However, patrons have a right to appeal the committee’s decision to the TADL board of trustees, which happened in this case. Howard says it’s the first time in library staff’s memory such a request has been elevated to trustees, whose decision is final. Numerous groups have written to TADL opposing the book’s removal, including ACLU Michigan – which said restricting book access violates the First Amendment – as well as Friends of TADL and the League of Women Voters of the Grand Traverse Area. The LWVGTA said that “the freedom to read and access written materials is a cornerstone of a free and democratic society” and urged trustees to “stand firm in fighting any form of censorship and in protecting the rights of our free society to have access to any materials contained in the Traverse Area District Libraries.”
Local Book Challenge – My Letter to the Library Board
Written by Michael Stephens
Sparkle Heart
- Colin McLeod
- Susanne Ritchie
Thumbs
- Natalie Wong
- Jacque Fuller
Sparkle Heart
- Colin McLeod
- Susanne Ritchie
Thumbs
- Natalie Wong
- Jacque Fuller
9 thoughts on “Local Book Challenge – My Letter to the Library Board”
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I support your support! Keeping stories of identity are some of the most important documents in a library, particularly those for children and young adults who are searching to confirm their most personal sentiments. Thank you for sharing this letter with us.
As you know from my last blog, this is a topic I’ve thought a lot about and I commend you for writing a letter in support! I’m sure the board appreciated hearing from you, and I hope it continues to stand firm if (or when) it is faced with other challenges.
@elena @brookek Thank you!
@Michael, thank you so much for such a clear-eyed letter of support! As you so clearly state, all of us deserve to be recognized in our books from the time we’re little. Even if we cannot or do not immediately recognize ourselves, we often recognize others in our communities and our lives, and what better gift is there than to be seen?
@meic thank you for reading the letter. I did not have books in which I recognized myself when I was growing up. I think that’s why I’m so passionate or perhaps obstinate to make sure that these books stay on the shelves.
What a lovely and well-written letter! Everybody’s story is worthy.
@Natalie 100%
@michael One of my favorite reads on the subject is ‘On Censorship: A Public Librarian Examines Cancel Culture in the US’ by James LaRue. He used to be the director for my county’s library system. One of the challenges led to a children’s author updating their book.
This hasn’t been updated since July 2023 – but here’s a challenge log, which I would like to see on the library’s website: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1B4YFy7AcZwriKa6W0Fs6BQntaoiHMtEaUIKKJ0yjXs8/edit?gid=0#gid=0
@jfuller Thanks for sharing!