海角大神

Institutions versus professionals

Regarding the Feb. 15 article 鈥淭he fight against fake news is putting librarians on the front line 鈥� and they say they鈥檙e ready鈥� (CSMonitor.com): I think it鈥檚 worth making a distinction between libraries as operating institutions and librarians as professionals. The public library where I work 鈥� I鈥檓 a reference librarian 鈥� is not very political. And if you ask me a question, I鈥檓 not going to give you a partisan answer because I鈥檓 acting as an agent of a government institution.聽

But when I鈥檓 acting as an individual, such as when I attend American Library Association conferences or do work for ALA divisions and committees, it鈥檚 no more unusual for me to be political about library-related issues or issues in which libraries are representative of their constituents than it is for a doctor to advocate laws relating to public health. My library has neither a mandate nor the lobbyists to influence legislation; the ALA has both, and the same could be said for the state library associations.

M. Alan Thomas

Addison, Ill.

Cover to cover

I have just finished enjoying the March 20 issue. The People Making a Difference article on the Nem Adom Fel Foundation was heartwarming and very interesting. Also, the cover story, 鈥淎 pole apart,鈥� was fascinating. I must also mention Sue Wunder鈥檚 fun piece, 鈥淕ratitude in an age of automatons,鈥� on the Home Forum page. Thanks to everyone for such outstanding work.

Karen J. Leitz

Colorado Springs, Colo.

Helping girls

Regarding the March 27 People Making a Difference article 鈥淪o girls don鈥檛 have to stay home鈥�: Julie Phippen is an amazing person, and I am so pleased that her hard work creating menstrual supplies for women in developing regions has been brought to people鈥檚 attention. A menstrual cycle should not hold anyone back.

Deb Spitzley

Boston