As part of our efforts to highlight conversations on the importance of library services and work in Manitoba, we’re sharing a podcast episode of Humans, On Rights with MLA Program Director Kirsten Wurmann.
Humans, On Rights is a podcast hosted by Stuart Murray featuring thoughtful conversations with grassroots human rights community leaders, policymakers, advocates, and educators on what drives them to champion human rights.
In this episode, Wurmann discusses how libraries are feeling pressure to remove certain books from the library and because of that libraries should not be neutral spaces.
Show Notes:
“Libraries need to be accountable to our community and our community is comprised of people from a myriad of backgrounds. She believes that libraries must reflect the communities that we serve, and that all of our community members should feel represented within their library collection. Therefore, Wurmann says libraries are not neutral because we do care about the community so much and that’s what guides our work.Kirsten Wurmann is passionate about human rights, about diversity, about inclusivity and accessibility. And all those values need to be reflected when someone walks into a library. With the support of the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers, the Manitoba Library Association has announced a new award called the Human Rights Book Award. This Human Rights Book Award will support and recognize Manitoba libraries hard work to uphold library values of intellectual freedom while at the same time reflecting their community’s need for inclusive and diverse library spaces.”
