Vancouver Public Library defends policy that prevents staff from wearing Palestinian symbols

The head of the Vancouver Public Library is defending a policy that dictates what symbols its roughly 800 staff can wear while at work, amid concerns from employees that the rules unfairly single out symbols that show support for Palestinians.

VPL's interim chief librarian and CEO Dawn Ibey said Monday in an interview with CBC News that the VPL's policy applies to all political symbols. 

"We're not singling out any particular symbol, but the goal of the policy is to ensure that all employees have a safe and respectful workplace that's free from bullying, harassment and discrimination," she said.

The concerns stem from a meeting that took place last summer during which employees were asking then-VPL CEO and chief librarian Christina de Castell for clarification about which symbols are acceptable.

One employee said they heard that staff were asked not to wear watermelon pins, which have become a global symbol used to show solidarity with Palestinians, and asked if the policy prohibits all national symbols. 

In response, de Castell said pins that have political symbols and represent personal beliefs "are not appropriate to wear in the workplace" but said poppies and peace signs are permitted as "it's quite rare to hear someone saying they're political or polarizing."

A transcript of the meeting has been made public in a 196-page document package released by the city through an access to information request. The package also shows that roughly two weeks before the meeting, a member of the public complained to the VPL that staff were wearing watermelons, which one library branch head called "distressing." 

Ibey explained that staff are not allowed to wear any political symbols unless the board has taken a position on it and that it relates to library services. It's why staff are allowed to wear orange shirts, and Every Child Matters buttons in support of residential school survivors, Ibey said. 

The board also advocates for LGBTQ+ rights. It has declined requests to advocate for other topics, including the federal government's $10-a-day child-care plan.

VPL's advocacy and endorsement policy was last updated in 2022, but since then, there has been an "increase in very polarizing issues and public positions," de Castell wrote to staff this past summer.

"Displaying personal political opinions at work through symbols is not appropriate when the result is that parts of our community feel unwelcome in our spaces, and we have received public feedback that this is the consequence of wearing watermelon pins at VPL," she said.

"This choice and related behaviours are hurting the public and your colleagues and are creating a negative working environment."

VPL's policies state that religious symbols are allowed, which include the Star of David, Ibey said.

During the summer meeting, employees pointed out discrepancies in the library's policy. For example, one library branch hosted an exhibit in 2022 which featured images of Ukraine defending itself against Russia. The library also permits displays of the Canadian flag and for staff to wear flags of other countries if they're from there to let the public know that they speak the language of that country.