Statement on the firing of Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress (May 2025)
Book Challenges Statement (May 2022)
Diversity Statement (January 2022)
Statement on the firing of Dr. Carla Hayden, Librarian of Congress:
The United States Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden, was terminated by the Trump administration on Thursday May 8 via a two-line email sent at 6:56pm. This termination comes after the executive order to defund the Institute of Library and Museum Services dealt a devastating blow to libraries and library services nationwide.
WNYLRC stands with Dr. Hayden and applauds her tireless work leading the Library of Congress, as well as a long career spent working and advocating on behalf of libraries, and WNYLRC believes there is no grounds for her dismissal.
President Barack Obama appointed Dr. Hayden as Librarian of Congress in 2016. This marked a moment in history for the Library of Congress and our country, with both a woman and an African American serving as Librarian of Congress. Her confirmation by the US Senate was met with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Dr. Hayden worked to ensure that the Library of Congress was a welcoming, accessible place for everyone. Her loss is a great blow to libraries and to our country. Librarians will continue to stand up for their communities in the spirit embodied by Dr. Hayden and ensure that libraries continue to offer access to information and opportunities for everyone.
Her temporary replacement, attorney Todd Blanche, unfortunately is not a degreed librarian nor does he have any experience in libraries and yet he will be conducting the search for a permanent replacement. This is a devastating blow to libraries around the country. We stand with the New York Library Association condemning this firing.
Approved by the WNYLRC Board of Trustees, May 2025 (back to top)
Book Challenges Statement:
The Western New York Library Resources Council Board of Trustees denounce efforts to suppress access to library materials that represent marginalized populations through restrictions, physical removal, or deletion of these library materials. When library materials that give a voice to marginalized people are out of view, that sends a message that anyone identifying with these materials are not part of the community and often keep their inner lives secret/hidden for fear of being ostracized or intimidated or fear of physical harm.
We as Board members are affirming our endorsement of the American Library Association Library Bill of Rights which affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas. The Library Bill of Rights are the code of ethics of librarianship and which all degreed professionals commit to upon graduation. No other professionals are asked to ignore their professional code of ethics when challenged.
The first article of the Library Bill of Rights is that Books and other library resources should be provided for the “interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation”. The second article of the Library Bill of Right states, "Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval." Adhering to these rights is challenging for librarians when individuals or groups demand that materials be removed from library shelves because of dislike of the content or added to the library shelves that promote disinformation or outright falsehoods contrary to established historic fact. Strong library policies provide direction and a method for both the librarian and a library board or administration to address these issues concretely and in the best interest of their constituency.
For the advancement and well-being of all trustees of public library and school boards, K-12 superintendents, principals and teachers, college administrators, and NYS legislators, they all must recognize the gravity of their responsibility to nurture equitable, inclusive and welcoming learning environments. Strong library collection development policies that support the purchase of and access to inclusive and culturally responsive library materials including books that empower its readers to be agents of positive change, can increase empathy and understanding among cultural identities and differences. Strong library policies can prevent censorship and hasty decisions during challenges and allow for a thoughtful process and response to address (and combat) the concerns raised by individuals or groups who want to remove materials they don’t agree with. Strong library policies that for collection challenges provide direction and guidance in addressing factually inaccurate and dangerous materials from being added to library shelves as well as outside of a library’s regular collection policies.
Ensuring access to a diverse collection of professionally-selected library materials by a certified public or school librarian, or a college librarian is a concrete way educators can supplement not only the curriculum and encourage lifelong learning traits in our children as early as kindergarten, but also instill a socially and emotionally mature outlook for all library users and prevent the exclusion of historically silenced, erased, and disenfranchised groups.
Approved by the WNYLRC Board of Trustees, May 2022 (back to top)
Diversity Statement:
Western New York Library Resources Council (WNYLRC), through the Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism Committee (EDIAr) committee, is fully committed to addressing urgent matters of social justice, both now and into the future. WNYLRC offers a heartfelt apology to all members of the WNY library community who have experienced alienation or discrimination. We acknowledge that libraries have, through both action and inaction, contributed to a culture of oppression and marginalization in our communities. WNYLRC also recognizes our many members who have shown great leadership in the call for change, and we, as part of the library community, will continue to keep equity, diversity, inclusion, and antiracism as our priority.
As a leader in library innovation, WNYLRC is committed to promoting diversity in all its forms and combating and resisting racism and oppression. The Council will lead in these efforts in the following ways:
- WNYLRC will recruit, promote, and retain librarians and staff from diverse backgrounds, especially Black, Indigenous, (and) People of Color (BIPOC).
- The WNYLRC Board Nominating committee will seek to recruit and nominate Board of Trustee members from diverse backgrounds, especially BIPOC.
- WNYLRC standing committees will seek to recruit committee members from diverse backgrounds, especially BIPOC.
- WNYLRC will support and encourage member libraries to recruit, promote, and retain librarians and library workers from diverse backgrounds, especially BIPOC.
- WNYLRC will encourage all member libraries to develop collections according to EDIAr principles.
- WNYLRC will encourage its community stakeholders (including its staff, committees, members, and Board of Trustees) to coordinate with community groups and organizations to address issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism in libraries.
Diversity statement drafted by the Equity, Diversity, and Anti-Racism Committee, 2021.
Diversity statement approved by the WNYLRC Board of Trustees January 25, 2022. (back to top)