Chapter Twelve #3
I look at the books projected on the screen. Almost all of them are about LGBTQ+ people or people of color.
She steps aside, and the man behind her takes the microphone.
“Hi there. I’m Duncan Hughes. I just want to say this is a Christian community.
Our library should reflect the values of the people who live here.
I don’t support promoting sexual content to kids, or porn in our public spaces.
Frankly, it’s disturbing that this is controversial.
Kids don’t need to read about sex, whether it’s gay or not. That’s for adults.”
Joy stands up.
I look at her. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going up.”
“Are you sure—” I say while she walks toward the line.
A woman in purple overalls is at the microphone now.
She has a baby strapped to her chest. “Hi. My name is Anita Maple. I’m a parent.
I don’t understand why a small group of people think they should be who determines what my children, or any kids in our community, can and cannot read.
I want my kids, and our whole community, to have access to books that depict a diverse array of people.
Furthermore, Ms. Wheeler mentioned these policies are current and were updated last calendar year.
Why would we spend money on updating policies that are current?
I don’t support appeasing a small group of people whose interests don’t reflect our communities.
And by the way, this isn’t a Christian community.
This is a public library. My next-door neighbors are Sikh.
I’m Jewish. The library is full of Christian books.
I’m not asking us to ban books about Easter regardless of having no interest in sharing those with my kids.
This is a community space. No one should be banning books. Thank you.”
A man takes the microphone. “Hello. I’m Isaac Jackson.
I agree with the woman before me and want to state that I’m who is responsible for my child’s education.
Me and my wife. It’s not the business of anyone here to decide what my kid can read.
That is a parental choice. I want my child to have access to books with kids who look like her—which a lot of the books listed on the screen up here do.
Why would we take these away? Please don’t take these books out of circulation. ”
An elderly woman takes the mic. “Hello. I’m Judy-Lue Kline, and I’d just like the record to note, I firmly believe this hysteria is politically manufactured to rile up support for specific ideologies.
I’m upset to see it’s reached our community, but I don’t believe it reflects us as a whole.
Our community wants these books to stay.
My family and I don’t support banning any books. ”
An old man in a wheelchair is at the front of the line now.
Judy-Lue helps him reach the microphone.
“Hiya. I’m John Karnes. I’m a conservative man, who has conservative values; however, these sorts of complaints go well beyond conservativism.
I don’t support banning or burning books.
It’s tyrannical. I agree that what a kid reads is up to his parents. Thank you.”
Joy is standing at the mic now. “Hi. My name’s Joy Carpenter.
I’ve lived in the area for about six years.
I moved here with my wife. We actually picked this area partly because we saw its inclusivity.
There are rainbow flags on the shops on Main Street.
We looked at statistics and saw the community here is made up of people from various cultures and backgrounds.
Unfortunately, I’ve experienced harassment and violence in relation to my sexual orientation, and my partner and I chose to move here partly because we felt safe.
I didn’t read a book with a lesbian in it until I was twenty-five years old.
Not seeing myself in books impacted how I understood myself and how I connected with others.
I think I might have realized I was gay sooner if I’d been exposed to more stories with people like me in them.
I’m grateful that there are books for kids today that feature the people and families they see mirrored in their own lives.
We need to see ourselves in stories. We need to see people who aren’t like us too.
Diverse books that feature characters of different races, cultures, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, and family structures help us develop understanding and empathy.
What is the point of reading? What is the point of the library?
We want to learn and connect with other people.
Our library needs to be a community space that welcomes and values everyone.
Please don’t remove any of these books from our shelves. Thank you.”
She steps away from the microphone. I watch her walk by Declan. His head follows her as she walks.
“How’d I do?” she whispers as she sits back down be-side me.
“Good,” I put my hand on her leg while others take the microphone. A large line of people has formed.
“I’ll be quick. I don’t support removing these books.”
“Banning books infringes on free speech. I don’t support it.”
“The government shouldn’t be involved in deciding what books people can read.”
“Book banning is censorship. It’s a slippery slope. I don’t support it.”
“We should support our teachers and parents in educating kids rather than blocking books from kids. Don’t remove these books.”
“Our community has the right to read whatever we want.”
“I support protecting kids, but banning books isn’t the way to do that.”
Several more people make statements until Robert speaks into the microphone by his chair.
“Thank you all,” he says. “I’m sorry, we’re at time.
We really appreciate your involvement today.
We’ve captured all this helpful feedback.
The decision regarding these complaints will be communicated through the library website, where you will also find the appeals process.
There’s more coffee on the table over here.
Please help yourselves. We’re adjourned. Have a great evening.”