Azerbaijani community in Canada calls out public libraries for cultural exclusion

The Azerbaijani Canadian community is raising concerns over what it describes as systemic exclusion from public library collections across British Columbia and much of Canada.

In a formal petition led by the Canadian Azerbaijanis Society of BC, the community is calling for immediate action to address the absence of Azerbaijani-language books in public libraries—a gap they say perpetuates cultural invisibility and undermines Canada's multicultural values, Caliber.Az reports.

Despite being a growing and vibrant part of Canada’s cultural fabric, the Azerbaijani community claims its literature, stories, and language are nowhere to be found on library shelves in Vancouver or across BC. “This is not just about books. It’s about belonging, visibility, and respect,” said Tarana Novrouzova, President of the Canadian Azerbaijanis Society of BC, in a letter accompanying the petition.

Offers to donate Azerbaijani-language books have reportedly been declined without explanation. The petition highlights this refusal as part of a broader, systemic issue—one that, according to Novrouzova, leads to the cultural erasure of Azerbaijani Canadians.

The impact of the omission, advocates argue, is felt across generations. Children are growing up without access to stories in their mother tongue, while seniors face deepening isolation, unable to find reading material in the language they know best. The lack of representation also contributes to public misunderstanding and leaves room for misinformation about Azerbaijani culture, history, and identity to spread unchecked.

“When our voices are excluded from public spaces like libraries, ignorance takes root,” the petition states. “This leads to misjudgements, cultural distortion, and missed opportunities for dialogue.”

The Society has outlined several key demands:

• Immediate acquisition of Azerbaijani-language books in public libraries across Vancouver and BC

• A publicly communicated timeline for expanding multicultural collections

• Collaboration with Azerbaijani Canadian organisations to guide acquisitions

• A review of acquisition policies that may unintentionally exclude underrepresented groups

• Federal-level support from Library and Archives Canada to promote the Azerbaijani Canadian heritage

The call to action emphasises that multiculturalism must be reflected in shared institutions like libraries, not just as a principle, but in practice. “Our community matters. Our language matters. Our stories matter,” the petition declares.

In a country that prides itself on diversity and inclusion, the Azerbaijani community’s appeal serves as a reminder that representation must be actively maintained, not assumed.

You can vote for the petition using the link.

By Aghakazim Guliyev