As the article and our texts point out, cultural sensitivity isn’t easy, especially if you have been insulated by privilege and protected by ignorance your whole life. But there are less and less excuses everyday for this cultural ignorance. The rising population, the media exposure, the exposure to more and more multicultural or non-Anglo ethnic books are all sure signs of a serious need for diversity sensitivity and intercultural communication training. I like the idea of carefully responding to who and what might be marginalized. Especially in terms of mechanisms for organizing and supplying information, such as the big publishers, who seem to not even care or want to have a fair and proportionate diversity in what they publish.
Libraries and independent bookstores are first and foremost community centers and thus have a responsibility to carefully serve their neighborhoods with at least proportionate diverse literature, and services and events to celebrate their patrons adequately.
I like the idea in the 2007 Education Libraries article by Allard, Mehra, and Qayyum that “A Librarian can facilitate this (the interaction between minority and majority) by maintaining an awareness of the community members and providing and environment that is approachable.” (Allard, Mehra, and Qayyum, 2007, p. 8) I would add that libraries need to be fully inclusive and comfortable for all patrons we as the future as the new generation of librarians can change our libraries!!! We can, and we must work to bridge cultural divides, and open closed minds and open closed hearts!!
Allard, S., Mehra, B., and Quayyam, A. (2007). Intercultural leadership toolkit for librarians: Building awareness to effectively serve diverse multicultural populations. Education Libraries, 30(1), 5-12.
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