l Challenge harassment whenever you see, hear or read it.
Dorothy Porter.
that girls growing up in the 1980s weren’t ‘supposed to’ like computers… until I was sadly bullied for it at school. Regardless, I’ve been in front of a computer for over 40 years now, whether gaming, program- ming, or finding information for other people, and I wouldn’t change a thing!” The same spirit of determination, drive and intersectionality also informed our next online session, taking place in October during Black History Month 2022. CILIPS was honoured to welcome Professor Zita Cristina Nunes, Associate Professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania, who introduced us to Dorothy Porter: the critical cataloguing pioneer quoted at the start of this article whose groundbreaking work continues to shape our profession. As our libraries tackle the task of decolonisation today, what can we learn from Porter’s legacy? And what does her vastly under-acknowledged contribution tell us about the history of librarianship, the herstories that are missing and why? Please visit the WINspiration collection to find answers and watch the captioned recording of this unforgettable session (
https://youtu.be/mJZVlosr7Vs). Another story that, regrettably, needed exposure to the light was the one addressed by WINspiration on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in November 2022. I know I speak for every member of the CILIP community when I write that even one incident of sexual harassment in a library is one too many, yet researcher Brooke Cambie discovered – in the UK’s first comprehensive survey examining the problem – that the scale of harassment is
26 INFORMATION PROFESSIONAL
worse and more widespread than previ- ously recognised.
Sharing her findings, alongside a suite of supportive resources highlighting the legal rights of staff and the responsibil- ities of employers, this webinar marked CILIP’s first direct statement condemning sexual harassment in library workplaces. We emphasised that, as women, it is #NotOurJob to tolerate harassment; nor is it our job to ‘deal with’ as individuals what the evidence reveals to be a sector and society-wide problem. This tough yet necessary session, which can also be viewed online (
www.cilips.org.uk/notourjob-abc), concluded by inviting attendees to pledge their support for the #NotOurJob ABCs:
l Acknowledge sexual harassment exists in library workplaces around the world
l Believe staff when they disclose harassment
Accompanied by downloadable posters to display in your library spaces, our petition remains live on the CILIPS web- site (
www.cilips.org.uk/notourjob-abc). Please spare a moment to sign it if you have yet to do so and support our stand against sexual harassment in libraries. “In a profession predominantly com- prised of women, the need for feminist organisations and programmes such as WINspiration may seem surprising,” notes Brooke. “Despite the strong pres- ence of women within librarianship, the severe and harmful impacts of patriarchy and misogyny persist. These conse- quences are detrimental not only to all librarians but to the institution of librar- ies and the communities they serve. “Events such as #NotOurJob reveal the extent of this harm, bringing to light experiences within librarianship that have rarely been openly discussed. In addition, these events provide genuine support and practical advice for combating misogyny and patriarchy. It is uplifting to see this work being done, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for WINspi- ration.”
In 2023, as the quest for true equality continues around the world, WINspira- tion will be there in solidarity with and celebration of the women in our sector. We have a diverse and dynamic array of future content planned, from an online workshop with award-winning poet Nadine Aisha Jassat to events, blog posts and other impactful interventions centred on Imposter Syndrome, period poverty, menopause awareness and eco-feminism. Just like women working in libraries, information and knowledge, this empowering programme continues to go from strength to strength. Visit
www.cilips.org.uk/feminism for more on past and future events, and to discover a wealth of resources and organisations aligned to the aims of WINspiration. IP
March 2023
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