Toward belonging and mutual hospitality: decentering whiteness in the “new normal”

Abstract

PurposeThe postquarantine reopening of public libraries presents an opportunity for resetting the way libraries welcome patrons. Unfortunately, vestiges of inhospitable, white supremacist practices experienced in public libraries may accompany the “return to normal.” In addition to emphasizing policies and practices that are unwelcoming to patrons and staff from historically marginalized backgrounds, this article presents actions to be employed in an effort to transition the library to a place of belonging and hospitality for marginalized staff and community members.Design/methodology/approachThis paper draws on a synthesis of the literature on hospitality in libraries and antiracism as well as the author's experience from professional practice to critique the host-and-guest concept of hospitality, which results in us versus them actions that uphold racism, white supremacy and white privilege.FindingsBarriers and institutional practices that negatively impact patrons and library workers are illuminated. Recommendations for creating an antiracist “new normal” in public libraries are proposed.Originality/valueIn addition to contributing to the literature on hospitality in libraries, this paper expands the capacity and knowledge base of library staff to call attention to and dismantle barriers and uninviting practices in their own libraries. The paper further advances mutual hospitality as a supplement to antiracism principles as libraries work to eradicate white supremacy.

Gender and racial bias in email reference services

“…Paying attention to the disinhibition effect in online library reference services is timely, given the increase in online interaction between librarians and their users that has taken place during the COVID-19 pandemic (Connell et al, 2021;Fruehan and Hellyar, 2021;Garvey, 2021;Radford et al, 2021). In addition to increases in online interaction, there has also been increasing attention paid to the decentering of whiteness and recognition of systemic racism still present in libraries (Hands, 2022;Jennings and Kinzer, 2021) and library education (Winn et al, 2021).…”

“…, 2021). In addition to increases in online interaction, there has also been increasing attention paid to the decentering of whiteness and recognition of systemic racism still present in libraries (Hands, 2022; Jennings and Kinzer, 2021) and library education (Winn et al. , 2021).…”