On a recurring basis, I ask myself, what is it that I can do to stop the genocide of Palestinians? To stop oppression in any way or form in the world? What is my role? Can I do more than boycott? Staying in the country that I do, places me in a mindset where I keep asking myself what are my options?
This is a small step that we can all take in the spaces we inhabit if we notice a wrong or dissonance with the values we espouse. Writing to a media outlet that is running an advertisement that perpetuates an inaccurate fact and thereby genocide, writing to a literary festival about their sponsorship, writing to a library to do better, to a bookstore..you get the gist. These steps have an important impact.
I share this here because I hope it may push someone else in my list to do the same. We tend to ignore these steps as inconsequential but I believe, collectively, it all matters. Speaking to the people working at the library I think mattered. Letting them know as a member of that space how they operate has an impact on me, even if I am one person. Writing to them furthers that.
I have edited the name and some other details but here’s the rest.
/Hope this email finds you well. My name is Tanya Daud and I am a member the ———— Library. I visited the library earlier today and would like to address an issue of importance for myself and what I believe perhaps for several of your other members too.
To me, libraries have a huge role to play in our societies. What we access here or not shapes the way we think and therefore act. We live in a time where the word "international" is used for the West or countries that are big economic players. It is their opinions that matter, their narratives that are given space on our shelves, as well as a front row seat for anyone coming across.
My hope is that a space like a library will try to do better. In terms of its selection of books, in terms of its placement of them, in terms of what it considers international, and in terms of what it gives importance to on its shelf racks.
Right now, we are all witness to a genocide. The genocide of Palestinians is not an issue to be kept out of the library, it is not a non-family thing, if anything it is a moment to educate all your members. Libraries have an active role to play in facilitating our thought process, in taking a stand themselves.
Currently, books on Palestine or on the larger Arab region are in the Local Interest, MENA section. In an aisle that is a little further down and more obscure than the one that is positioned in a more prominent position. What exactly does the term local interest mean? Are the books kept in the non-fiction section at the start more international? If so, why does it not include books about the region or from Africa or South America or more of South Asia? I believe the Middle East is in Asia. At present, that section is filled with books from or about the West, India, and East Asia.
There is a reason for the way books are placed and I hope the mindset with regards to this can be changed and a more representative and accurately labelled shelves can be seen in the very near future at the library. If anything, the global majority deserves a larger space, and an equal if not more prominent placement.
Along with this, I would also like to submit a request for a special Palestinian section to be curated. Or a space which holds literature from all countries/territories under occupation and/or oppression and books from those.
Marking cultural/religious holidays as a library may be appreciated by your members but I hope your legacy as a library will be that of a more profound impact.
Thank you.
Ps: Since yesterday, hundreds of writers, literary festival workers, translators, illustrators, book workers, publishers, editors, and agents are signing on to a campaign that is built on a refusal to work with/participate in any Israeli literary endeavour that doesn't recognise the occupation, apartheid and genocide of Palestinians. Libraries have a role to play too.
Refusing Complicity in Israel’s Literary Institution
You can add your name to this campaign too. Click on the link in the bio to become a signatory.
This is such an important reminder! Thank you ❤️