An award from the Manitoba Library Association is welcome affirmation for Cathy Ching and the South Central Regional Library.
As SCRL’s director of library services, Ching also hopes receiving the inaugural Human Rights Book Award could serve as encouragement for other libraries facing similar censorship challenges to what has happened here in recent years. Ching and her team were praised for remaining passionately steadfast and remarkably positive throughout.
“It feels good because now we feel like we don’t have to apologize … this just kind of gives us a firm foundation to stand on and that we did right,” said Ching in reference to calls made by some in the community for library materials they deemed unacceptable to be removed.
“The fact that these associations are stepping up and supporting us is welcome,” she added. “It has fallen off the radar, but it’s not totally gone, so we want to stay vigilant and make sure we keep our standards and our promises to people that there will always be something for everybody.”
The Manitoba Library Association noted how libraries are helping uphold the fundamental values of intellectual freedom, inclusion, and diversity despite recent calls for censorship and the harassment of library workers.
The association, alongside the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers, said it presented the first Human Rights Book Award to Ching and the SCRL in recognition of their “strong resolve in upholding human rights, inclusivity and equity in library access for their library or in the library community at a local, regional, provincial or national level.”
SCRL was cited for its determination “to uphold the fundamental right to freedom of expression and the unrestricted pursuit of knowledge for all individuals, regardless of background or belief.”
The nomination further noted Ching’s willingness to educate and inspire library peers through conferences and workshops, helping to foster a culture of continuous improvement within her professional community.
“Cathy is an amazing example of the type of people we need in our communities and libraries now more than ever,” said KC Bateman, vice-president of the Manitoba Library Association. “Her work and perseverance in the face of adversity is not only inspiring, it’s a loud and bold statement that libraries will always be a safe space and will help echo the voices that need to be heard.”
“Cathy Ching and the South Central Regional Library system demonstrate an unwavering commitment to keeping our libraries a welcoming, safe space for all,” added Chelsey Young, representing the Association of Manitoba Book Publishers.
The award came as a surprise to Ching.
“I hadn’t even realized that we were on anybody’s radar for the nomination,” she said. “They have supported us in our advocacy for keeping books on the shelf and just maintaining that quality of collection.
“It’s validation that we did what we needed to do,” she added. “There were times where it would have been easier to just say, okay fine and let it go … we were sometimes encouraged to do that by some members of the public.
“I think what we talk about often is that is was good that it was us as South Central,” Ching said. “We have lots of support, and we have a great board. If they had targeted a smaller library, it may have gone very differently.
“The glue that held it all together is what brought this award to us, so I think that’s huge.”
As part of the award, Ching and the South Central Regional Library are receiving 15 books from Manitoba publishers.
