Victoria -- Thank you for tracking the awful situation in Alabama. It's growing worse as more libraries cave in to demands to avoid a loss of funds or court fight. A few weeks ago, the public library in Spanish Fort, AL, capitulated to the pressures by moving a couple of board books -- for babies! -- from the children's to the teen section because they dealt with gay themes ("Daddy, Papa and Me" and "Mommy, Mama and Me"). I hope to write about this soon. If you're interested in that one before I can get to it, you can easily find articles about it by searching for "Spanish Fort" and "library" and related keywords. Thanks again. Jan
Thanks, Victoria. Hope to do a story soon with a photo of those board books in the teen section to show people how egregious the move is. I used to think Texas and Florida were the worst states for banning.
But the situation in Alabama may be worse, and not just because it keeps trying pass a law that would let the state put librarians in jail if they keep banned books on the shelves. In Texas and Florida the situation is out in the open—either because politicians have turned it into a political football or the courts are involved—so people know about it and can protest.
Here in Alabama, a lot of harm is flying under the radar. Librarians are quietly moving books or bowing to pressure in other ways that don’t make headlines. And people can’t protest if they don’t know it’s happening.
Victoria -- Thank you for tracking the awful situation in Alabama. It's growing worse as more libraries cave in to demands to avoid a loss of funds or court fight. A few weeks ago, the public library in Spanish Fort, AL, capitulated to the pressures by moving a couple of board books -- for babies! -- from the children's to the teen section because they dealt with gay themes ("Daddy, Papa and Me" and "Mommy, Mama and Me"). I hope to write about this soon. If you're interested in that one before I can get to it, you can easily find articles about it by searching for "Spanish Fort" and "library" and related keywords. Thanks again. Jan
Board books to the teen section is crazy, but here we are. I will look it up, thanks!
I have been enjoying your book revews!
Thanks, Victoria. Hope to do a story soon with a photo of those board books in the teen section to show people how egregious the move is. I used to think Texas and Florida were the worst states for banning.
But the situation in Alabama may be worse, and not just because it keeps trying pass a law that would let the state put librarians in jail if they keep banned books on the shelves. In Texas and Florida the situation is out in the open—either because politicians have turned it into a political football or the courts are involved—so people know about it and can protest.
Here in Alabama, a lot of harm is flying under the radar. Librarians are quietly moving books or bowing to pressure in other ways that don’t make headlines. And people can’t protest if they don’t know it’s happening.
There’s a good deal of ‘self-censorship’ in teh library world. More than people realize. Librarians are exhausted and afraid of losing their jobs.
I’ve read that a lot of librarians are leaving the profession because they’re tired of dealing with all of it.