Borders and Belonging

This book is forthcoming in the Litwin Books/Library Juice Press Series on Critical Race Studies and Multiculturalism in LIS, Rose L. Chou and Annie Pho, series editors.

Borders and Belonging explores the role of libraries as both places of belonging as well as instruments of exclusion, xenophobia and assimilation. For over a century, North American libraries have liaised between immigrant communities and mainstream society by providing important sociocultural and educational services. Yet, outreach efforts have largely adhered to “Americanizing” ideals that reinforce ethnocentric and fatalist attitudes particularly toward undocumented and/or underprivileged migrants, refugees and asylees. As immigration continues to dominate public consciousness and political debates, the library profession must interrogate presumptions of immigrant incompetence or inferiority; professional awe whereby librarians are uncritically positioned as rescue workers; along with inattention to the contributions of immigrants within the profession as well as U.S. and Canadian societies. Through reflective essays, original research, and critical analyses presented by a range of specialists and thought leaders, Borders and Belonging challenges readers to dismantle problematic paradigms.

About the editor: Ana Ndumu is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Maryland, College Park’s College of Information. She received both MLIS and PhD degrees from Florida State University and examines the cross between libraries, information and migration. Ana has over 14 years of library experience and serves on various library association committees. She frequently presents and publishes on library services to immigrants, immigrant information behavior, and methods for promoting diversity and inclusion within LIS.