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Following is the text presented at the American Library Association's Midwinter Conference Saturday January 21, 8:30 am at the Dallas Convention Center Theater.
Good Morning ALA Midwinter 2012 Dallas! My name is Daniel Norton, I am a student of Library Science, and I am both proud and honored to introduce to you a group of professionals who have not only impacted me in very meaningful ways as a future professional, but who have an inspiring and interesting story to share with you today...
Mandy: On Sept. 17th of last year [2011] a group of committed activists, activists diverse in age, race, and social class, taking their inspiration from the Arab Spring, "occupied" a public space in New York City's financial district. They rejected the legitimacy of the existing authorities and engaged in direct action to build a new and better world. A world based on old principles. Principles embedded deep in the American psyche, but lately forgotten. Solidarity. Mutual aid. Equality. Autonomy. Democracy - real democracy based on consensual, non-hierarchical self-governance. The activists of Occupy Wall Street built a People's Kitchen so that no one need know hunger. They built a Comfort station so that no one need suffer the cold. Medical care, Arts and Culture, a Spirituality Space, even a phone charging station . . . .all of the necessities of life-including a library. Occupy Wall Street is about creating a new and better world ourselves. As a free people united for justice.
Occupiers have faced repeated police brutality - peaceful Occupiers have been arrested, maced, gassed, attacked with police scooters and sound canons. On November 15th, our occupation and our library were destroyed in a brutal, early morning raid. Our colleagues and comrades were arrested, our collection tossed into a dumpster, our tent cut apart with a chainsaw. But we are here, we are strong, and we are committed to the fight for justice. We are the Librarians of Occupy Wall Street and we are committed to using the tools of our profession - books, literacy, bibliographic control, reference, and readers advisory in that fight. As librarians we understand the vital role libraries play in society and in a healthy democracy and our library stands as our living commitment to fulfilling that role....