Library and Archives Associations (ALA, ARL, SAA) Call on Members to Take Action on US National Day of Racial Healing

From a Joint Announcement (via Association of Research Libraries)

On January 18, 2022, the sixth annual US National Day of Racial Healing, the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), and the Society of American Archivists (SAA) call upon our collective memberships—comprised of several hundred thousand archivists, librarians, and other information professionals, and thousands of libraries and archives of all kinds—to observe the day with reflection and action.

The National Day of Racial Healing is part of a larger movement for Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT)—a political and cultural framework developed by Dr. Gail Christopher and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. TRHT is embraced by more than 300 organizations in the academic, artistic, civic, and faith communities calling for the establishment of a US Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation. Libraries and archives are in this movement to advance a more just and equitable society by bringing our expertise, our collections, and our relationships to advance truth for teaching and scholarship, remembrance, community building, and healing.

By working together, ALA, ARL, and SAA signal the commitment of libraries and archives to documenting in full the rich and diverse histories of the United States and to ongoing collaboration on these issues. Through programming, education, and advocacy, our associations are developing leaders and organizations to meet the moment—including envisioning new ways of working that enable communities to tell their own enduring stories, and reimagining descriptive practices to be more inclusive.

On January 18, ALA, ARL, and SAA call on our members to take the following actions:

1. Devote time for a Healing Hour in your organizations and departments for discussion, education, and reflection using the resources here.
2. Share your organization’s learning in pursuit of racial justice and healing with your colleagues and users, on your websites, and in your communications.
   • Download and use the banner graphic “Libraries & Archives Observe National Day of Racial Healing.”
   • On social media, use the hashtag #LibrariesAndArchivesForRacialHealing along with #HowWeHeal.
3. Review SAA’s resources, ALA’s resources, and ARL’s resources to spark your thinking. Share with your colleagues and users in your displays or website, or on social media using the hashtags #LibrariesAndArchivesForRacialHealing and #HowWeHeal.

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