The Scottish Poetry Library seeks to build and foster a collegiate literature sector. There has been an escalation, particularly on social media, of disharmony, which is creating fractures that aren’t sustainable or healthy in a small country like Scotland. The Board and senior management of the Library are concerned about poets’ wellbeing, income and working relationships if this atmosphere persists.
We support freedom of expression. We are a values-led organisation that embraces inclusivity, collaboration and a respect for pluralism – of languages, cultures and faiths.
What we do not support, and will no longer ignore, is bullying and calls for no-platforming of writers in events programmes and in publishing. This does not mean that we are taking sides in any particular debate but we will not be passive if we are made aware of behaviours within our community that do not align with our values.
To this effect, we would like to remind all individuals and groups that engagement with our services and projects is contingent on the expected standards of behaviour set out in our Code of Conduct.