Trans Activism and the National Library of Scotland (NLS)
I have highlighted some excerpts in bold, but what's truly astonishing is the paucity of the 'case' put forward by the mysterious LGBTQI staff network who objected to the book's inclusion and whose intervention had the book thrown out.
Read the information and decide for yourself, but as far as I can see this amounted to a few unsubstantiated assertions about 'exclusion' and a threat to 'notify LGBT+ partners' - whatever that's supposed to mean.
How senior NLS managers took this nonsense seriously beats me, but you do have to laugh at an anonymous gang of trans activists calling the contributors to TWWWW 'exclusionary' and that their well-informed opinions would cause 'severe harm to staff'.
Here's a reminder of these 'dangerous' women - notable contributors to TWWWW
- J.K. Rowling: Author
- Joanna Cherry: Former SNP MP
- Ash Regan: MSP
- Johann Lamont: MSP
- Pam Gosal: MSP
- Rhona Hotchkiss: Former prison governor
- Susan Dalgety: Columnist and co-editor
- Lucy Hunter Blackburn: Co-editor and freelance researcher
- Kathleen Stock: Writer
- Jenny Lindsay: Poet
- Sarah Pedersen: Researcher
- Ann Henderson: Higher education leader
- Elaine Miller: Health campaigner
- Magi Gibson: Poet
FOI 2025-2026 2022 information from documents
From meeting notes for meeting on 14th May 2025 from document titled “Dear Library stakeholder worksheet” which contains discussion points and actions from stakeholder meetings:
“The Women Who Wouldn't Wheesht – inclusion has been discussed and assessed using EDI criteria and leadership discussion. It’s one of over 200 books, not being platformed or elevated above others. There are books and stories that show other perspectives on this issue. We have to put safeguarding measures in place – internal paper for any media & public enquiries about the BTSM selection. A briefing will be available for VS to signpost the Library’s EDI statement. JC already attending LGBTQ+ network next Friday and can discuss this decision with them.
Feedback welcomed.”
From a paper written for the Library Leadership Team Meeting that took place on Tuesday
27th May 2025 regarding the “inclusion or exclusion of the book ‘Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht’ within the upcoming Dear Library exhibition.”:
“Internal staff are aware that the book has been nominated for inclusion. The LGBT staff network raised concerns about this on 7th May.
Jackie Cromarty (Director of Engagement) and Alison Stevenson (Director of Collections, Access and Research) met on Wednesday 14th May to discuss the inclusion of the book along with some other sensitivity considerations for ‘The Book That Shaped Me’ display. We discussed the impact for and against including the book. We recognised the potential harm incurred by either decision, but we ultimately felt that the book should be included in accordance with our Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion commitments, our core organisational function and our statutory duties. We relayed this decision to the LGBT staff network who raised further concerns. A meeting was held on Thursday 15th May to discuss these concerns with
The network outlined the negative impact of including the book in the exhibition including severe harm to staff. They also stated that they would ‘have no choice’ but to notify LGBT+ partners of the Library’s endorsement of the book. It was agreed at this meeting that an EqIA would be completed to assess the impact of the inclusion/exclusion of the book and that it would be escalated to LLT for decision-making.”
Smith, Katie
Subject: Dear Library book choice
Start: Fri 18/07/2025 12:30
End: Fri 18/07/2025 12:30
Recurrence: (none)
Organizer:
Hi everyone,
Given the recent discussions, I'm scheduling this meeting to discuss concerns arising with the inclusion of 'WWWW' in the Dear Library exhibition, I'd value your input following today's conversations.
I thought it best to have an initial chat. We can then have further discussions if needed. please feel free to invite other members of the LGBTQ+ staff network.
Best wishes,
Smith, Katie
From:
Sent: 14 May 2025 17:13
To:
Cc: Cromarty, Jackie;
Subject: Re: LGBT Network advice on WWW book inclusion
Hi
Thanks for your reply below. I've popped a meeting in the calendar for tomorrow so we can discuss together as a group as I appreciate the urgency in addressing these concerns. I've also invited Alison, as key stakeholders. please feel free to invite other network members to the meeting.
Best wishes,
From:
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 17:07
To:
Cc: Cromarty, Jackie;
Subject: RE: LGBT Network advice on WWW book inclusion
Hi
Thanks again for getting back to me so quickly, I appreciate your considered responses to my email.
With all respect, I would disagree that the inclusion is not an endorsement of the book's views by the NLS. Presumably not every book submitted as part of this campaign has been selected for inclusion, and therefore, that process of curation and selection is an endorsement by the NLS in one form or another.
To address the view that inclusion is not an endorsement, will you be clearly including a statement about the fact that the Library doesn't endorse the views of the book/the other selected books? If this isn't done explicitly, then by its inclusion it will be understood that the Library, as a public and national institution, is endorsing this work. More so, endorsing it at a time when trans people are particularly vulnerable.
If I may be so frank, I would be interested to know what would have happened if a democratic selection had included a non-fiction work advocating for racist, homophobic, or other discriminatory and exclusionary viewpoints. It may well be that other works have been excluded already from this process due to inappropriate content. I would be interested to find about more about the decision-making process for this, and where the threshold is for inclusion/exclusion.
I would also like to raise the issue of how the Library will respond to the inevitable impact on staff, visitors, and the wider community as a result. As we all know, the Library has done much work in the past several years to build up relationships with marginalised communities with the aim to make them feel like they are welcome and belong here, and this decision will have a detrimental impact on those communities and those relationships.
Thank you for the offer to meet to discuss further, that is much appreciated.
Best wishes,
From:
Sent: 14 May 2025 16:00
To:
Cc: Cromarty, Jackie <J.Cromarty@nls.uk>;
Subject: Re: LGBT Network advice on WWW book inclusion
Hi
I absolutely understand your disappointment at the decision. I want to stress that the inclusion of the book is not an endorsement of the book's views by NLS. That's the whole point of the public selections - it's not the Library's choices, but rather it's a reflection of the people of Scotland's book choices. Our decision to include the book is a commitment to the ethos of a public call-out and a reflection of the democratic nature of library collections. It's of course a complex subject, so as I say, I'd be very happy to discuss further.
It would be good to meet ahead of the exhibition opening
(20th June).
Best wishes,
From:
Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 15:06
To:
Cc: Cromarty, Jackie;
Subject: RE: LGBT Network advice on WWW book inclusion
Hi
Thanks very much for your email. I think it would be useful for us to have a chat at some point, if possible, as the staff LGBT+ network is disappointed to hear that the publication has been chosen for inclusion.
Whilst the NLS collects broadly without censure, it is concerning that this book has been selected and endorsed by the NLS for inclusion in the exhibition. It is particularly difficult to reconcile this decision being taken with regards to the EDI statement, 'dedicated to being a place of inclusion', when the publication itself and the group behind it are explicitly exclusionary in nature.
I don't think we’ll be able to include this to discuss at the meeting next week, as it’s our AGM, but hopefully we can get something in the diary
Best wishes,
From:
Sent: 14 May 2025 12:53
To:
Cc: Cromarty, Jackie <J.Cromarty@nls.uk>;
Subject: Re: LGBT Network advice on WWW book inclusion
Hi
I'm emailing to let you know that we've reviewed the book selections and I can confirm that 'The Women Who Wouldn't Wheest' will feature in the exhibition. It will be displayed alongside 200 other publicly selected books, including books which represent trans and queer identities. The decision has been made in-line with the Library's EDI statement: We are dedicated to being a place of inclusion, welcoming people of all identities and beliefs.
If you'd like to like to have a chat to find out more about the decision-making process, I'd be happy to come along to a future network meeting. I know Jackie and Amina are attending next week's meeting, so Jackie (CCed) will also be able to give you an insight to our selection process then. for info, is writing-up a short document which outlines our selection criteria. This can be referred to if there are any media or public enquiries and will share this with and the wider comms team.
Best wishes,
From:
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2025 13:52
To:
Cc:
Subject: Re: LGBT Network advice on WWW book inclusion
Hi
Thanks for highlighting this. The book has been nominated by several members of the public for inclusion in the exhibition, however we've not yet made the final selection. This, along with other nominations, will be discussed at an upcoming meeting with Jackie and Alison, with the EqIA and Sensitivity Framework as a guide for our decision-making as per our usual exhibition-making process. I'll update you once I've got further information to share.
Best wishes
From:
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2025 13:44
To:
Cc:
Subject: LGBT Network advice on WWW book inclusion
4
Hello!
Just writing as at the LGBT+ Network meeting this afternoon, the potential inclusion of the book ‘The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht’ in the Dear Library exhibition was raised, and the Network felt they wanted to have a chat about that choice. This email is to connect folks for initial questions, and maybe to set up a time to chat if that would be helpful? are you able to provide an initial run-down about the decision-making process?
Cheers,
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