Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind. It appears to me that the national level defunding is the result of libraries capitulating to - or being controlled by - leftist and sexualist pressure groups opposing the legitimate interests of parents concerning what kinds of books their children should be exposed to, and at what age. In this divided era, local or private fundíng - and Kickstarter - is the only recourse.
This is heartbreaking. I grew up in Baldwin County, and books like the ones being attacked were such important safe spaces for me and my friends. But also, I didn't even realize I was queer as a young person, and as an adult, I realized a large part of this is due to how much queerphobia I internalized growing up. I had very wonderful, loving parents, but they had no idea that I needed these books, and I had no way of knowing or telling them that I did. Books like this can help young people process and communicate about their experiences with marginalization. These books can even intervene with abuse, bullying, and self-harm. We need to increase access to these books, not decrease access to them. I sent my letter to APLS. Thank you so much for sharing this.
I’m so glad you had those books as safe spaces! In the not-too-distant past, you might have had much more trouble finding them here. And one of the many troubling things about what’s happening now is that Moms for Liberty and other groups are trying to drag us backward.
But it’s cheering to see how fast protests against the defunding are being organized (I’ve learned of a couple more since I posted my story.) The Fairhope Town Council is meeting tonight about it, and al.com should have a story tomorrow. Read Freely Alabama is having a read-in soon. And others events are in the works. All of it could make a big difference.
In the meantime, I really appreciate your support. It’s so needed right now and encourages me to keep going. Thank you!
I'm sure you're aware of this, Jan, but it's not just where you live, but everywhere now. The Orange Blob just eliminated funding for the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which of course correlates with his dismantling and eventual elimination of the Department of Education. Here is the Freedom To Read Foundation's response to that: https://www.ftrf.org/news/696225/Freedom-to-Read-Foundations-response-to-the-removal-of-funding-for-IMLS.htm
Kent — I did know that it’s happening nationwide but not about the appalling defunding of the IMLS. Thank you! I’m sure I’ll return to this subject, and that’s a helpful link to have. I have to ration how often I write about all these bans and challenges because they disturb me so much. Very glad to have anything like this that you send along. Jan
I am horrified to read your stack this morning. I am so sorry your library has been threatened by legislation and its funding terminated by book banners. I am a Canadian and have been horrified by the rhetoric turning into realities all through the USA. When dangerous ideas like book banning are allowed all our freedoms come tumbling after. I believe in libraries and their librarians. These are some very hard and dangerous days. We must be free to read!
You are so right: We MUST be free to read. And I hope the attempts to suppress books don’t spread to Canada and more sanity prevails there.
Librarians in the U.S. are having a tough time right now, and many are leaving the profession (the pandemic and book-banners, back-to-back, have been a double whammy driving some away). Thank you so much for your support! I know any librarians reading your words will appreciate them as much as I do.
Shocking. Alabama needs all the help it can get.
True. There's been a lot of backlash against the defunding, and I hope it helps.
Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind. It appears to me that the national level defunding is the result of libraries capitulating to - or being controlled by - leftist and sexualist pressure groups opposing the legitimate interests of parents concerning what kinds of books their children should be exposed to, and at what age. In this divided era, local or private fundíng - and Kickstarter - is the only recourse.
This is heartbreaking. I grew up in Baldwin County, and books like the ones being attacked were such important safe spaces for me and my friends. But also, I didn't even realize I was queer as a young person, and as an adult, I realized a large part of this is due to how much queerphobia I internalized growing up. I had very wonderful, loving parents, but they had no idea that I needed these books, and I had no way of knowing or telling them that I did. Books like this can help young people process and communicate about their experiences with marginalization. These books can even intervene with abuse, bullying, and self-harm. We need to increase access to these books, not decrease access to them. I sent my letter to APLS. Thank you so much for sharing this.
I’m so glad you had those books as safe spaces! In the not-too-distant past, you might have had much more trouble finding them here. And one of the many troubling things about what’s happening now is that Moms for Liberty and other groups are trying to drag us backward.
But it’s cheering to see how fast protests against the defunding are being organized (I’ve learned of a couple more since I posted my story.) The Fairhope Town Council is meeting tonight about it, and al.com should have a story tomorrow. Read Freely Alabama is having a read-in soon. And others events are in the works. All of it could make a big difference.
In the meantime, I really appreciate your support. It’s so needed right now and encourages me to keep going. Thank you!
I'm sure you're aware of this, Jan, but it's not just where you live, but everywhere now. The Orange Blob just eliminated funding for the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), which of course correlates with his dismantling and eventual elimination of the Department of Education. Here is the Freedom To Read Foundation's response to that: https://www.ftrf.org/news/696225/Freedom-to-Read-Foundations-response-to-the-removal-of-funding-for-IMLS.htm
Kent — I did know that it’s happening nationwide but not about the appalling defunding of the IMLS. Thank you! I’m sure I’ll return to this subject, and that’s a helpful link to have. I have to ration how often I write about all these bans and challenges because they disturb me so much. Very glad to have anything like this that you send along. Jan
I am horrified to read your stack this morning. I am so sorry your library has been threatened by legislation and its funding terminated by book banners. I am a Canadian and have been horrified by the rhetoric turning into realities all through the USA. When dangerous ideas like book banning are allowed all our freedoms come tumbling after. I believe in libraries and their librarians. These are some very hard and dangerous days. We must be free to read!
You are so right: We MUST be free to read. And I hope the attempts to suppress books don’t spread to Canada and more sanity prevails there.
Librarians in the U.S. are having a tough time right now, and many are leaving the profession (the pandemic and book-banners, back-to-back, have been a double whammy driving some away). Thank you so much for your support! I know any librarians reading your words will appreciate them as much as I do.