Children's Books discussion
Banned Books: discussions, lists
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Discussion of censorship, equity, and other concerns.
Some good news for the Patmos Library in Jamestown, MI. After a millage vote failed and a closing date set, random strangers donated $100,000 to the library despite never having been in it!https://www.bridgemi.com/michigan-gov...
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Manybooks wrote: "Maybe for Anne of Avonlea, the deliberately misspelled student essays make the PTP fear that students might imitate this?"Maybe. I'm not sure if kids learn spelling anymore. If the parents bothered to read anything other than social media, the student essays and some of Davy's antics were inspired by real life.
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Maybe. I'm not sure if kids learn spelling anymore. If ..."
Yeah, no kidding, but honestly any censorship of the Anne of Green Gables series is really ignorant at best. And frankly, Anne of Avonlea has less problematic issues than Anne's House of Dreams and Rilla of Ingleside.
In Lancaster County, PA (Amish country), a borough councilmember called for a budget review of the local library to ensure its programs aligned with "conservative values."The library provides important community services to all of Lancaster County, including a social program providing aid to disenfranchised community members, and an independently funded women's health class that uses one of the library's public meeting rooms.
According to the minutes of the meeting, one of the borough's councilmembers, council member Paul Swangren, Jr., expressed discomfort with the idea of a women's health class because it was related to "sexual matters," while another stated her own personal dislike for these programs as a reason to defund the library.
“His responsibility is to be fiscally responsible to the taxpayers and he requested a line-item review of the finances that would align with conservative values,” minutes state. “He was not comfortable with monies going towards Women Health class because it was related to sexual matters.”
The people of Akron were outraged by their council's decision. Numerous citizens gathered in support of continuing to fund the library, with one woman calling the cut "disgraceful."
Even one of Akron's own councilmembers called into question whether this was an "ideological" issue or a "fiscal" one
Cutting funding would end 30 years of support from the community of about 4,200 people. Last year, Akron provided $20,000 to the library, about $5 per resident.
Despite strong pushback from locals, the borough council voted to withdraw funding for their county library, putting an end to more than thirty years of strong support from the community.
EveryLibrary
http://www.everylibrary.org/
Many spoke out in favor of the library:
Michael Eichenlaub, President of the Ephrata Public Library asked the Council members what it is that they have concerns about and what specific questions they would like addressed. He discussed the laws regarding library donations and in his opinion, “This is over stepping of power”.
Ed Miller, 1013 Main St. Akron commented that he researched the state library code, section 9302, which says that the library must serve ALL residents of the community by law. He also stated that the Ephrata Public Library, in his experience, does an exemplary job and gave examples such as the delivery of books to Ephrata Manor and services to preschoolers. He asked that funding be restored to previous levels.
Mike Morris invited Council members to come see what is available at the Ephrata Public Library and gave examples such as free computer access, WIFI hotspots in the community for
those in the community that cannot afford those services.
Linda Bair, chair of the funding and finance committee for the Ephrata Public Library the last two years. She shared that she is a conservative Christian and is amazed at the services the library provides for the community it serves. She is proud of the staff at the library and how hard they work to provide programs for the community especially the special events. She also stated that the library is for all members of the community not just a certain group.
The argument against the library claims to be financial...
Paul Swangren, Jr thanked the visitors for coming and sharing their views. He states that he understands the cost of the library and the purpose. He understands the need for donations
and that there is transparency. His responsibility is to be fiscally responsible to the taxpayers and he requested a line-item review of the finances that would align with conservative values. He was not comfortable with monies going towards Women Health class because it was related to sexual matters. He was concerned that some monies were going toward the Northern Hub because it is more social services. He also stated that he visited the library and looked at the talk tank and stated that it does not work. He also
stated that it cost $6,000.00. He also wanted to know what non-payroll expenditures the library has and if the public can view them. He also requested a detailed list of everything the library spends the Akron donations on. What type of collections, books etc.
Bonnie Young agreed with Paul and mentioned she doesn’t want to raise taxes; doesn’t like some of the programs; spending should be within budget and not overspending on items that are not mission minded. Concerns about inflation for Akron residents and budget.
Rebuttals: Michael Morris shared that there is a 140-page document that outlines how money can be spent at the Ephrata Public Library and every expense is outlined.
Penny Talbert stated that rental rooms are available at the library and must be rented to the groups no matter opinion of library staff with regards to Paul Swangren, Jr concern about the
Women’s Health meeting. She also clarified that the Talk Tank did cost $6000.00, however this was paid for from the estate of a woman in the community. No library monies go to the Talk
Tank.
Other facts and arguments can be found in the document
https://www.akron-pa.com/wp-content/u...
The lack of understanding and empathy regarding women's health makes me sick. This isn't the first time I've heard that argument against an organization that does good community service.
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The library provides imp..."
I bet the council "men" who are uncomfortable about women's health probably do not let their own wives and daughters visit the doctor and consider gynaecology evil.
But honestly, any woman against this needs to be examined for basic brain function.
The women's health group in Akron, PA is an outside group that meets in the library space and doesn't even use library funding. It's pointless for Paul Swangren, Jr. to argue that wanting to defund the library over that one group isn't political. Libraries are community spaces now. It costs money to keep the lights on and materials available for patrons so why not rent meeting rooms out to community partners? All the libraries I know of do that. Sad news from Columbus, OH. A Holi-Drag Storytime for children was cancelled because right-wing extremists gathered, some with arms, near the event venue, a church!
from NBCnews.com
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/...
"Saturday morning, speaking on the event's stage, framed by holiday decor that included a Christmas tree in the rainbow colors of the pride flag, Red Oak Community School manager Cheryl Ryan made an emotional video address explaining why "Holi-Drag Storytime" was canceled.
She said that while police acknowledged the event, collaboration was lacking, and some of the participants felt unsafe, despite the planned presence of more than 100 security volunteers who planned to create a human perimeter around the venue.
Ryan blamed local leadersincluding law enforcement, for letting members of the Proud Boys and other right-wing demonstrators gather while the audience for "Holi-Drag Storytime" ultimately could not.
"I received hundreds of emails, calls and messages from folks in the community asking, How can I help? What can I do? I’m ready to show up," Ryan said. "I never heard this message form the city’s leadership and those whose job it is to protect us."
She said the event sold nearly 1,000 individual tickets, the vast majority going to supporters who had no intention of attending."
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That's extremely disgusting especially for this time of year. If you want to protect children then why show up armed intending violence? Isn't that the antithesis of what they want? Shame on Columbus law enforcement for not doing more to help the event move forward.
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Honestly, if right wing armed extremists are gathering with guns, the police should come out in full force and arrest them ALL.
QNPoohBear wroteIf you want to protect children then why show up armed intending violence? Isn't that the antithesis of what they want? Shame on Columbus law enforcement for not doing more to help the event move forward.
this was heartbreaking to read, but I want everyone to know I'm glad I found this thread and now know about this stuff. I'd no idea it was this bad!
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If you want to protect children then why show up armed intending violence? Isn't that the antithesis of what they want? Shame on Columbus law enforcement for not doing more to hel..."
Depressing and frustrating!
Jackie wrote: "this was heartbreaking to read, but I want everyone to know I'm glad I found this thread and now know about this stuff. I'd no idea it was this bad!
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I'm glad you were educated. The news is pretty heartbreaking right now. I get my news on my Google news feed under literature. Some days I can't even look.
Today a new t-shirt arrived in the mail- "I Read Banned Books" with a graphic of a stack of books chained together. It was a fundraiser for the local community libraries. The branch nearest me has made sure everyone knows all are welcome.
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this was heartbreaking to read, but I want everyone to know I'm glad I found this thread and now know about this stuff. I'd no idea it was this bad!
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I'm glad you were educated. ..."
I wonder if in some of the more restrictive and book banning keen states and areas, wearing these t-shirts will get one fired or will get students wearing them expelled from school, sigh.
"Read banned books" shirts are available in the book banning areas in some bookstores. No students have been expelled for joining banned book clubs so far. The laws don't punish students, the laws restrict adults from giving obscene content to minors. It's teachers and librarians who are being punished. Some districts have blanket bans and others have opt-in/out forms parents can sign and when the kid tries to check out a book their parents don't want them to read, it flags the system and won't let them check the book out. Here's another example of a teacher sharing banned books with students. I appreciate their effort to create an inclusive environment for queer students who may need the resources but some of them do sound like they shouldn't be in the classroom for everyone to look at but rather in the library.
California teacher with 'queer library' slammed by parents for giving explicit content to kids.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...
Another day another story about the erosion of democracy. I'm pretty sure freedom to read is a fundamental American right. AND public libraries are for EVERYONE! Only YOU have the right to determine what YOU and YOUR children read. Not everyone else. When I went to library school, they were still talking about The Anarchist Cookbook which sounds to be like a bigger problem than a few LGBTQ+ themed books.____________________________________________________
"League City mulls removing books with 'obscenity', as school book bans spill into public libraries.
The League City council is set to consider a resolution calling for new rules surrounding what’s allowed in the city’s library — a controversial item that has led to a last-minute wording change and a heated culture war debate on social media.
Councilmembers Justin Hicks and Andy Mann added a proposed resolution to the agenda late last week that would prohibit the city from spending tax dollars on materials targeted to children younger than 18 that “contain obscenity,” specifically related to a list of five topics that include gender ideology, “idealogue human sexuality,” pedophilia, rape and bondage. It quickly made rounds on Facebook ahead of Tuesday’s council meeting.
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“Only two book challenges have been made in the last few years and the current review process handled them accordingly," League City resident Shawn Byars said. "Why the need for a process change?”
After the initial agenda went out and before Tuesday’s meeting, Hicks and Mayor Nick Long told the Chronicle they planned to introduce a revised resolution that would only create a system for challenging books’ presence in the children’s section, Long said.
The original version of the resolution on the official council agenda as of midday Monday was not the final version, Hicks said. That version, which circulated on Facebook, proposed an auditor to review the books and send the report of “noncompliant materials” to city council, which could then vote for the city manager to restrict minors’ access to the books or “to remove the materials from circulation altogether.”
Hicks provided what he called an updated version of the resolution to the Chronicle that laid out a different process. People could bring challenges over books to a community standards review committee that would be created by the city council. The committee could then decide whether to restrict minors from accessing the book or remove it all together. A challenger would have the option to appeal the board’s decision.
Long said he will propose creating a 15-person committee, including seven members of the existing library board and eight members representing different sections of the community, including parents and educators, to review complaints. The council would then hear appeals of that committee’s decisions.
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Hicks said he co-authored the resolution after he got complaints from parents about books available in the library. He insisted that the resolution is not a book ban, although if passed it could end up taking books from library shelves.
“Individuals who are trying to restrict access to books are saying that it’s not book banning,” Foote said. “But book censorship includes a number of things. It includes restricting books, removing books, relocating books, requiring parental permission for certain books.”
When asked what constitutes obscene material, Hicks offered some examples but said that it would largely be up to a committee to decide.
“'Idealogue human sexuality' is telling a child that boys can get pregnant, too,” he said. “There are books that say, ‘Just because you have a penis in your pants, it doesn’t mean you’re a boy.’”
Byars said he thought Hicks’ proposal was mostly just to score cheap political points, and that it would cost the city lots of money to deal with.
“He claims to be a champion for parental rights, yet he seeks to curtail a parent’s right to choose what material is appropriate for their child,” Byars said. “He does not get to dictate that and he certainly does not get to limit our First Amendment rights.”
Surman added that the proposal was vague enough that any number of classroom classics — from To Kill a Mockingbird to the works of William Shakespeare — might fall under what’s reviewable by the city council."
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neig...
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There's hope. A judge in F..."
I honestly think that DeSantis is not only brainless and unhinged, but considering what he wanted for colleges and universities, in my opinion, ANY university or college degrees he has received (and that includes honorary ones) should really be stripped and taken away from him.
I mean, that "law" about woke racism would make any university courses on the Holocaust and on Holocaust literature illegal or at least so watered down as to be a joke, as well as basically destroy university level history and political science departments.
And yes, my own dissertation would likely now be censored and disallowed since I combine Marx and Nietzsche in a pretty positive manner regarding my (very much left of centre) German Expressionist author.
And could you imagine graduate level courses on Thomas Mann that did not allow discussing the homoeroticism so prevalent in his work or not being able to cover Günter Grass's The Tin Drum because of sexual content and a left of centre critical attitude?
In Central Oregon, the"Crook County Library is facing a deluge of demands to label children’s books that reflect the LGBTQ community and remove them from the children’s section, an effort that is raising concerns among regional library officials and advocates of intellectual freedom.Should the library’s board of trustees bend to the mounting pressure in its upcoming meeting Thursday, it could be at risk of losing thousands of dollars in contracts, resources, grant funding and its official designation as a public library in Oregon, according to state and local officials.
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“I’m not against the parents from checking them out and reading them to their children in their home if they so want to, but don’t expose other children to values that are against their family,” said one woman in the last meeting, who also described the books as containing “borderline child pornography.”
[The outgoing library director] April Witteveen said her front desk staff has been called “pretty awful things” by community members in recent months. Some have falsely accused staffers of curating sections of the library with children’s books that include sexually explicit material and pornography, she said.
Witteveen said she, too, has been targeted on social media and that people have spread misinformation, calling her professional reputation into question. The pressure has brought feelings of “general overall frustration, sadness and anger that this is even happening right now,” Witteveen said.
“It’s just kind of surreal,” she said.
The Crook County Court, which appoints members of the library board, hired an attorney to explain what the library could do under the Constitution. The attorney said the board could not remove, label or restrict access to books but could place them in a special area, county Judge Seth Crawford said Monday.
But labeling LGBTQ books and moving them to a special section could place Crook County’s resource sharing agreement with the Deschutes Public Library System at risk, according to Todd Dunkelberg, director of the Deschutes library system. He described the proposed changes as “basically stigmatizing a collection.”
“The steps they’re taking definitely fly in the face of intellectual freedom standards that libraries uphold,” Dunkelberg said. “A public library is for all people, and to exclude certain people is definitely a large concern for us.”
through the agreement, Crook County gets access to Deschutes library’s e-book and audio collection and borrowing rights to other books. The software also contains the Crook County Library’s patron and materials records.
If the agreement was severed, the Crook County Library could lose access to Deschutes library’s materials and a system to manage them, which could cost $100,000 to replace and $50,000 annually to maintain, according to emails obtained by The Bulletin.
Buzzy Nielsen, program manager for the State Library of Oregon, said the proposed changes could also prompt the state to investigate whether Crook County was in violation of Oregon laws that require libraries to meet and uphold standards of intellectual freedom, a right enshrined under the First Amendment. This could result in the library losing its official designation as a public library in Oregon, Nielsen confirmed, which means the county would not be able to apply for federal grants."
https://www.oregonlive.com/education/...
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This is completely bonkers and uncalled for.
I checked the library system catalog and out of who knows who many books only 187 are cataloged as LGBTQ people--juvenile fiction. 85 are cataloged as children's books.
Very very few of these books are YA and only one or two are on the frequently banned and challenged lists. The Crook County libraries have 22 juvenile and 9 YA out of 66 titles!
Out of 116 queer teen titles they have 59 (some overlap with the previous list)
some of the books are only available as e-books
some were checked out months ago and never returned, which is suspicious to me. Some are checked out right now.
Many are award winners
I personally have read Grandad's Camper and the LGBTQ content is incidential to the story of a girl bonding with her granddad and learning about his life. There's literally nothing obscene in the entire book unless you count hippies. I have also read Uncle Bobby's Wedding and again LGBTQ content is incidental to the story. I read Ritu Weds Chandni and while it is about a same-sex wedding in India and features some prejudice, it's about a little girl who loves her aunties and wants them to be happy on their wedding day. Maiden & Princess is far nicer than Cinderella and WAY less obscene than Sleeping Beauty. Ditto Prince & Knight. And Tango Makes Three is a)based on a true story and b)about penguins. Nothing obscene in that story either.
Niece #1 recommends Princess Princess Ever After. It's one of her favorites.
I'm eager to read The Civil War of Amos Abernathy.
Utah parents don't opt-in to restricting their children's school library choices and in the Granite school district, ALL of the challenges come from ONE couple!"The couple said they cross-referenced books found in every Granite school library with a Facebook page called Laverna’s Library. The administrators of the page have a list of books they find objectionable. The page has been widely circulated by members of UPU.
2News asked the couple why they should have such sway over which books are pulled from Utah school libraries.
“We would actually encourage parents to put in their input whether it's agreement with us or disagreement with us,” said Nick Foster.
Outside of Granite, only 35 parents have filed complaints against books, most of them in Davis County where UPU is headquartered."
https://kutv.com/news/crisis-in-the-c...
No, Kirk Cameron, the libraries can't just buy your books because you're a has been celebrity. The book has to be available through certain vendors they use to buy books. I do think, though, that he should be allowed to have his story time as long as he is not prostyltizing or spewing hate speech againt LGBTQ+ people. If he's just reading a Bible story or Sunday School lesson story, then I think that should be allowed but knowing him and his extremist viewpoints, a Kirk Cameron story time should not be allowed. https://www.newsweek.com/kirk-cameron...
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Maybe allow it but if he offers one word of homophobia or hatred, have security there to cuff Cameron and escort him out in a walk of shame.
More stories of the Kirk Cameron situation show that his previously expressed views have made him unwelcome in spaces welcoming to all community members. The library I walk to was quoted in "The Advocate." The biggest wank today is about a book published by American Girl publishing. A Smart Girl's Guide: Body Image: How to Love Yourself, Life Life to the Fullest, and Celebrate All Kinds of Bodies
They have been publishing books on puberty, health and self-help books for decades and sometimes The Care & Keeping of You: The Body Book for Girls ends up on best of lists and other times, banned lists. They spun it off into two books -one for younger girls and one for older, then they added boy books.
As usual, the right-wing social media has posted pictures of a page and with the context removed, the book banners are in hysterics and threatening to cancel their AG DOLL shopping accounts. (The books are separate from the toy division).
The book states "Remember, your body is not a problem or a burden. Your body is worthy, valid, and good. All bodies are." It affirms all kids of all sizes, shapes, colors and questioning their sexuality are loved and welcome . The book suggests LGBTQIA kids seek out a trusted adult who can connect them with a doctor that can help the child and their family decide on the best course of action for them and their body.
The book also features a quote from trans activist Jazz Jennings I Am Jazz reads, "Being transgender isn't a medical transition. It's a process of learning to love yourself for who you are."
The book gives the advice "You can appreciate your body for everything it allows you to experience and still want to change certain things about it." Apparently this has translated into social media hysteria because it came from a page on gender but in actuality, refers to ANY body.
The book also provides a list of resources for children who don't feel they have a trusted adult to help. Some reviewers view as "grooming" kids to sneak around behind their parents' backs.
The book has received many 1 star reviews on Amazon from parents who haven't even read it. Some of my personal acquaintances are flipping out - on both sides of the issue and some are upset because the book reinforces gender stereotypes. Cue book banning hysteria!
The book was first published back in February but it's only hit the fan now. I must request it from the library and see what the nieces think about it.
https://parade.com/news/american-girl...
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Well, many extreme religious puritans also tend to believe that if women are sexually assaulted it is their fault.
Manybooks wrote: "(I mean, he supposedly told his sister Candace that she was bound for Hell simply because she dared to disagree with his way of interpreting the Bible).And now she's under fire for leaving Hallmark Channel for another channel to focus on "traditional marriages". Neither of them would be welcome at my local library apparently. Pity because I liked them both when they were child stars.
As usual, the right-wing media has blown the story out of proportion thanks to the publisher. The local library says "Brave Books mentioned no particular author or book in their call.
We receive many unsolicited requests from individuals groups to co-host events, which we are always happy to consider. In the vast majority of cases, they do not result in partnership. Typically, as with Brave Books, we suggest that the inquirer considers holding their own event in a bookable meeting room space.
Our libraries are free civic spaces, and our meeting rooms are available free of charge to the public. We provide space for many types of groups, including religious organizations. Prior to the COVID pandemic, we hosted around 700 privately booked events a year, and numbers are gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels. All applicants for meeting space must comply with our meeting room policy. Brave Books is free to request a meeting room space to hold an event at one of our libraries, should it wish to do so."
In spite of the aforementioned survey showing Utah parents could care less about banning books, Utah continues to ban books they consider obscene. Now 44 books have been banned in Washington County School District. They're all YA, New Adult or adult at least and not picture books banned for silly reasons.
https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/arc...
Good news today and some bad news as well.The Crook County, Oregon library board rejects proposal to segregate LGBTQ books! The crowd was primarily in favor of keeping the books.
https://www.opb.org/article/2022/12/0...
In Frederick County, MD, 35 books are under review by a committee that is comprised of 20 parents, five community members, 12 teachers, four administrators and four media specialists, 10 students and four curriculum specialists.
“The readers have to do their homework,” Cuppett explained. “They have to read the book with certain criteria in mind and they must read the book taking on the perspective of the complainant,” asking themselves to keep in mind the areas of concern.
Cuppett said some of the feedback on the issue on the FCPS Facebook page indicated concerns over the time and taxpayer money being spent on reviewing the books based on just three complaints. Cuppett said that the decisions that are made based on this review could result in what he called an “in principle decisions” — findings that could essentially establish a precedent for similar challenges to in the future.
The books are not assigned by teachers, but are in the library collections that students can select for reading on their own.
The meetings will not be open to the public and they will not be livestreamed, but the findings of the panel will be made public.
The list includes popular new adult books by Sarah J. Maas; the usual YA suspects like Forever . . ., Jack of Hearts, All Boys Aren't Blue
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1p...
https://wtop.com/frederick-county/202...
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From the Edmonton Public Library, and showing that even in Canada (although not as often as in the USA), there have been challenges and book bans (this list being 65 picture books, some from the USA, some from Canada, and also some from further afield). The reasons cited as to why the books were challenged and banned are often totally ridiculous.
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Kind of cool that Anne of Green Gables was seen as a symbol for individuality and resistance in Poland, even if that did make the Soviet "overlords" ban the novel (and indeed, there supposedly were many unauthorised translations freely circulating even as the novel was officially banned).
Not sure how factually correct this is, but https://dailybastardette.com/ban-anne...
makes me want to scream if there is even one thread of truth to this story. Honestly, the Anne of Green Gables series or the Anne of Green Gables movies and plays are supposedly mean and disrespectful to adoptees?
My sister and I got into a fierce debate over Gender Queer: A Memoir. She says it was in the children's section of their library. Then she said it was in the LGBTQ section. My sister is on the right-wing social media pages because she lives in a right-wing area and wants to know what they're saying. (I keep questioning how she and her kids have so much TIME to spend on social media.) I covered her daughter's ears so she couldn't hear the objectionable content my sister doesn't want her reading. My brother says if it's in the YA section and LGBTQ, his daughter has probably read it. My sweet sister-in-law was in on the debate but she lacks our Italian temper so she's better able to debate and rationalize. (My sister and I have NEVER gotten along and were always fighting). We didn't come to any conclusions. It was time for my dad's birthday cake and presents.
My brother says he loves In the Night Kitchen and the naked baby is no big deal and he couldn't fathom why the book would be banned because of it. He thinks Where's Waldo? should be banned, not because of the random hard to find picture of a topless woman at a beach but because of the racist charactiatures of Middle Eastern people.
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Gee whiz, if I got upset and wanted every book banned where people of German background were either made into buffoons or into Nazi monsters, there would be a lot of books on said pile (and frankly, that would be totally silly).
My sister objects to only Gender Queer: A Memoir because of the super graphic content. It's graphic in both senses of the word but it is a memoir and something that happened to someone. The book is intended to help teenagers who may be going through the same things. My sister called the library to complain about the book being in the children's section. She said some books were moved to the adult section and I said that still counts as banning. She disagreed with me. I don't understand how she can raise a family in an area populated by horrid people, including her husband whose political and social views make me want to vomit.
Looks like the library system has two versions plus the e-book Gender Queer: A Memoir: Deluxe Edition
neither is in the public library where my sister lives AND it's listed under YA, non-fiction and graphic so I don't know what she saw where and why she felt the need to complain about it. They don't have All Boys Aren't Blue or Lawn Boy.
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My entire family basically has political and economic views that make me want to vomit, and I guess I should say vice versa as well.
Scary news today in St. Tammany, La. A local activist and attorney David Cougle, a representative of the St. Tammany Library Accountability Project, longside powerful Republicans such as Attorney General Jeff Landry, state Sen. Sharon Hewitt and Slidell Mayor Greg Cromer have their sights set on library material they deem inappropriate.
“So whenever they want to acquire new books, it would get supervised by a citizens’ group,” Cougle said in a Dec. 5 interview on WGSO-AM’s “Ringside Politics.”
“The group would be appointed by the parish council, lay men and lay women of the community, that really understand the values of the community,” he said. The proposed citizen’s board would also have power to approve or reject library events and displays.
Some Accountability Project supporters have called for St. Tammany Parish Library Director Kelly LaRocca to be fired.
Local activists who oppose removing materials from libraries say community boards aren’t qualified to review books and decide whether or not they should be removed, and they might not consist of a diverse group of residents who represent the parish as a whole.
St. Tammany Library Alliance formed after the backlash over an LGBTQ Pride Display that caused an uproar in Mandeville in July. The group said most residents supported the displays, with only one person speaking in opposition at the St. Tammany Parish Library Board of Control meeting.
“Book acquisition, that’s the librarian’s job,” Mel Manuel, a spokesperson for the Alliance said. “A librarian has to have a master’s degree in library science. So I think, yeah, why wouldn’t I trust that? That’s exactly what they were trained to do. That’s like asking, do you trust your doctor to prescribe medicine?”
Both groups are organizing ahead of a Dec. 13 Library Board of Control meeting, when the public will have an opportunity to comment on the board’s business.
The first part of the group’s plan is circulating a petition for residents who oppose the creation of the accountability board and the banning of books.
Within a week of publishing the petition, the group has received more than 1,200 signatures.
Many signees expressed disdain for censorship and support for LGBTQ materials, a frequent target for conservative groups.
https://lailluminator.com/2022/12/08/...
My wonderful sister-in-law checked out Gender Queer: A Memoir from the library. She found it in the YA section and said it does have some adult themes, it's a YA book. It was not in the children's section where small children can get ahold of it. She didn't seem to think it was worth the fuss. In Fresno, CA, "Gender Nation", a nonprofit whose mission is“to empower and validate kids through access to inclusive stories that reflect the full spectrum of sexuality and gender identity,” has donated books to the elementary school library where they are placed in a special section. Parents are complaining because these parents prefer to reinforce gender stereotypes and heteronormative "values" instead of teaching their children to be happy with who they are and loving their children no matter what.
Article:
“We said we're going to email the superintendent Bob Nelson,” recounts parent Jonathan Guevara. So we all email him. nobody gets a response. Nobody texted me. Everybody asked me did you get a response? No response.
So FOX 26 News took their concerns and questions to Carlos Castillo, Instructional Superintendent over Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Learning for the Fresno Unified School District... and we asked him, why would the LGBTQ section of a school's library be decorated and set apart from all others?
“Well,” Castillo answered, October was LGBTQ+ month and history month. that is probably why he saw it in October.”
What about the age appropriateness of the books? Do they check for that?
“We have for the most part our teams do look at them,” responds Castillo. “We haven't looked at these two books in particular. For the most part, we do check for age appropriateness.”
What if the parents' complaints are not being heard about the content of these books and classes?
“Well we definitely want to make sure our parents can voice their concerns to administrators or to the central office,” Castillo explains. “We definitely want to make sure we're clear on that, but at the same time we also look at policy and practice and we look at ed. code as well to make sure that we are committing to what the state asks us to do as well.”
What the state asks is spelled out very clearly, says Castillo, in the Fair Education Act, signed into law in 2011 and put into effect January 1, 2012.
“It talks about gender identity, gender spectrum, the different gender orientations and it does give mandates,” Castillo points out, “to make sure that we are doing these things in the grade levels”
But the parents say they are not willing to let those mandates take away their right and responsibility to raise their kids in accordance with their faith, their beliefs, and their best judgment... not the state's or anyone else's.
“In my perspective children are the greatest blessings that we're ever given by god, right?”, shared Marti Cook. “It's our duty and responsibility to not only preserve their innocence but allow them to be what god created, and if later down the road when they're adults they choose to go transition into something else, that's their choice, but with regard to the schools, it is their job to teach them to read, to write, to know history. It is not their job, nor is it their place to secretly, without transparency indoctrinate our kids whether it be for LGBTQ or some other political agenda.”
Because, says Jonathan Guevara Senior, that is what it's all about, not hate or intolerance for all things LGBTQ. “All of us have family members that are involved with that and I have some too. We don't hate them. We love them. We love them.”
It’s about parents standing up for their right to be parents.
“Being a parent it is my duty to guard the heart of my children,” shares Anthony Sholar.
“Guarding the heart of my children is to understand and figure out what is being taught to my children.”
“The bottom line is this,” adds Guevara Senior, “we as parents, we want to have control of our kids, what's being taught to our kids.
Castillo says bibles were also available to students in the school libraries along with other books on faith.
https://kmph.com/news/local/fusd-answ...
ONE right-wing activist is fighting to ban over 3600 books from Florida schools. I'm not sure there will be any books left by the time he's done. I still say "Sure ban the books kids actually WANT to read and teach them reading is not fun or relevant to them." and "Let's ban all the books that make the queer kids and BIPOC kids feel welcome, accepted or loved and watch them suffer from mental health problems and not know how to address the issue."Article:
Bruce Friedman, a far-right activist who recently moved from New York to Clay County, Florida, has gotten dozens of books banned from school libraries — and is planning to remove thousands more.
During a November 28 meeting of the Florida Department of Education Library Media Working Group, Friedman said he had compiled 'a list of over 3,600 titles that I believe have concerning content,' including 'porn, critical race theory, social-emotional learning, [and] fluid gender.' He said this list proves that 'libraries have more than a little poison in them.' Friedman demanded that the school board 'clean up this mess.' If not, Friedman threatened to 'perform 3,600 challenges and overwhelm your awful, awful procedures and policies.'
Among the books he forced the school board to remove is The Girl from the Sea, an award-winning graphic novel in which "two girls hold hands and, at one point, share a kiss. There is no sex, no swearing, and no nudity." Friedman told Popular Information that he objected to the book's presence because girls are "not in school to learn how to be better lesbians."
Friedman's challenge has not actually yet been evaluated; however, under school board policy, the books must be removed until the District Curriculum Council makes a decision either way, a rule Friedman has exploited to get dozens of books tossed.
"Friedman has exploited this policy by flooding the district with challenges. Friedman told Popular Information that, since June 30, he has 'investigated between 5 and 10 thousand' books available in Clay County school libraries on 'a very cursory level,'" said the report.
Friedman, and a few others he recruited to assist him, filled out these forms identically. The reason for the request is to 'PROTECT CHILDREN,' the objectionable material is 'INAPPROPRIATE CONTENT,' and the impact of a student using the material is 'DAMAGED SOULS.' The answer to most other questions is 'N/A.'"
https://www.rawstory.com/banned-books...
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Why do we even call ANYONE either on the right or on the left who wants books censored, banned or burned an activist? That gives way too much credence and support to these "people" (and the quotes are mine). Do not call them activists, call them undemocratic, dictatorial extremists who in fact have no place at all in democratic nations like the USA etc. And yes, I also do most definitely include book ALL politicians supportive of book banning here (including the governors of Florida and Texas).
Yes, Sr. Tammany's Parish, this is censorship. What's so obscene about picture books, especially one about a real, living, young person? Silencing a person's voice is despicable and hateful. I ask them, would Jesus do that? Article:
Amid growing concerns from conservative and liberal parents alike, the St. Tammany Parish Library Board has decided to remove 83 challenged books from the stacks and place them behind the circulation desk, pending a four-month review of their content.
The board also upheld a decision by an internal library review committee not to remove two books that revolve around transgender youth:
I Am Jazz
My Rainbow
Diane Bruni had filed a formal complaint in September that the two books were “propaganda that pushes explicit sexual orientation on minors." On Tuesday, she said the books affirm gender confusion and what it means to be male or female.
Board member Bill Allin defended the decision to make the books available for browsing. “Be loved for who you are; that's the message," he said. "We have a responsibility to serve the whole parish, and you can’t impose your ideas on everyone else.”
In moving 83 other challenged books to restricted access, the board agreed to extend its review period for as long as four months. The books will remain searchable in the library system's online catalog but will be available for checkout only by request.
That was too restrictive for Ruth Terry Spiros. “The joy of the library is not necessarily going into the computer to see what's there; it’s about browsing," she said. "I think it's excessive to be moving stuff away.”
Jamie Segura agreed: “Mobooks to a location not openly accessible to all is censorship.”
The drive to rid the library of some books has been pushed by the St. Tammany Republican Parish Executive Committee, which in October urged conservative elected officials to speak out against children’s exposure to what they called pornographic material at public libraries.
https://www.nola.com/news/politics/st...
However, there is good news today because people who tried to ban books didn't actually READ said books. Even my 14 year-old niece suggested these people probably never read the books and maybe if they did, they might actually like them. In Kearney, MO the school board rejected the ban of two books. Unfortunately, may more books are under review.
https://journalstar.com/news/local/ed...
More good news, from Livingston Parish, La. The Livingston Parish Library Board of Control will maintain its current policies for challenging books despite a letter from the parish president asking them to move certain materials out of the children’s section.
The decision was made in a motion passed unanimously during its board meeting Tuesday night to “express appreciation to the parish president for sharing his perspective,” uphold its current policy for challenging books and prominently display said policy in each branch of the library and online.
“What we’re being told by the Parish Council and the parish president is that we need to have a system in place, and we’re trying to educate everyone that there is a policy in place,” library board member Ivy Graham said during Tuesday's discussion on the matter. “If you find something that you like or don’t like, there’s a form to fill out so it can be reviewed and discussed.”
https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rou...
My niece will be thrilled. For her birthday, I donated to the Little Queer Library in Lafayette Parish, started by a girl younger than my niece.
https://www.facebook.com/littlequeerl...
My niece really appreciated the donation. She's excited to have other kids have the chance to read some of her favorite books.
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Kirk Cameron Rebuffed by Libraries
The Growing Pains actor has a new children’s book entitled As You Grow, which centers around themes of faith and family. As a part of the promotion of the book, the publisher, Brave Books, has reached out to over 50 libraries, attempting to schedule a story hour. Thus far they have received only rejections.
While not all libraries gave a reason for rejecting the program, the Rochambeau Public Library in Providence, Rhode Island told Brave Books, "No, we will pass on having you run a program in our space. We are a very queer-friendly library. Our messaging does not align."
Cameron pointed out that many of these libraries host drag queen story hours and LGBT-focused programming, saying, "Publicly funded libraries are green-lighting ‘gender marker and name change clinics’ while denying a story time that would involve the reading of a book that teaches biblical wisdom. We have to start fighting back, or we will lose our kids and this country."
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Beverly wrote: "Yes, Christians are being discriminated against in public library programming:Kirk Cameron Rebuffed by Libraries
The Growing Pains actor has a new children’s book entitled As You Grow, which ce..."
If you read the follow up story,
https://www.communitylibrariespvd.org...
On December 7, one of our libraries, Rochambeau, was mentioned in a Fox News Digital article, which referenced Kirk Cameron and Brave Books. Brave Books mentioned no particular author or book in their call.
We receive many unsolicited requests from individuals groups to co-host events, which we are always happy to consider. In the vast majority of cases, they do not result in partnership.Typically, as with Brave Books, we suggest that the inquirer considers holding their own event in a bookable meeting room space.
Our libraries are free civic spaces, and our meeting rooms are available free of charge to the public. We provide space for many types of groups, including religious organizations. Prior to the COVID pandemic, we hosted around 700 privately booked events a year, and numbers are gradually returning to pre-pandemic levels. All applicants for meeting space must comply with our meeting room policy. Brave Books is free to request a meeting room space to hold an event at one of our libraries, should it wish to do so.
Rochambeau said the storytime didn't align with their community but the publisher was welcome to book a meeting room to hold a private meeting and see if anyone showed up. Community first is the approach at the Community Libraries of Providence. The neighborhood is largely Orthodox with some Spanish speaking people and a lot of LGBTQ families. Also, the Queer Umbrella is not a storytime, it's a book club and safe space for LGBTQ teens.
An ACN-accredited club and safe space where teens can learn, discuss, and connect over queer history, art, community resources, and more! Open to all members of the LGBTQ+ community who are 12+
I also wonder whether this book is available in mutiple languages? Many kids in my area are English language learners. Some of their parents from Spanish speaking countries and Christian African nations might be interested in reading the book to their children but don't know enough English to read well.
Kirk Cameron is trying to promote his own agenda and skewing the story in order to do so. People should check their facts before they get hysterical.
Slightly good news at Hollidaysburg Junior High in Blair County, Pa. A teacher who brought in Gender Queer will be returning to work in January. The school is not forthcoming whether any disciplinary action has been taken and a criminal investigation is pending.https://www.wtaj.com/news/local-news/...
Bad news of the day:
16,000 parents in Missouri have lost their everlasting minds and can't trust librarians to do the job they're trained for. What, exactly, was the point of earning a Masters' Degree and becoming a librarian if not to guide people in reading and learning?
Article:
JEFFERSON CITY — In what could be a record number for a proposed change in state rules, more than 16,000 comments have been submitted on a plan designed to block public funding for public libraries in Missouri if they offer books that might appeal to the sexual interests of minors.
A spokesman for Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who proposed the controversial rule in November, said the heavy volume of comments signals the level of passion people feel about libraries.
...
Ashcroft, a potential candidate for governor in 2024, floated the rule in November, kicking off a monthlong public comment period that ended Thursday.
The proposed rule would require Missouri’s 160 local public libraries to adopt policies on the age-appropriateness of literature. And under the rule, anyone could challenge access to books.
Libraries that violate the rules would risk losing state funding, which is doled out by the Secretary of State’s Office through the state librarian. Budget documents put that amount at more than $3.5 million in the coming fiscal year.
Library groups, civil rights groups and individuals have called the proposal a threat to free speech and an attempt to ban books.
The American Civil Liberties Union, the Missouri Library Association and the Missouri Association of School Librarians are among those filing comments seeking to stop the rule from going into effect.
Over the next seven to eight weeks, the Secretary of State’s office will sort through the comments and determine if the proposed rule needs to be tweaked based on any suggestions from the public.
Following that, it will go to a panel of lawmakers, which could endorse the rule or send it to the full General Assembly for ratification.
The make-up of the panel, known as the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules, is not currently set. Some of the existing members must be replaced because they are no longer serving in the Legislature.
The proposal has generated pushback from libraries and others who say it’s an attempt by a conservative politician who is seeking higher office to stoke a “culture war.”
“Not only does the rule undermine the professional judgment of librarians and other trained education professionals, it also serves to chill speech and the First Amendment rights of Missourians,” the ACLU said. “We must protect Missourians’ First Amendment rights to access ideas and information.”
https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/g...
Duval County, Florida school district issued a blanket ban on the Essential Voices Classroom Libraries Collection. The collection totals 176 books mostly by and about people of color with some LGBTQ, Jewish and Muslim books thrown in. A couple are even Christian books, like the Berenstein Bear so at least it IS a blanket ban and not cherry picking books that may be "divisive." A few maybe could be weeded from the collection as they are older and not Own Voices. I'm not a book titled Coolies is going to survive the leftist cancel culture bans either.
My local libraries have the majority of these books and I plan to read most of them when it's warmer and I can sit outside or when the children's library isn't crowded with people.
Kirk Cameron declares a "win" over two public libraries who previously reportedly denied him storytime and have now "caved." However, if you read the statements from the libraries, you will see they told his publisher the same exact thing Rochambeau Library told them - book a meeting room for a private event. https://news.yahoo.com/kirk-cameron-d...
I wouldn't allow his brand of hate speech anywhere near my community. I would allow the storytime only if a)he volunteered in the community and got to know the community members - yes all of them as they are and 2)direct him to reliable sources of information on how "CRT" is not taught at K-12 schools and all the harm White-European-centered history has done to kids of color (i.e. Indian children learning about the first Thanksgiving from the Pilgrims' perspective and being led to believe Indians went away and disappeared after that) and then 3)If he promised just to read the book and NOT spew hate speech that would harm members of my community. Kindness, joy, patience and compassion YES those are values everyone in the community shares, even LGBTQ+ people. Just leave it at that and quit with spreading intolerance and hate for others because that's not what I remember learning about Jesus.
Oh and Scarsdale, NY is not NYC! It's not part of the famed NY Public Library system.
There's a great interview with the president of the ALA online in Teen Vogue that discusses how librarians face harassment and outlining the book challenge process at her library.https://www.teenvogue.com/story/ameri...
This news is absolutely despicable. "Protesters swarm NYC library hosting Drag Story Hour for kids."
https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-n...
Protesting an event designed for kids is horrendous to begin with but harassing families and children with autism is waaaayyy below the belt. These kids deserve the chance to have some fun, be normal and see a princess read a book. New York City Council member Erik Bottcher shared images and videos online of the protesters, some of whom he tried speaking with before entering the children’s reading event. He said it best when he says he witnessed pure hatred and biogtry outside the library and inside the library he witnessed a loving and peaceful reading of children's books to kids.
This one says to subscribe but I was able to read it through the subscribe box.Popular Information: Meet the Florida English teacher trying to ban 150 books from school libraries.
https://popular.info/p/meet-the-flori...
This so-called teacher is a Daughter of the Confederacy and claims the enslaved people were happy and enjoyed serving White people. Not sure what century she's living in but I'm certain THAT myth went out the window in 1865 and again in the 1960s.
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https://www.teenv..."
Wow, and these lowlives probably claim that they believe in law and order, but I guess, if the laws etc. are something with which they do not agree, all bets are off.
Manybooks wrote: "Wow, and these lowlives probably claim that they believe in law and order, but I guess, if the laws etc. are something with which they do not agree, all bets are off."
It's unclear who the protestors were in this instance but yes, the Proud Boys and Neo Nazi groups show up to these things with their guns for some reason that makes sense to them. Not sure what they think is going to happen at a story hour at a library.
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Wow, and these lowlives probably claim that they believe in law and order, but I guess, if the laws etc. are something with which they do not agree, all bets are off."
It's unc..."
And while in Germany, Neo Nazi groups and even the Proud Boys would likely be arrested, in the USA, they are allowed??
Children's Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Out of the Blue (other topics)The Princess in Black and the Prince in Pink (other topics)
My Rainbow (other topics)
Butt or Face? Volume 3: Super Gross Butts (other topics)
The Day the Books Disappeared (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jodi Picoult (other topics)Sarah J. Maas (other topics)
Ellen Hopkins (other topics)
Jodi Picoult (other topics)
Scott Stuart (other topics)
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https://www.friscoisd.org/departments...
I am certain some of these books are under review solely because of author's reputation.
Shannon Hale has written about gutsy girls and her own childhood friend drama. She is also an outspoke critic of book banning.
Fever 1793 came under review. It's a modern classic. Laurie Halse Anderson also wrote Speak and has been vocal about consent, accountibility and not banning books.
The one that I KNOW is under review based on author reputation (and she was eager to get banned in Texas) is Victoria and the Rogue, a YA Regency (ish) romance novel written early in Meg's career
One book under review and moved to 6th grade + that makes me scratch my head is... Anne of Avonlea
I fail to see what is so bad that this book can't be in the elementary school. Ginger the parrot? Davy's antics? (some taken from real life) Snore-worthy Dora not being the favorite? The irreverance towards religion? (`Because He makes preserves, and redeems us.' Preserves is just a holy way of saying jam." , "Cause heaven is in Simon Fletcher's garret, and I don't like Simon Fletcher.")
Some books approved for 6th grade make me scratch my head wondering WHY they moved Anne of Avonlea to 6th grade yet also consider the Lord of the Rings triolgy Ok for 6th+? That makes no sense. Anne in elementary, Hobbit in middle and LOTR in high would be my recommendations to someone wishing to read those books.
Some books have been removed because they don't have enough reviews on the special right-wing social media review sites. I wish the parents would get off social media and start actually reading some of these books for themselves.