’s rights, civil rights, education, and culture, environmental protection, social welfare and insurance, and the very existence of a public sector. Preventing this overturning of all the gains made through struggle and sacrifice in the previous century will require above all, the mobilization of a broad people’s movement of a kind heralded by the sustained demonstration in Madison and spreading across the country as people begin to awaken to what is at stake.
http://libr.org/plg/wisconsin.php
Posted by Kathleen de la Peña McCook on March 1, 2011 06:27:48AM
Way to peacefully excercise those inherent rights and freedoms, UW SLIS!
Posted by Melissa Pond on March 1, 2011 10:22:51AM
Rock on SLISers. Wish I was there.
Posted by Gabe on March 1, 2011 12:54:21PM
My opinion: librarians are professionals and shouldn't be involved with unions.
Posted by Karien Hudock on March 1, 2011 11:38:50AM
To see librarians in the crowd saddens me. What has happened to librarians and libraries being the neutral ground, showing all sides so that others have the information they need to make their own decisions?
Putting themselves in the union camp shows a bias that will be difficult to overcome. I hope their library collections are less biased and reflect all viewpoints so their patrons can read and access information about both the governer's reasoning and the union's view, allowing those patrons to come to their own conclusions on which decisions they will support.
Posted by Corkie on March 1, 2011 03:55:20PM
I wrote about the protests in Madison for the AALL law library blog, picture included. http://aallspectrum.wordpress.com/2011/02/26/madison-in-protest-a-law-librarians-perspective/
Posted by Genevieve Zook on March 1, 2011 02:40:25PM
Wait a minute Karlen & Gabe, firstly: are you saying teachers, fire fighters, police, nurses are not professionals? Or just that none of those should unionize? Librarians and other information professionals often work for the government, why shouldn't they stand up to maintain their voice in the workplace?
I am neutral with collections (nearly impossible - although we all try to balanced I think) and with patron reference as well but in my off time I think it is totally valid to be involved politically - and I also think its fair to represent our profession in the debate as we and the ones we serve are greatly affected by this bill - I also live in this state and care about where my tax dollars go and I also care about the public education of the people in my state as well as the well being of my neighbors.
Lots of people are against this bill for items it includes that are outside the realms of collective bargaining as well which I think is an important thing to mention.
Posted by Sara A. on March 1, 2011 02:40:44PM
Libraries are very likely going to be cut if this bill goes through. With 900 billion cuts to education. Many schools already only have a paraprofessional as acting librarian. Sometimes you just need to take a stand.
Posted by madtownlady on March 1, 2011 04:31:55PM
As a UW-Milwaukee School of Library and Information Science graduate (1985), this makes me very proud to read of this. My mother grew up in Madison. My cousin's wife has been picketing. I grew up in La Crosse and taught school in Racine. My first library experience was as a page at the La Crosse Public Library 45 years ago. These are hard times but we need to dialogue and work together to get through them. Governor Walker's approach will not cut it.
Posted by Christopher Kuechmann on March 1, 2011 04:09:38PM
This masterpiece should be mandatory reading. Fitterman solidifies his reputation as one of the most skilled thriller writers on the planet with his best book yet, a compelling blend of history and page-turning suspense. Highly recommended.
Posted by Spenser Conrad Goar on March 2, 2011 10:40:39AM
I agree with the comments about librarians maintaining a neutral face in the workplace, but I do disagree with the suggestion that this is merely a union issue. One only needs to examine the actual proposed bill http://legis.wisconsin.gov/JR1SB-11.pdf
to see that the majority of this bill is not about unions. Unions just happen to have been the greatest organized voice of opposition at this stage. Should librarians then not be lobbying in Congress in regards to library funding or First Amendment rights because that might show that they cannot in their workplace provide information for opposing viewpoints to those issues?
Nor am I certain I understand how being a professional and a union member are mutually exclusive.
