I’m a little late on the uptake on this one, but oh well.
I came across a site called Radical Reference today through chocolatespoon’s website.
Mission Statement: Radical Reference is a collective of volunteer library workers who believe in social justice and equality. We support activist communities, progressive organizations, and independent journalists by providing professional research support, education and access to information. We work in a collaborative virtual setting and are dedicated to information activism to foster a more egalitarian society.
Apparently, including the term “radical” in their title has caused them some grief. In reviewing their site, LISNews.com accused them of “extreme leftism” and even sited them in possible violation of Article VII of the Library Code of Ethics. I believe this stems mostly from the fact that the site was originally launched to provide information support for demonstrator’s at the Republican convention in NYC this past fall. In defense Radical Reference claims the following:
..If they had taken the time to investigate — rather than getting caught up with the term “radical” — they would have seen that we provide services regardless of political leaning. Remember, language is not a static thing; rather, it is a place where social struggle takes place. The term itself is interpreted within a specific social context. By using the term “radical” to define our service, we are challenging the maintream meaning which largely marginalizes the term and along with it certain groups.
We face a society where citizens are less and less informed due to consolidation and corporatization of media. I think it is our core code of ethics to help to inform citizens so that they can participate fully in the democratic process. In this way, we are forwarding the profession by reaching out to the community. Every librarian should go out to his/her own community and use his/her information skills to affect positive change. If this is radical, then by all means I am radical.
–Discordia, August 25, 2004
As far as I can tell, it seems relatively balanced. But I do wonder whether right leaning activists are going to feel welcome at this site. Although I agree with their interpretation of the term “radical”, I feel that the word itself is so controversial that they would be best to choose something a little more mainstream or a word that is collectively understood and agreed upon by the general populace. I understand that it’s important for us to challenge our society but I have a bad feeling that their take on this ends up alienating some people rather than challenging them. I’m also a little concerned about the subject matter of several of their blog entries. Advertising an ACLU movie screening in Boston is a little edgy in my opinion. I don’t know, those are just some of my thoughts.
