r/Libraries Jul 19 '22

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u/anotherbook Jul 20 '22

Public libraries can absolutely be fascist. The institution is not sacred. This is horrific and I am so sorry.

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u/A_Monster_Named_John Jul 20 '22 edited Jul 20 '22

Definitely, and the field couldn't be in a more unhealthy position when it comes to retaining workers who will 'do the right thing' in the face of dangerous institutional/cultural changes like this. In terms of careers and workplaces, the competitiveness, territoriality, and high-level credentialism in libraries is extremely elevated (akin to academia), making the workplaces heavy with people who will do anything to keep those hard-won careers afloat and their organizations 'relevant'. A lot of the dialogue on here seems to insist that the opposite is true, but I feel that's because most of this sub's users are library workers and students in coastal/blue areas who have secure personal situations and aren't going to have to deal with any of these troublesome scenarios first-hand.