Libraries are one of the greatest resources of a free society. Librarians embrace their duty to engage their communities with accessible collections, services and spaces that bring together vast histories, diverse perspectives, new discoveries, and endless opportunities for learning. For this reason, libraries are cherished as the soul of our colleges and universities. It’s also why our own library has been a focal point in recent campus discussions about free expression and dissent.
Places where students chart their own paths
Today, within the walls of campus libraries – physical or virtual – students seek to better understand the world around them and their own place in it. Study leads to scholarship, curiosity advances to interests and careers, and leaders in every professional, academic and research field are shaped.
This is one of the most remarkable aspects of libraries, particularly in times of social or personal turmoil – they are places where students chart their own paths. Outside the library walls, information and viewpoints constantly rush towards them. Inside, they pursue their own lines of inquiry, considering a range of views, and developing ideas that make a difference in their lives and possibly the world.
Places of free expression and mutual respect
Foundational to this exploration is the library’s deep commitment to the principles of free expression and intellectual freedom. That means, for example, that opposing perspectives routinely confront each other in our collections, enabling the understanding of differences and the bridging of divides.
Libraries are also deeply committed to upholding the rights of all members of our communities. Libraries are places where everyone should feel both welcome and able to focus on their own pursuits. In our reading rooms, a shared community space, people explore their own thoughts while respecting others’ rights to do the same. That’s why library “study-in” actions have sparked debate and discussion on our campuses in recent months.
Places that welcome contemplation
Study-ins are a silent form of protest. In recent experience, they have been publicized group efforts where participants sit quietly displaying signs relating to their cause. Some would argue that this is not disruptive – it’s not noisy and other seats remain available – and so it’s acceptable in a space that is otherwise off limits for protests. They see it as no different from the free expression of an individual using a laptop with political stickers or wearing a t-shirt with a political message. Others take the position that a study-in compels attention to a specific message – otherwise why would it be held in a community space – so it is inherently disruptive and antithetical to the intent of a library reading room.
For libraries, in providing contemplative spaces for study and research, we deliberately design our reading rooms to welcome everyone in our communities. We think carefully about factors such as artwork and the diversity of collections that line the walls. And so, we’re concerned that even when there is no noise, an assembly of people displaying signs changes a reading room from a place for individual learning and reflection to a forum for public statements.
Librarians have a responsibility to protect library spaces for their intended uses. While a reading room is intended for study, it is not intended to be used as a venue for a group action, quiet or otherwise, to capture people’s attention. In the study-ins in our spaces, we heard from students who saw them publicized and chose not to come to the library. During the events, large numbers of people filed in at once, and several moved around the room taking photos or filming. Seeking attention is in itself disruptive.
Places of discourse
Don’t get me wrong – a library is also a place of civic engagement and free expression, and we don’t shy away from controversy. In fact, we encourage discourse and facilitate open inquiry. As a champion of curiosity, one of Harvard Library’s core values is to embrace diverse perspectives: we cultivate and celebrate diversity in our collections and our community to construct a more inclusive and just world. Alongside our diverse collections, many libraries offer spaces for exhibits and displays, bulletin boards, and bookable rooms to support the open exchange of ideas and perspectives. And, as the American Library Association affirms in its Library Bill of Rights, we make these resources available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.
Being confronted with divergent views in the manner that libraries intend, however, is not the same as acts of protest. Our colleges and universities should and do embrace the free expression of protests as essential to the formulation of ideas and ideals. Outside of libraries, there are spaces on our campuses where acts of protest are not just permitted, they are welcomed.
Of course, outdoor protests and libraries often go hand-in-hand. Our grandest libraries are adjacent to public spaces and peaceful protests. For example, the Boston Public Library, with its inspiring inscription of “built by the people and dedicated to the advancement of learning,” sits beside Copley Square, the site of many protests. Notably, one such event a few years ago was a demonstration objecting to a protest that had occurred inside the library, interfering with its services.
Places of sanctuary
The library must be a sanctuary for its community. This means it is a place where individuals know they will be welcomed to exercise their right to access the space, the collections, and the divergent ideas that help advance their own knowledge and understanding. If our library spaces become a space for protest and demonstration – quiet or otherwise, and no matter the message – they will be diverted from their vital role as places for learning and research.
Indeed, in times of turmoil, the library may be one of the only such sanctuaries. We saw a dramatic example of that in 2015, when the Pennsylvania Avenue branch of Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library stayed open for the community during the unrest following the death of Freddie Gray. Many noted that the library had been the community’s anchor throughout that tumultuous period.
Let’s ensure that our students have academic community anchors, places of open inquiry and stability where they can engage deeply with issues and perspectives, and research subjects that will help them forge a better tomorrow. What better place than the library.
Martha Whitehead is the University Librarian at Harvard University.