National Library of Scotland U-turns over women’s rights book

Bosses at the National Library of Scotland have U-turned and announced they will include a book by women’s rights campaigners in an exhibition.

The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheest book had been nominated to be part of its Dear Library exhibition.

But in the wake of “polarising” debates over trans rights, the National Library said it had taken a “curatorial decision” not to include the book in the exhibition – although it did still have the text in its reading rooms.

However following an outcry over that move, the National Library of Scotland said it will now include it.

It comes after talks on Wednesday between national librarian Aminah Shah, chairman of the National Library of Scotland board Sir Drummond Bone, and the book’s editors Susan Dalgety and Lucy Hunter Blackburn.

The book is a collection of essays, with contributions from Harry Potter author JK Rowling, former SNP MP Joanna Cherry and others.

After the change was announced, Ms Dalgety and Ms Hunter Blackburn said: “On behalf of the women who contributed to the book, the people who nominated the book, and all our readers, we are delighted that The Women Who Wouldn’t Wheesht is now taking its rightful place in the Dear Library exhibition.”

They said Ms Shah and Sir Drummond had apologised for “not engaging with us in advance of their decision to exclude the book in the first place”.

They added: “We hope this is a turning point in public discourse in Scotland, particularly around sex and gender identity, but also other topics.

“We will not progress as a nation unless we are able to celebrate our pluralist society and discuss ideas and beliefs in a rational way.

“Public institutions have a responsibility to show leadership in strengthening national debates and helping find constructive ways through areas of disagreement.

“With the National Library now stepping up to its proper role there, we hope others will follow suit.”

Ms Shah said: “The library’s collections span centuries and we can use these to explore some of the most pressing issues of our time.

“We aspire to bring people together and encourage respectful and constructive conversation. We will always be inclusive, and we will always welcome everyone to the library.”