Posted on Feb 11, 2022
Wave of book bans strikes U.S. How local librarians and book lovers are responding
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Sara Strite says she would rather not stand in front of Kent School District headquarters in the rain at 7 a.m.
But she'll do it if it means keeping books in school libraries.
Strite is part of a group of parents, educators, and community members that have pushed district officials to examine a school official's decision to break protocol and remove two LGBTQ+ books from Cedar Heights Middle School's library.
In early December, the principal at Cedar Heights removed the young adult novels Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts) by L.C. Rosen and If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo, after a student brought the books to her attention.
After a challenge from Cedar Heights Librarian Gavin Downing, with support from activists like Strite, the books have been returned to the shelves. As of January 9, the district is no longer reviewing the books.
But she'll do it if it means keeping books in school libraries.
Strite is part of a group of parents, educators, and community members that have pushed district officials to examine a school official's decision to break protocol and remove two LGBTQ+ books from Cedar Heights Middle School's library.
In early December, the principal at Cedar Heights removed the young adult novels Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts) by L.C. Rosen and If I Was Your Girl by Meredith Russo, after a student brought the books to her attention.
After a challenge from Cedar Heights Librarian Gavin Downing, with support from activists like Strite, the books have been returned to the shelves. As of January 9, the district is no longer reviewing the books.
Wave of book bans strikes U.S. How local librarians and book lovers are responding
Posted from kuow.orgPosted in these groups: 
Reading
1st Amendment
Reading 1st Amendment
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Just plain unashamed hypocrisy to on the one hand clamor about "cancel culture" and then turn around and do the exact same thing with the banning of books. I believe China and N. Korea do a great job of banning literature they don't want to see, perhaps that is the system to which these book banners aspire.
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PO1 John Johnson
Does this mean we can put "Uncle Tom's Cabin & Tom Sawyer" back in the School library?
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PO2 Marco Monsalve
You bet, I don't condone book banning by the right or left, Didn't care for their "safe rooms" either.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
...""I fully embrace that there is a process to challenge books. I do believe though that library books are a personal choice that students make, " Strite said. "And that representation — especially LGBT representation — is important in school libraries."
"I'm not a librarian. I am not even a parent of a child at the school district. I'm just a citizen that wants to be sure that there are different voices in libraries. Our libraries are underfunded, our librarians are very stressed. I think the goal should be to have as many books as possible if they are deemed age appropriate by the professionals, by the ALA, by the people whose job it is to vet books."
Although the books are back on the shelves, Strite says this isn't a cased closed situation. The Cedar Heights student who reached out to the principal initially could still file a new challenge, and according to Strite, as of January 10, there is now a parent within the school district that is also challenging Jack of Hearts.
"The Kent case needs to show other school districts that policies need to be reviewed or updated because book challenges aren't stopping. They're not slowing down at all," Strite said."...
...""I fully embrace that there is a process to challenge books. I do believe though that library books are a personal choice that students make, " Strite said. "And that representation — especially LGBT representation — is important in school libraries."
"I'm not a librarian. I am not even a parent of a child at the school district. I'm just a citizen that wants to be sure that there are different voices in libraries. Our libraries are underfunded, our librarians are very stressed. I think the goal should be to have as many books as possible if they are deemed age appropriate by the professionals, by the ALA, by the people whose job it is to vet books."
Although the books are back on the shelves, Strite says this isn't a cased closed situation. The Cedar Heights student who reached out to the principal initially could still file a new challenge, and according to Strite, as of January 10, there is now a parent within the school district that is also challenging Jack of Hearts.
"The Kent case needs to show other school districts that policies need to be reviewed or updated because book challenges aren't stopping. They're not slowing down at all," Strite said."...
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I’ve been telling people about this going back 15 years …
“Halls of knowledge became hollow and forbidden “
When they stole the writing from the American public and further defunded the public library. It’ll register.
La Forest Gray
KEEPING PUBLIC LIBRARIES PUBLIC
A Checklist for Communities Considering Privatization of Public Libraries
SOURCE :
https://www.ala.org/tools/sites/ala.org.tools/files/content/outsourcing/REVISEDSEPT2011_ALAKeepingPublicLibraries%20PublicFINAL2.pdf
DECEMBER 21, 2021
‘A For-Profit Company Is Trying to Privatize as Many Public Libraries as They Can’
CounterSpin interview with Caleb Nichols on defending public libraries
SOURCE :
https://fair.org/home/a-for-profit-company-is-trying-to-privatize-as-many-public-libraries-as-they-can/
Why the Hell Would You Want to Privatize Libraries?
Donald Cohen and Allen Mikaelian on the Priceless, Non-Transactional Aspects of Libraries
By Donald Cohen and Allen Mikaelian
November 22, 2021
SOURCE :
https://lithub.com/why-the-hell-would-you-want-to-privatize-libraries/
“A public library is a government, usually municipal or county, run institution that provides services to all residents of that area. A private library is either a club type set-up with dues and restricted membership or a library supported by a specific organization.”
Privatisation of public libraries – Reasons against
Many
SOURCE :
https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/campaigning/privatized-libraries-outsourcing-library-services/con
“Privatization of public services, including libraries, has been an issue for many years. In the 1980s, the federal government began to contract with private companies to manage and operate federal libraries. Other special libraries also have a history of privatization.”
“Halls of knowledge became hollow and forbidden “
When they stole the writing from the American public and further defunded the public library. It’ll register.
La Forest Gray
KEEPING PUBLIC LIBRARIES PUBLIC
A Checklist for Communities Considering Privatization of Public Libraries
SOURCE :
https://www.ala.org/tools/sites/ala.org.tools/files/content/outsourcing/REVISEDSEPT2011_ALAKeepingPublicLibraries%20PublicFINAL2.pdf
DECEMBER 21, 2021
‘A For-Profit Company Is Trying to Privatize as Many Public Libraries as They Can’
CounterSpin interview with Caleb Nichols on defending public libraries
SOURCE :
https://fair.org/home/a-for-profit-company-is-trying-to-privatize-as-many-public-libraries-as-they-can/
Why the Hell Would You Want to Privatize Libraries?
Donald Cohen and Allen Mikaelian on the Priceless, Non-Transactional Aspects of Libraries
By Donald Cohen and Allen Mikaelian
November 22, 2021
SOURCE :
https://lithub.com/why-the-hell-would-you-want-to-privatize-libraries/
“A public library is a government, usually municipal or county, run institution that provides services to all residents of that area. A private library is either a club type set-up with dues and restricted membership or a library supported by a specific organization.”
Privatisation of public libraries – Reasons against
Many
SOURCE :
https://www.publiclibrariesnews.com/campaigning/privatized-libraries-outsourcing-library-services/con
“Privatization of public services, including libraries, has been an issue for many years. In the 1980s, the federal government began to contract with private companies to manage and operate federal libraries. Other special libraries also have a history of privatization.”
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