Since when do we allow the most maliciously ignorant, puritanical human body-shamers, the least competent 'thinkers', to make decisions about our libraries and schools? This is the Talibanification of America, brought to you by fanatic bible-thumping pseudo christians, know-nothings, and people paralyzed by any concept of freedom for 'others'. So mind-boggling and exhausting.
Get a library card and use it! Most libraries will send you things via US mail for free then you can use media mail to return it if you don’t live close. Show up to board meetings, write letters in support to your local and state government reps. Post on social media about your library and follow them too if they have pages. And ask if they have a Friends of the Library group you can support. It’s so important to be vocal because next step is defunding of public libraries. And it WILL happen if we let it!
Because of funding constraints (can't serve everyone all the time), few if any libraries will grant a library card to anyone who doesn't live their service area and can provide documentation to demonstrate that they are residents. Otherwise, all of your recommendations are spot on.
Yes, that should go without saying that people should use their locally funded library, but even if you can’t, or don’t want to for some reason, often they will offer reciprocal borrowing options for people that don’t live with city/county limits for a nominal fee.
Show up at your local library board meetings and speak up at them on efforts that curtail intellectual freedom, censorship, book banning, and efforts to sever ties with the American Library Association. If you can't actually attend, write letters to the board and demand that they be read into the minutes. CC copies of your letter to the press, the ACLU, and and any elected official that has library oversite. Also, contact the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom.
I really don't care if they want to be ignorant. I really don't care if they want to be sure their children are ignorant and unable to compete in the 21st century. But why in the hell are they so determined to make sure I, my kids and my grandchildren are ignorant as well? I can only assume that they want everyone to come down to their level so that they don't get their delicate fee-fees hurt when we use big words, you know like an 8th grade level vocabulary. And why in the hell do these schools, library boards and other controlling organizations cave so quickly in the face of what is so obviously a movement not from within the school or town, but organized on a national level. Do they not understand that there is only so much minority rule and enforced stupidity that the majority will tolerate and that sooner or later, in many case likely sooner, the backlash will be swift and severe?
I for one, absolutely cannot wait for the backlash to begin. May it be swift, merciful, effective and long-lasting! Not some "final solution." Just one that works for most of us.
Backlash began here & there over the past couple of years. Note that 1,000 people have already signed up for the first ALA training on how to stand up against censorship in our libraries, in coordination with a new initiative by the Biden administration. "Protecting Civil Rights in Libraries" https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=990
Pay attention to who is getting elected or appointed to local library boards and school boards. With alarming frequency, the people serving on them are far-right wing ideologs whose primary mission is to restrict and/or eliminate access to reading materials that don't reflect their narrow philosophical and moral viewpoints.
Almost all of whom lie about their backgrounds, their policies, their political affiliations, etc. and run on a platform of "parental rights". In other words, their right to dictate what parents will be able to teach their children. It's an offshoot of the "religious liberty" crowd - they have the liberty to impose their religion on the rest of us.
That's why it's important to do due diligence with each candidate. Look at their social media accounts. See what their "likes" are. Take a look at who their friends are and what those friends believe. Social media always leaves a trail and a tale. If they are running a platform based on "parental rights" or "protecting children", it's a dead giveaway that those parental rights are only intended for those with narrow viewpoints.
This is an effort to ban education on any subject not approved by Ring Wing organizations. What are they afraid of? Reading a book never changed anyone's sexual orientation, but it can change a person's perspective on subjects they have no direct experience with. Not to mention, reading diverse opinions can lead to thinking and questioning things being said by others. This can lead to critical thinking which the Right has always been against. The world is becoming more connected and more complicated. We need an educated populas who will understand these challenges and help create polices that will undertake these challenges. Attitudes and beliefs founded on ideas from years ago will not serve us well in the coming years.
As more and more "uncomfortable" content is removed from elementary and high school education, and more book bans are taking place in school and public libraries, and increasing numbers of right-wing families think that university education is unnecessary and a waste of money, we are in danger of creating cohorts of children who grow into adults with an impoverished understanding of history and the experiences of others. No wonder, then, that they find other views threatening and/or unjustified - they lack relevant information and context.
In many public libraries, there are frequent patrons (and even some staff) who actively support these policies and politicians. Are there groups organizing to illustrate the unintended consequences of this behavior? Perhaps someone demands books that expose children to Christian themes be removed. There are many more of these books in the children's section than people realize.
It is time to implement a ban on the bible. It contains many vulgar passages. And the character, Jesus, never spoke against slavery! I don’t find those values acceptable. But if bans are to take place, the bible must be included according to THEIR (republican cult) requirements.
An excellent point, as there is a Constitutional prohibition against the establishment of a state religion. But I fear that an attempt to enforce it would only intensity the conflict.
When FL is comfortable to ban The Diary of Anne Frank, it is time to pull every single dollar of federal funds to the state. They must be boycotted and financially damaged if our laws are too weak to confront this form of Fascism.
We shouldn’t stand by for long watching this level of atrocious authoritarian rule and denial of the facts.
The precious MIND, this function cannot be imprisoned! But, we have those with minds dominated by fear--those who feel inadequate and inferior in the face of honest confrontation. We have whole cultures (mostly religious) who attempt to dominate and regulate their peoples' lives. America was appealing to people all over the world because of our freedom in all areas. People in other cultures (e.g., China, Saudi Arabia, Afican nations, Israel) have found America to be a Shangri-la and do their best to come here. With the powers given to people of mediocre minds and tastes and aspirations...like Trump and DeSantis and the Koch organization, and "moms for liberty" groups, we are losing (ironically) what made America great.
Thank you Judd. We should worry. I live in one of the counties in GA where this nonsense has been front and center. Watching a grown woman dramatize the reading of content she objects to (they do searches to find offensive content, without reading the book) in front of a school board and audience is a sight you don't want to see. Some pushed back and spoke to it. Ultimately, the DOE's Office of Civil Rights warned that the book removals that occurred may have violated students' righs. Everyone needs to push back against the underlying bigotry and desire for control that these bans represent. See AP article: https://apnews.com/article/schools-education-book-bans-libraries-civil-rights-bf3494e25528cb2403eaca43c813f684
What’s concerning is the guilty-until-proven-innocent nature of many of these book removals, bans and the laws that allow them. They unconstitutionally pull the books off the shelves first, depriving readers of their use, while the bureaucracy keeps them sidelined for extended periods until the issues are resolved.
Why should politically motivated, uneducated or racist individuals be given instant veto power over books selected by schools, libraries and other institutions trained and entrusted with protecting First Amendment rights?
I just bought Black AF History and hopefully, the book banners will mention it so it will get more attention and some extra sales. That’s all I can hope for the authors of the books that are targeted because my purchase alone will not be enough. America where people are extremely proud to showcase their ignorance and will fight tooth and nail for everyone else to be as ignorant as they are 🥴.
We're dealing with this all around us! And politicians are threatening to completely withhold funding to force libraries into line. Without that critical funding, these libraries would close.
One library in a neighboring town eventually agreed to all children age 15 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to even ENTER the library. Which is absurd!
We've become a 'Friend of the Library' to many libraries to help them with funding, and as an act of protest against these authoritarians.
Thank you for this post. Found out my state is #3! Did some research to discover a bill has been introduced in the state senate to ban book bans. Wrote my state senator to inquire where it stands and was he, or will he, be a co-sponsor. This is SO important. Make your voice heard!!!!
Since when do we allow the most maliciously ignorant, puritanical human body-shamers, the least competent 'thinkers', to make decisions about our libraries and schools? This is the Talibanification of America, brought to you by fanatic bible-thumping pseudo christians, know-nothings, and people paralyzed by any concept of freedom for 'others'. So mind-boggling and exhausting.
The rest of us really need to step up. Speak out.
Totally agree - I'm glad for this newsletter. I'd also love information about what citizens can most usefully do to help public libraries.
Get a library card and use it! Most libraries will send you things via US mail for free then you can use media mail to return it if you don’t live close. Show up to board meetings, write letters in support to your local and state government reps. Post on social media about your library and follow them too if they have pages. And ask if they have a Friends of the Library group you can support. It’s so important to be vocal because next step is defunding of public libraries. And it WILL happen if we let it!
Because of funding constraints (can't serve everyone all the time), few if any libraries will grant a library card to anyone who doesn't live their service area and can provide documentation to demonstrate that they are residents. Otherwise, all of your recommendations are spot on.
Yes, that should go without saying that people should use their locally funded library, but even if you can’t, or don’t want to for some reason, often they will offer reciprocal borrowing options for people that don’t live with city/county limits for a nominal fee.
And the libraries are still open for use to anyone, with or without a library card.
True! But circulation numbers are often used to justify funding!
Show up at your local library board meetings and speak up at them on efforts that curtail intellectual freedom, censorship, book banning, and efforts to sever ties with the American Library Association. If you can't actually attend, write letters to the board and demand that they be read into the minutes. CC copies of your letter to the press, the ACLU, and and any elected official that has library oversite. Also, contact the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom.
Maybe we can help fund public libraries whose funding is getting cut by these egregious scoundrels.
I really don't care if they want to be ignorant. I really don't care if they want to be sure their children are ignorant and unable to compete in the 21st century. But why in the hell are they so determined to make sure I, my kids and my grandchildren are ignorant as well? I can only assume that they want everyone to come down to their level so that they don't get their delicate fee-fees hurt when we use big words, you know like an 8th grade level vocabulary. And why in the hell do these schools, library boards and other controlling organizations cave so quickly in the face of what is so obviously a movement not from within the school or town, but organized on a national level. Do they not understand that there is only so much minority rule and enforced stupidity that the majority will tolerate and that sooner or later, in many case likely sooner, the backlash will be swift and severe?
We all better care what their kids know. Indoctrinated kids grow up to believe things that cause these things.
Yes, totally agree.
I for one, absolutely cannot wait for the backlash to begin. May it be swift, merciful, effective and long-lasting! Not some "final solution." Just one that works for most of us.
Backlash began here & there over the past couple of years. Note that 1,000 people have already signed up for the first ALA training on how to stand up against censorship in our libraries, in coordination with a new initiative by the Biden administration. "Protecting Civil Rights in Libraries" https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=990
Pay attention to who is getting elected or appointed to local library boards and school boards. With alarming frequency, the people serving on them are far-right wing ideologs whose primary mission is to restrict and/or eliminate access to reading materials that don't reflect their narrow philosophical and moral viewpoints.
Almost all of whom lie about their backgrounds, their policies, their political affiliations, etc. and run on a platform of "parental rights". In other words, their right to dictate what parents will be able to teach their children. It's an offshoot of the "religious liberty" crowd - they have the liberty to impose their religion on the rest of us.
That's why it's important to do due diligence with each candidate. Look at their social media accounts. See what their "likes" are. Take a look at who their friends are and what those friends believe. Social media always leaves a trail and a tale. If they are running a platform based on "parental rights" or "protecting children", it's a dead giveaway that those parental rights are only intended for those with narrow viewpoints.
This is an effort to ban education on any subject not approved by Ring Wing organizations. What are they afraid of? Reading a book never changed anyone's sexual orientation, but it can change a person's perspective on subjects they have no direct experience with. Not to mention, reading diverse opinions can lead to thinking and questioning things being said by others. This can lead to critical thinking which the Right has always been against. The world is becoming more connected and more complicated. We need an educated populas who will understand these challenges and help create polices that will undertake these challenges. Attitudes and beliefs founded on ideas from years ago will not serve us well in the coming years.
As more and more "uncomfortable" content is removed from elementary and high school education, and more book bans are taking place in school and public libraries, and increasing numbers of right-wing families think that university education is unnecessary and a waste of money, we are in danger of creating cohorts of children who grow into adults with an impoverished understanding of history and the experiences of others. No wonder, then, that they find other views threatening and/or unjustified - they lack relevant information and context.
But they will also be warlike and easily controlled... for a time. Some would consider those aspects a win.
Happy to report that here in Washington, the first right-wing attempt at closing a library has failed. Yesterday, a judge barred a ballot issue from proceeding in Columbia County (Eastern Washington) because of lots of constitutional issues. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/embattled-wa-library-wins-lawsuit-wont-shut-down-after-fight-over-books/
Thank you--I so appreciate what is going on in the rest of our country. [I'll bet that Judd, Tesnim, and Rebecca do also.]
The American Taliban. Great story
Freedom = No books for you, no books for me. See?
Now we're all free.
Yes, I find this such a bizarre situation - where are the libertarians when you need them?
In many public libraries, there are frequent patrons (and even some staff) who actively support these policies and politicians. Are there groups organizing to illustrate the unintended consequences of this behavior? Perhaps someone demands books that expose children to Christian themes be removed. There are many more of these books in the children's section than people realize.
Here ya go:
https://apnews.com/article/utah-bible-ban-school-38a39017ee0ff96a96f24007a836302f
Can't win with these miscreants!
It is time to implement a ban on the bible. It contains many vulgar passages. And the character, Jesus, never spoke against slavery! I don’t find those values acceptable. But if bans are to take place, the bible must be included according to THEIR (republican cult) requirements.
Prezacktly!
An excellent point, as there is a Constitutional prohibition against the establishment of a state religion. But I fear that an attempt to enforce it would only intensity the conflict.
Protecting Civil Rights in Libraries https://elearning.ala.org/local/catalog/view/product.php?productid=990
When FL is comfortable to ban The Diary of Anne Frank, it is time to pull every single dollar of federal funds to the state. They must be boycotted and financially damaged if our laws are too weak to confront this form of Fascism.
We shouldn’t stand by for long watching this level of atrocious authoritarian rule and denial of the facts.
Be interested to know the rationale behind that one. Did the book portray the Nazis in a bad light? Must be the woke mind virus. Burn it!
The precious MIND, this function cannot be imprisoned! But, we have those with minds dominated by fear--those who feel inadequate and inferior in the face of honest confrontation. We have whole cultures (mostly religious) who attempt to dominate and regulate their peoples' lives. America was appealing to people all over the world because of our freedom in all areas. People in other cultures (e.g., China, Saudi Arabia, Afican nations, Israel) have found America to be a Shangri-la and do their best to come here. With the powers given to people of mediocre minds and tastes and aspirations...like Trump and DeSantis and the Koch organization, and "moms for liberty" groups, we are losing (ironically) what made America great.
Exactly. They want to get rid of the "great" part and just make it "expensive."
Thank you Judd. We should worry. I live in one of the counties in GA where this nonsense has been front and center. Watching a grown woman dramatize the reading of content she objects to (they do searches to find offensive content, without reading the book) in front of a school board and audience is a sight you don't want to see. Some pushed back and spoke to it. Ultimately, the DOE's Office of Civil Rights warned that the book removals that occurred may have violated students' righs. Everyone needs to push back against the underlying bigotry and desire for control that these bans represent. See AP article: https://apnews.com/article/schools-education-book-bans-libraries-civil-rights-bf3494e25528cb2403eaca43c813f684
What’s concerning is the guilty-until-proven-innocent nature of many of these book removals, bans and the laws that allow them. They unconstitutionally pull the books off the shelves first, depriving readers of their use, while the bureaucracy keeps them sidelined for extended periods until the issues are resolved.
Why should politically motivated, uneducated or racist individuals be given instant veto power over books selected by schools, libraries and other institutions trained and entrusted with protecting First Amendment rights?
I just bought Black AF History and hopefully, the book banners will mention it so it will get more attention and some extra sales. That’s all I can hope for the authors of the books that are targeted because my purchase alone will not be enough. America where people are extremely proud to showcase their ignorance and will fight tooth and nail for everyone else to be as ignorant as they are 🥴.
Michael Harriot is a rare gem isn't he? Adept at history and economics. I first encountered him on "The Root" back when it was about something.
Same! Yeah he’s great. My kids learn a lot from his podcast. They like his humor too.
We're dealing with this all around us! And politicians are threatening to completely withhold funding to force libraries into line. Without that critical funding, these libraries would close.
One library in a neighboring town eventually agreed to all children age 15 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to even ENTER the library. Which is absurd!
We've become a 'Friend of the Library' to many libraries to help them with funding, and as an act of protest against these authoritarians.
Thank you for this post. Found out my state is #3! Did some research to discover a bill has been introduced in the state senate to ban book bans. Wrote my state senator to inquire where it stands and was he, or will he, be a co-sponsor. This is SO important. Make your voice heard!!!!
Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle?!!
The book banners flunked curiosity and compassion as well as basic literacy.
THEY are dangerous for this democratic republic.