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Current global trends show libraries becoming not only sanctuaries of books and literary knowledge, but centers for community connection and education, providing equal access to information and a safe space for meetings and discussions. Libraries have recently been targeted as a battleground for ideological and political conflicts, challenging their role as a basic pillar of civil society. This can be well-documented in the case of the LGBTQIA+ movement, and raises the question: How should libraries proceed with their activities in current culture clashes?
Czech libraries aligning themselves with the global LGBTQIA+ movement have called forth dramatic responses from the larger Czech society. This has redefined the role of both librarians and library PR through social media and in-person handling of activities. Events at libraries in Pilsen, Brno, and Ústí nad Labem have put librarianship at the front line of Czech cultural wars. It is more than petitions and protests and flags being burned - these clashes represent a comparatively simple mask for bigger questions: Are there limits to free speech and democracy? What role does or should censorship play in human communication? How should the library manage the demands of stakeholders at all levels of society? What is the status of diversity in library staffing, volunteerism, and readership? What about library book collections – are the right voices given a chance to speak and be offered on library shelves? On the other hand, do some voices speak too much?
Three Czech library stories highlight these questions regarding their roles in this clash. Panelists will share the events as they transpired, as well as reflect on what these experiences imply about the library’s overall place in these culture clashes. This panel discussion will attempt to demonstrate how libraries grapple with the greater question: what does it mean to be a democratic space that contributes to mitigating the polarisation of society?