Librarians attending ‘whiteness studies’ to avoid ‘racist’ venues

Just when you think the equality and diversity police can’t get any madder, they do. Now it transpires that libraries across Wales have been told to become ‘anti-racist’ in the devolved Labour government’s bid to ‘eradicate’ systemic racism by 2030 – with librarians urged not to hold meetings in ‘racist’ buildings by decolonisation training experts. It turns out that Welsh library workers are being educated – as part of a £130,000 ‘anti-racist library collections’ project – in ‘critical whiteness studies’. These aim to help staff understand the ‘dominant paradigm of whiteness’ besides other issues, as part of the Welsh government’s 2022 Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan. Crikey…

The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals released documents that outline how best libraries can embrace ‘anti-racist principles’, with one guide advising staffers attending training meetings: ‘Be mindful of the venue and if you have a choice, do not choose a venue that represents a racist legacy.’