Library Journal - "Conservative Christian Librarian" Comes Out at PLA

Library Journal - "Conservative Christian Librarian" Comes Out at PLA: "Though the title of the session at the Public Library Association (PLA) conference was 'Right of Center and Still Balanced,' the session turned into a supportive, lively, and at times respectfully contentious discussion about how Susan Hill, a self-described 'conservative Christian librarian,' navigates her role at work and within the American Library Association (ALA) at large. Hill directs the Paulding County Carnegie Library in Ohio, an outpost of some 20,000 people, and also edits the Rural Library Services Newsletter. Hill told attendees she felt a bit marginalized when she saw an 'ALA-sponsored float' in the gay pride parade during the annual conference in San Francisco as well as when she learned of an ALA-sponsored round table for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender librarians—since there's no such round table for Christians or political conservatives. (There is a Fellowship of Christian Librarians and Information Specialists outside of the ALA structure, pointed out Mike Wessells of the Timberland Regional Library, WA.) Demographically, Hill noted, she's a fairly typical American (she shared statistics that said more than half of Americans say religion is 'very important' to them and 42% are 'born again' or evangelican Christians). But while she said she has learned she can't deny her faith, at the same time she tries to be respectful of others.

'I'm not saying I hand out tracts,' Hill declared, but described how she taught a troubled young woman how to search the Internet on how to find a 'love potion' for her boyfriend, then went back to her office and prayed for the girl. She was scared to go to a PLA session on the information needs of gays and lesbians, she said, but the information was 'incredible,' helpful to a wide range of people. 'Then I balanced those with books written by Christian authors.' 'Intellectual freedom is a hill that I will die on,' Hill said, noting that her library quickly developed a policy to respond to the USA PATRIOT Act and chose not to filter. "We couldn't get a filter that was working for us," she said, though librarians do practice the "tap on the shoulder" policy and will call police if they see something "deemed offensive." One audience member commented, "I'd be more comfortable if you referred to yourself as a 'librarian who's conservative and Christian' rather than a 'conservative Christian librarian.'" Hill conceded that "it's an excellent point." How does she feel about ALA lobbying for causes she opposes? "I don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water," she declared, saying, "I'm going to say my dues are paying for lobbying for funding…and all the great information on the ALA web site. The liberal causes—their dues are paying for it.""