Unequal Access: The Challenge of Palestinian Representation in Libraries
Event Type
Presentation
Start Date
25-7-2025 9:30 AM
End Date
25-7-2025 10:30 AM
Description
This presentation brings together four librarians from public and academic institutions who have navigated significant challenges while developing collections, programs, and resources focused on Palestine during the past year. As information professionals, these panelists will share their experiences and the experiences of others with institutional resistance, external pressures, and threats that emerged specifically around Palestinian-focused work.
Presenters will explore the stark contrast between institutional approaches to Palestinian narratives compared to other diversity initiatives. Why are Palestinian perspectives subject to what scholars call the "Palestine Exception" in otherwise progressive spaces? How does this censorship and intimidation reflect a form of neo-McCarthyism in our profession? What protections do library workers and archivists have in this environment?
Each panelist brings a unique perspective:
One librarian will share their experience organizing a Palestinian zine-making event at a public library
Two librarians will discuss their work with Librarians and Archivists with Palestine facilitating and administering a censorship tracker project
The third will address academic freedom through their experience screening a documentary about student protests and the silencing of Palestine-related discourse on campus
This session offers practical insights for BIPOC and other information professionals facing similar challenges. Panelists will detail specific strategies they and other library professionals employed, including building alliances, navigating policies, addressing safety concerns, finding supportive communities, and protecting mental health.
Join us for this critical conversation about professional ethics, institutional courage, and the continued fight for inclusive library spaces that authentically represent diverse narratives—even those deemed politically sensitive.
Outcomes
- Attendees will identify at least two specific strategies to address institutional resistance when developing Palestine-focused library collections or programs.
- Attendees will learn how to connect with support networks and resources for library workers facing challenges related to Palestine-focused work.
- Attendees will recognize practical approaches to protect their wellbeing while engaging in potentially contentious advocacy work within their institutions.
Unequal Access: The Challenge of Palestinian Representation in Libraries
This presentation brings together four librarians from public and academic institutions who have navigated significant challenges while developing collections, programs, and resources focused on Palestine during the past year. As information professionals, these panelists will share their experiences and the experiences of others with institutional resistance, external pressures, and threats that emerged specifically around Palestinian-focused work.
Presenters will explore the stark contrast between institutional approaches to Palestinian narratives compared to other diversity initiatives. Why are Palestinian perspectives subject to what scholars call the "Palestine Exception" in otherwise progressive spaces? How does this censorship and intimidation reflect a form of neo-McCarthyism in our profession? What protections do library workers and archivists have in this environment?
Each panelist brings a unique perspective:
One librarian will share their experience organizing a Palestinian zine-making event at a public library
Two librarians will discuss their work with Librarians and Archivists with Palestine facilitating and administering a censorship tracker project
The third will address academic freedom through their experience screening a documentary about student protests and the silencing of Palestine-related discourse on campus
This session offers practical insights for BIPOC and other information professionals facing similar challenges. Panelists will detail specific strategies they and other library professionals employed, including building alliances, navigating policies, addressing safety concerns, finding supportive communities, and protecting mental health.
Join us for this critical conversation about professional ethics, institutional courage, and the continued fight for inclusive library spaces that authentically represent diverse narratives—even those deemed politically sensitive.
Outcomes
- Attendees will identify at least two specific strategies to address institutional resistance when developing Palestine-focused library collections or programs.
- Attendees will learn how to connect with support networks and resources for library workers facing challenges related to Palestine-focused work.
- Attendees will recognize practical approaches to protect their wellbeing while engaging in potentially contentious advocacy work within their institutions.
