Social Responsibilities Round Table

Social Responsibilities Round Table. The Social Responsibilities Round Table is a progressive unit within the American Library Association dedicated to fostering a more equitable and democratic society through the work of libraries. Established during a period of significant social upheaval, it champions issues of social justice, human rights, and intellectual freedom within the library profession and the communities they serve. The round table provides a forum for critical discourse and collective action, challenging the library field to address systemic inequalities and engage with pressing societal concerns.

History

The Social Responsibilities Round Table was founded in 1969, a pivotal year marked by widespread activism surrounding the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the burgeoning feminist movement. Its creation was driven by librarians like E. J. Josey and Sanford Berman, who advocated for the American Library Association to take more explicit stances on contemporary social and political issues. Early initiatives focused on opposing the Vietnam War, promoting alternative and underground publications, and supporting the Black Caucus of the American Library Association. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, it was instrumental in campaigns for library unions, feminist library collections, and critiques of Library of Congress subject headings for bias. The round table has consistently served as the conscience of the profession, pushing for engagement on topics from apartheid in South Africa to LGBTQ rights and climate justice.

Mission and objectives

The core mission of the Social Responsibilities Round Table is to promote social responsibility as a fundamental value of librarianship and the American Library Association. Its objectives include providing a forum for the discussion of critical social, economic, and environmental issues; stimulating action on these concerns within the library community; and promoting the development of library services for underrepresented and marginalized groups. It aims to make libraries active agents of change by confronting racism, sexism, homophobia, and economic inequality. The round table also works to defend and expand intellectual freedom, particularly for dissenting and minority viewpoints, and to foster international solidarity among librarians working for peace and human rights.

Activities and programs

The Social Responsibilities Round Table organizes numerous activities, primarily centered around the American Library Association Annual Conference and the Midwinter Meeting. It hosts provocative programs, panel discussions, and action-oriented meetings featuring activists, scholars, and community organizers. A key publication is the newsletter *Social Responsibilities Round Table Newsletter*, which provides analysis, news, and resources on social justice issues in librarianship. The round table also administers the Joseph W. Lippincott Award for distinguished service to the profession and the John Phillip Immroth Memorial Award for intellectual freedom. Its task forces and committees, such as those focused on the Environment, Feminist Issues, and International Responsibilities, drive specific campaigns, publish toolkits, and advocate for policy changes within the American Library Association.

Organizational structure

The Social Responsibilities Round Table operates as an official round table of the American Library Association, governed by an elected executive board including a coordinator, assistant coordinator, secretary, and treasurer. Membership is open to any American Library Association member who supports its goals. Key operational units are its standing committees and issue-based task forces, which allow members to focus on specific areas like prison libraries, alternative media, or disability advocacy. It collaborates closely with other American Library Association divisions and round tables, such as the Office for Intellectual Freedom and the Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, to advance shared objectives. Decision-making emphasizes participatory democracy and consensus-building among its members.

Impact and recognition

The impact of the Social Responsibilities Round Table has been profound in shaping the ethical consciousness of the American Library Association and the broader library profession. Its advocacy was crucial in the American Library Association adopting historic resolutions against the Vietnam War and apartheid, and in promoting the Library Bill of Rights. The round table has nurtured generations of activist librarians and influenced the development of critical library practices, including community-led librarianship and critical information literacy. While sometimes a controversial voice within the American Library Association, its persistent work has been recognized through awards like the ALA Equality Award and has ensured that principles of social justice remain central to professional discourse and institutional practice.

Category:American Library Association Category:Library organizations based in the United States Category:Social justice organizations