Resisting Erasure

Intensified erasure of Palestinians–through genocide and censorship–increases the need for librarians to protect and provide access to resources that support critical thinking and aid in distinguishing constructive truth from racist or politically motivated fiction. But what happens when libraries become the focus of politicized attempts to control information about Palestinians? How can librarians fulfill their professional and ethical obligation to defend intellectual freedom in the face of threats to their reputations, their jobs, and even their physical safety?

The diverse pieces in this anthology explore research and experiences at the intersection of Palestine and libraries. Part one examines how Palestinian librarians, archivists, and individuals resist erasure by preserving Palestinian materials and narratives and by ensuring Palestinians’ access to library resources amidst recurring cycles of destruction and confiscation. Part two explores how librarians in the United States respond to pressure from right-wing and pro-Israel advocacy groups that are quick to label any effort to include Palestinians and their histories as antisemitic.

About the editors

Nora Lester Murad is an educator, activist, and author of the award-winning young adult novel, Ida in the Middle, among other books about Palestine. Nora, who is Jewish, married a Palestinian Muslim and raised three daughters in the West Bank. She shares K-12 teaching and school advocacy resources and research for librarians at www.IdaInTheMiddle.com and can be reached through her blog at www.NoraLesterMurad.com.

Mary L. Onorato has enjoyed a career in library reference publishing that encompassed several years of editorial work and ultimately product development and management. She also lived in Lebanon and Syria, where she worked as an editor and French-to-English translator.