ARL Denounces Harassment of Chris Bourg Following Code4Lib Keynote

Here’s the Full Text of Statement From the Association of Research Libraries:

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has joined more than 350 individuals and organizations in signing the Code4Lib Community Statement in Support of Chris Bourg. In an invitational keynote at the 2018 Code4Lib conference, Chris Bourg, director of the MIT Libraries, not only identified impediments to increasing diversity in the software development community based on extensive research by the Kapor Center for Social Impact, but also offered suggestions for addressing those impediments, focusing in particular on creating an inclusive environment in which marginalized developers would feel comfortable and supported. In the weeks following her keynote, Bourg has received numerous harassing and denigrating comments. The ARL community is horrified by these attacks, both professional and personal. Such attacks underscore the extent of the problem and the need for greater focus on these issues.
The Association of Research Libraries is firmly committed to fostering diverse, equitable, and inclusive environments and is providing programs and facilitated conversations to help ARL members make progress in their institutions. Vicious attacks, such as those leveled at Chris Bourg or any member of the research library community, will not silence the community’s voice nor stop its efforts.
ARL expresses its earnest support for Chris Bourg and the imperative message she shared at the Code4Lib conference. The Association stands with the Code4Lib community in denouncing the alarming harassment Bourg has experienced and encourages others to sign the community statement supporting her.

Filed under: Academic Libraries, Associations and Organizations, Libraries, News