Archive for July 2008
Libraries and Their History of Diversity
I was reading this morning from chapter 7 of Rubin’s Foundations of Library and Information Science and a thought occurred to me — Libraries and library science have a history of diversity.
That probably seems like the ultimate truism. After all, librarians tend to pride themselves on their recognition of diversity. It seems that you cannot peruse a library science periodical without some mention of diversity. It’s even outlined in the mission statements of LIS programs. For example, the mission statement of the School of Library and Information Science at the University of Kentucky (the school I attend) is “is to extend and enhance the quality of information services in a culturally diverse, technological and global society.” The school also seeks “To attract and admit a diverse student body.” Diversity language pervades library science literature to such an extent, that many probably many who read the title of this post groaned. “Oh great. Another librarian talking about diversity.”
In posting this, I’m not trying to laud diversity. I’m simply pointing out that the history of libraries and library science is a diverse one. Seemingly every centralized, economically viable, politically stable society since 3000 BC has contributed in some form to librarianship. Sumerians, Assyrians, Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, Europeans, and Americans have all made contributions. No one discipline has cornered the market on library holdings. Libraries have held financial records, literary works, legal documents, religious treatises, philosophical works, historical accounts, and medical handbooks. No one religion has a corner on contributing to librarianship. All of the world’s monotheistic religions made significant contributions to the field of librarianship, and every religion has contributed some content. No one single reason for collecting has dominated. Some libraries were founded for education and the public good, others to collect public records and promote the interests of a nation, and still others were established to extend human hubris. Historically speaking, librarianship would seem to be one of the most diverse disciplines ever developed.
