A Dutch libraries follow-up to formal apologies for historical slavery and enslavement

Abstract

Starting point is the idea of a Legacy Project, in which the temporary event of the conference leaves a lasting legacy in its host city of Rotterdam.

On December 19th 2022, the Dutch government offered formal apologies for the Dutch role in the history of slavery and enslavement, defining it as a crime against humanity. This was meant to be the beginning of a reconciliatory process in Dutch society.

The document proposes the development of an educational project for schools, produced by a coalition of scientific and public libraries and archives in co-creation with organizations of descendants. The paper states clearly why libraries are the right institutions to perform this task. In short, the reasons are to be found in legal and policy foundations, in libraries being accustomed to management and transfer of knowledge to the general public and in the strong bonds between libraries and (primary and secondary) education.

The initiative is being built on a few good practices, executed by the Rotterdam Public Library and by the Brooklyn Public Library. Both examples take original historical documents as examples and highlight their incredible content as a starter of conversation. Goal of the educational program is to informs about slavery and enslavement history, its lasting effects in today’s society and the why of apologies. For many citizens and pupils the discussion is merely an (amazing and sometimes annoying) feature in the news and the program aims to make large groups in society understand why this is and to counter contemporary abuses resulting from this piece of history. Follow-up will be that the creation of the educational program will start after the WLIC 2023 conference.

Keywords: Educational project on historic enslavement.