ER&L 2024 – Closing Keynote Panel
Unpacking Emerging Threats to the Culture of Learning and Academic Libraries
Moderator:
- John Chrastka, Executive Director, EveryLibrary
Panelists:
- Nancy Kirkpatrick, Dean of University Libraries, Florida International University
- Kathleen McEvoy, Senior Policy Fellow, The EveryLibrary Institute
- Roger Schonfeld, Vice President, Ithaka
This year’s ER&L closed with a panel discussion, “Unpacking Emerging Threats to the Culture of Learning and Academic Libraries,” led by John Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary, with Kathleen McEvoy, Senior Policy Fellow at the EveryLibrary Institute, Nancy Kirkpatrick, Dean of University Libraries at Florida International University (FIU), and Roger Schoenfeld, Vice President of Ithaka S+R. Chrastka set the stage for the panelist discussion, identifying some issues coming from the campus or the state level that make it difficult for librarians to do their jobs and proposed ways they can get ahead of them. He outlined three major factors. Firstly, the issues plaguing public and school libraries are working their way into academic libraries, attacking research and research integrity, as well as who are diminishing the academic space, be it an institution’s own students, faculty or the state and its structures. The second factor is the tension between policy versus praxis. Librarians look to find ways to improve how they do work, the techniques and approaches, but they are not equipped with policies internally or at the state or federal level that protect against the weaponized socio-political forces that are trying to diminish their work. The third factor is that academic libraries have been isolated from these issues and librarians need to communicate how support of DEIA and the focus on research are directly linked to legal mandates like Title VI.
After a round of introductions, Chrastka asked Nancy Kirkpatrick about the business of doing academic librarianship in this current environment. Kirkpatrick stated it is challenging and that librarians need to find ways to save themselves as external support is unlikely. Florida has passed legislation concerning this, so librarians and deans across the state check-in and ask each other how they are handling these issues. While DEIA departments no longer exist, librarians with those duties continue to work quietly. It is still happening because it is important for their campus. Kilpatrick recommends looking for where there is energy on campus. Libraries are often taken for granted; librarians need to remind their researchers and administration that the library is more than a book repository. Librarians need to remind administrators and researchers about the work libraries do to support the university’s work. They are providing resources that power campus research and support grant work. Librarians should not be intimidated by new and rising technologies. They need to know how to use them better and align them with campus research interests. Kilpatrick shared some book recommendations that have helped her find motivation to continue this work: Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall, You Need a Manifesto by Charlotte Burgess-Auburn, and the Stanford d.school and Rest is Resistance by Tricia Hersey. Chrastka asked about finding alignment at FIU, to which Kilpatrick responded that she leverages her newness to the institution to help build relationships and that she attends all events and meetings to learn about the university and build those partnerships.
Chrastka then asked Schoenfeld about the systems perspective and the facts of what is happening in librarians and the fears practitioners have. Schoenfeld spoke about interviews with fifteen library leaders from public US research institutions done in the fall of 2023 about censorship, academic freedom, and other politics and policies informing these issues. These leaders stated that academic collections are not being censored or exposed to systematic content challenges outright; however, the environment is influencing their collection-building work. Leaders are thinking of alternate strategies to protect challenged content, borrowing from the digital preservation sphere, and thinking in terms of custodianship of materials and building failovers. Many have successfully argued academic freedom to protest content challenges. They are also facing leadership challenges in recruitment and retention, especially with employees identifying as LGBTQ or with family members who do. Also, they found challenges in balancing communications with the different campus communities effectively. Library leaders were asked about finding support, and they stated an interest in peer networking communities. They also expressed that professional organizations tone down the statements they put out. Chrastka asked if leaders are equipped to deal with the challenges driving the need for these peer networks. Schoenfeld said there are differing levels of confidence in dealing with these issues coming from the campus and state levels, especially as state-level policies unravel DEIA programs. The climate is affecting the way they can lead their organizations. Via the interviews, Schoenfeld heard from interviewees that they did not want library consortia or organizations to condemn state legislatures. In practice, these statements may do more harm than the philosophical good that was intended. Those state legislatures may force libraries to leave those professional organizations or consortia, which could hinder their ability to continue working on those challenged issues.
The discussion then shifted to McEvoy, who spoke about ways colleagues at safe academic institutions could find ways to help those at impacted libraries. McEvoy looked at this multi-state ecosystem and this systemic situation and that librarians need to understand that we are up against internet trolls who are extremely proficient in the internet techniques and the algorithms that drive it. Those responsible for developing algorithms have a very specific point of view, which influences how they work. Many of these trolls are finding their way into politics and heavily influencing and creating these policies. These individuals will do anything to get the clicks, votes, and dollars. Algorithms are geared for negative engagement and become conduits for “rage farming.” Attacks on academia are starting and are often targeted at individuals with high ethical standards. The culture war is a fight for power. This advocacy work is exhausting, but it is critical to maintain the momentum as it is our responsibility to point out and inform policymakers of the unintended consequences proposed laws may have on our work. Librarians need to know their playing field and be aware of what is happening in their local legislatures, and expose bills for what they are.
Chrastka followed up with Kirkpatrick what we need to do lead with authority, she stated that we need to recognize that while collection building is important, but other things matter as well and that we should be willing to change and find out and focus on more impactful areas. Chrastka then asked Schoenfeld about what trends are coming through the major surveys about how university librarians view themselves and how university administrators view the work done by libraries. Schoenfeld responded that research universities are increasing in academic science and externally funded science research. The efforts to align libraries with scientific enterprises have not fully developed. Were libraries to align themselves with scientific research, this may change how they are viewed on campus.
At this point, the question-and-answer portion of the panel began. The first question from the crowd was, what was the library leadership’s sense that budgets themselves could signal the mission, values, and vision statement of their institution? Chrastka shared that if your library is not ready to surface these values, vision, and mission systems internally, they won’t succeed in having those external conversations. McEvoy added that libraries understand the importance of access to information; they need to leverage that information with administrators and help give them competitive intelligence, letting them know who they are benchmarking against and what universities they are competing against in terms of student recruitment. Kirkpatrick stated that budgets are always challenged; they are just trying to keep the library going. Schoenfeld also framed the idea that funding and support for state universities are being cut and that they are not the truly independent entities that they are often thought to be. They are subject to changes
The next question from the audience asked how librarians in supportive libraries can help colleagues facing these challenges. Chrastka said that this is a matter of solidarity, and participating via voting and by talking about what we do and providing more transparency to our work. McEvoy also stated that the work under the umbrella of DEIA has been going on before this, and just because it cannot be called DEIA does not mean it is not happening. Kirkpatrick also shared that librarians should not criticize colleagues at institutions where DEIA challenges occur, as they are often working under the radar to continue supporting those goals in the best way they can.
Prepared by:
Elisa Nascimento (she/her/hers)
E-Content Management Librarian | Electronic Resources and Serials Management
Yale University Library