The public library as counterspace for African Americans

Velez, LaTesha

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122805 Copy

Description

Title

The public library as counterspace for African Americans

Author(s)

Velez, LaTesha

Issue Date

2024-03-20

Keyword(s)

• Libraries
• Counterspaces
• Marginalized Identities

Abstract

Counterspaces are locations where oppressive ideologies, such as racism, ableism, and transphobia, can be actively challenged. In the United States, freedom of speech and expression is being whittled away by prohibitions on discussing racially conscious theories like critical race theory. With the curtailing of spaces where open dialogue can occur, libraries are poised to serve important roles as counterspaces for marginalized people. This paper is a critical literature review discussing the counterspace framework and analyzing an existing research paper about an African American Mother-Daughter reading group to show an example of a counterspace that may be replicable in other public libraries.

Publisher

iSchools

Series/Report Name or Number

iConference 2024 Proceedings

Type of Resource

Other

Language

eng

Handle URL

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/122805

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2024 is held by LaTesha Velez. Copyright permissions, when appropriate, must be obtained directly from the authors.

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