Hate. Love. Racism. Equality. Fear. Human Rights. Sexism.
Peace. Xenophobia. Unity.
These words are everywhere lately. Spoken or read,
each singular word elicits clear emotional responses. Now take each word
and connect it to the next and the next and the next and read or speak it
slowly as if it were a single sentence. I just did that and it left me
feeling breathless, with a jumbled mess of conflicting emotions coursing
through me. Once again, I am reminded of the powerful effect of
words. Words can build or destroy. Become a weapon or an olive
branch. A bullet or a healing salve. Words can hurt or heal.
We are each responsible and held accountable for the words we choose.
What do you want your words to do?
In the days since Neill Public Library re-opened, I have
listened to words more than I have spoken them. Patron after patron,
parent, business owner, educator, visiting student, faculty spouse, have shared
with me their recent realization that Neill Public Library is their identified
safe space within their community. Here they feel welcome and respected,
safe to be who they are without fear of judgment, persecution, or
retaliation. They find staff friendly and kind, delivering the right
balance of care and attention to each individual, to every individual. To
use one patron’s words, “The library doesn’t care what I believe in, who I
love, or how much money I make. Here, everyone has the same rights and
everyone receives the same service.” Yet another reason why having a
vibrant public library is essential to its community. Especially these
days.
I am humbled by the words from our patrons. Humbled
and grateful to be a part of something so positive and important in our
community. I am exceedingly proud to be part of a library staff that
works hard to ensure their actions reflect the library’s core values of
providing an open environment with equal access for all.
Open. Equal. Access for all. Public
libraries take this charge very seriously. We embrace a wide diversity of
ideas, information, stories, and opinions. We build collections and offer
programs that reflect the broad interests of our community. We believe a
well-informed citizenry is a cornerstone of democracy, so we create
opportunities for patrons to gain knowledge, pursue understanding, and engage
in peaceful discourse. Our policies, procedures, and practices are rooted
in defense of your civil liberties, supporting your right to use the library’s
resources and services, and protecting your privacy and confidentiality as you
do so. Done right, the result is a dynamic, word-filled
library environment responsive to its community that feels safe and welcoming
to all.
Feeling safe and welcome are among the fundamental needs
of every human being, regardless of political affiliation, religious or
non-religious belief, financial ability, gender, or sexual orientation.
Yet each of us has the ability through the words we choose and the actions we
take to either fill this need for our fellow neighbor, or deny it. Again, what
do you want your words to do?
Imagine how much better our world could be if we each
chose love over hate, knowledge over assumption, compassion over
judgment. It starts with the words we choose. It’s asking a
lot. Or is it?
Joanna Bailey
Director, Neill Public Library
509.338.3252
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