The Myth of Professional Neutrality

Co-presenter: 

Valerie Bell

Jana Varlejs (moderator)

Event: 

MLIS Colloquium Activist Librarianship and the Ethics of Library Neutrality

Abstract: 

Symposium description: In defense of user rights, librarians have sometimes been labeled radical militants, but more typically they adhere to the principles of nonjudgmental service, balanced collections, and political neutrality.

My talk refutes the concept that one cannot have and espouse political opinions while still providing nonjudgmental service and representative collections.