The Newburyport Public Library Can Do More to Promote Our Community’s Diverse Past

“You don’t have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them.”

This Ray Bradbury quote should be considered by the Head Librarian at the Newburyport Public Library. When diverse representation fades in public libraries, the result is cultural homogenization and the sidelining of local knowledge. Unfortunately, it appears our library is being maintained by a staff not appreciative of the long view of the history or diverse needs of our community.

I’m not surprised. Last year, we saw a weekslong promotion on the library’s website that included the quote: “The past is important, but we must not preserve it to the detriment of the present and the future.” Indeed, it seems the library has lost its regard for the past.

This is evident in the weeding of classical literature and other books; in the weeding of Archival Center materials in preparation for their transfer to the Information Services Department; in the promotion of “romance” novels heavy with misogyny and unrealistic expectations, over more relevant local selections.

This is a shame, because the NPL can be a powerful resource for promoting diversity and countering cultural homogenization. Here are some specific solutions they could implement to address the issue:

1. Curate a Diverse Collection: The current bland displays in the library entryway could be replaced with more creative, Newburyport-centered displays of our long traditions of cultural diversity.

2. Host Multicultural Events: Organize events that celebrate different cultures, such as cultural heritage days or holiday celebrations.

3. Run Cultural Education Programs: The library can host regular programs or speaker sessions focused on cultural education, such as language classes, lectures on world history, or presentations on different belief systems.

4. Partner with Local Cultural Organizations: Collaborate with cultural or heritage organizations in the Newburyport area can allow the library to offer more specialized programs and reach a broader audience. These partnerships might include co-hosting events, sharing resources, or promoting each other’s work.

5. Storytelling and Oral Histories: Encourage local residents to share their family histories, traditions, or experiences through storytelling events or recorded oral histories can preserve cultural diversity within the community.

6. Inclusive Book Clubs: Host book clubs that focus on literature written by authors from underrepresented groups, to challenge biases and promote a more inclusive outlook.

7. Offer Multilingual Resources and Services: Provide books, signage, and programs in multiple languages to create a more welcoming environment for non-English speaking residents.

8. Art Exhibitions: Curate rotating exhibits featuring artwork from local artists of diverse cultural backgrounds, which would expose community members to different artistic traditions.

By taking these steps, the Newburyport Public Library can help counter cultural homogenization, and encourage a deeper respect for our community’s diverse past and present. At every meeting of the Library Board which I have attended or viewed online, however, I have never seen any actions taken to reverse the negative effects of cultural homogeneity, the weeding process, or the self-evident changes to the quality of selections in the Archival Center.

This needs to change if our library hopes to fulfil its responsibility to the public.  

Walt Thompson
Newburyport Resident

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