[aisle] Chicago Tribune Article

[Leah Gregory]

Isn't the idea that NO ONE person should decide what other people should or shouldn't be able to read. That's why we have collection development policies. That's why we abide by parental decisions to not allow certain books for their kids. The law is just making sure that libraries do not cave to one squeaky wheel parent who wants to decide what every kids gets to read.

Leah Gregory, M.A., M.S.
Membership Coordinator - School Library Liaison
Illinois Heartland Library System
Edwardsville Office
618.619.2069
lgregory at illinoisheartland.org<mailto:lgregory at illinoisheartland.org>
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From: AISLE <aisle-bounces at list.railslibraries.info> On Behalf Of Brian Andrusyk via AISLE
Sent: Thursday, March 23, 2023 8:30 AM
To: aisle at list.railslibraries.info
Cc: Brian Andrusyk <bandrusyk at iccatholicprep.org>
Subject: [aisle] Chicago Tribune Article

In today's Chicago Tribune there's an article with the headline "Illinois House Oks Measure to Allow the State to Deny Grants to Libraries that Ban Books"   https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-book-ban-legislation-20230322-7ux3fpvg7feyzaiggcppgkrf2a-story.html<https://nam11.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.chicagotribune.com%2Fpolitics%2Fct-illinois-book-ban-legislation-20230322-7ux3fpvg7feyzaiggcppgkrf2a-story.html&data=05%7C01%7Clgregory%40illinoisheartland.org%7C553167cc438e46380b4d08db2ba2bd02%7Cad3877b36b3b4c2c878f78e3a8da1075%7C1%7C0%7C638151750208176647%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=YcfnW%2FpRg%2FFozjG9uAa37yk0mS%2BzaAvMIXwBwwxZOVs%3D&reserved=0>  I wrote to my state representative encouraging her to vote for this bill and was happy to learn she was a sponsor.

In today's (March 23, 2023) article, I was taken back by a quote by Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer of Jacksonville who was in opposition to the bill.

"I'm not sure what library science teaches an individual to allow them to decide the mental maturity of a child," he said. "I don't think that a librarian is the end-all, be-all decision-maker in the state of Illinois on what books should be given to a child."

Librarians  are ONE of the decision-makers.   Parents and the students themselves are also decision makers.   Parents do have the right to decide what and what not THEIR children should read.  Parents should not have the right to decide what other children can or cannot read.   As librarians, we also need to look at who makes up the community.  That means we select for many groups, beliefs, and lifestyles, and not just for a select group.   I work at a Catholic high school.   I do have books about other faiths in my collection because not every student is Catholic.  It also allows students to explore and become empathic towards other religions.  I am willing to bet that Davidsmeyer has not read ALA's Library Bill of Rights or has gone to his public library and asked questions to a librarian about how material is selected and placed.  I'm preaching to the choir here.

What do you all think of this remark?   Should AISLE and/or ILA respond to this?

Okay, I'm getting off my soapbox before someone shoves me off.   Thank you for your time.

Brian Andrusyk, MLIS | School Librarian & Book Store Manager
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