by Leah Rucchetto

In my experience, the prescribed neutrality of libraries is often debated. In practice, working with people is never neutral. Public libraries have always provided services to the individual but also perform services for the greater community good. Recent library literature states that libraries are actively engaged in building community and social capital, the promotion of intellectual freedom, and universal access to information. Research also asserts that libraries encourage civic engagement through programming, upholding democratic ideals, and encouraging social trust through the provision of neighbourhood resources. These facts might lead one to believe that all library professionals are doing their utmost to be socially inclusive. Regardless of what library professionals would like to believe, library culture can propagate social exclusion. Although staff members may be caring individuals, the library, as an institution, can draw a line in the sand between insiders and outsiders based on policies and processes. It is not acceptable for library professionals to ignore the marginalization of certain groups in what aims to be an inclusive environment.