SRRT (Social Responsibilities Round Table)

SRRT Community,

The work that we do can be difficult and disagreeable, but it's always done with passion and purpose. To help ensure that SRRT can be a home for anyone interested in social justice, human and economics rights, and progressive priorities, SRRT Action Council has approved the SRRT Community Commitment (attached and copied below this email).

In addition, we have also approved moving the SRRT Connect Communities to self-moderated. SRRT members will be able to continue posting via Connect or email as they currently do, but will now be able to flag posts that go against the SRRT Community Commitment and/or the ALA Code of Conduct. Posts flagged for moderation must include a description of the violation and will be reviewed by the SRRT Coordinator(s) and Coordinator-Elect. Posts determined to be a harmful infraction by the Coordinator/Coordinator-Elect will be submitted to the SRRT Staff liaison to bring to the attention of the Code of Conduct Committee and appropriate ALA Staff. Please note that discourse is part of our work and disagreements will not be removed. Only posts with harassing or harmful actions will be considered for removal. 

- April and Charles

SRRT Statement of Values and Principles

The Social Responsibilities Round Tables (SRRT) works to make the American Library Association (ALA) more democratic and to establish progressive priorities, not only for the Association, but also for the entire profession. We believe that social responsibility is a core value of librarianship and that libraries and librarians must recognize and help solve social problems and inequities in order to carry out their mandate to work for the common good and bolster democracy. Priorities include the broad spectrum of human and economic rights.

SRRT Community Commitment

• We welcome everyone with interest in the values and principles of SRRT.
• We value everyone's input and want to hear as many perspectives as possible.
• Respond from your own individual experience/role.
• Be supportive of one another and our different perspectives, even if they may be different from your own. Remember that people who share the same values can disagree on courses of action or solutions.
• There is more than one way forward that aligns with SRRT's values and principles.
• If you tend to speak a lot, challenge yourself to listen more. If you tend to listen more, challenge yourself to speak up.
• Social justice work often leads to debate, anger, strong emotions and disagreements. Honest and open discussions will sometimes lead to discomfort. Lean into discomfort while being respectful and kind in our communication with each other. Keep focus on the issues at hand.
• Harassment and harmful words or actions are never acceptable. Depending on the frequency and extent of harassment or harmful actions, a participant may be asked to leave.
• Any member may ask for a pause or call out harmful actions. However, focus on the harm being caused versus attacking one another. Participants may also report harmful actions or words to the SRRT Coordinator or to a session moderator.
• If you are called on for harmful actions or words, take time to consider feedback, reflect, and work to do better going forward.

And for convenience, here's a link to the ALA Code of Conduct: