In America, far too many librarians seem to share a common, if not willful, ignorance of the principles of democracy. Far too many of them lack an appreciation for FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, and VIGOROUS DEBATE. Why?
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From: todslone@hotmail.com
To: bstripli@syr.edu
CC: kmahoney@clamsnet.org; sturgislibrary@comcast.net; fblowrie@gmail.com; ppronovost@capecodonline.com; emaroney@barnstablepatriot.com
Subject: More Librarian Hypocrisy
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 11:08:16 -0400
To: bstripli@syr.edu
CC: kmahoney@clamsnet.org; sturgislibrary@comcast.net; fblowrie@gmail.com; ppronovost@capecodonline.com; emaroney@barnstablepatriot.com
Subject: More Librarian Hypocrisy
Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 11:08:16 -0400
To ALA President Barbara Stripling,
When challenged and questioned, librarians either do not respond
or behave as little-caeser gatekeeper fascists. But I like to
cover my bases. I'm now working on a cartoon regarding you and the
Declaration Stuff you’re now promoting. I thought perhaps you’d like to
explain ALA apathy regarding librarians who behave more as gatekeeping censors,
than responsible citizens of a democracy. Why does the ALA not care that
many librarians flaunt the ALA Library Bill of Rights in their own policies,
while hypocritically ignoring it, especially the one that stipulates: “Libraries
should provide materials and information presenting all points of
view”. Why does your Office for Intellectual Freedom not give a
damn about that? Sure, you have no jurisdiction over libraries, but you could
certainly write a letter in an effort to educate irresponsible librarians who
behave more like fascists, than responsible citizens of a democracy.
“Libraries Empower the Individual” states your Declaration. What of
course that really means is the individual librarian to behave as a
little-casear fascist. Lucy Loomis, for example, director of
Sturgis Library (Barnstable, MA), permanently banned me without due process or
warning because I questioned her banning of my flyers and nonprofit literary
journal from the library. Do you care? No, you do not, and that’s
why your Declaration is nothing but more ALA hot air. Kathleen Mahoney,
director of Mashpee Public Library, was actually going to allow The American
Dissident to enter into the Clams Library System of Cape Cod by being the only
librarian willing to subscribe. She then changed her mind after examining
a copy, and who knows what else provoked her to change it. She simply
won’t say. It has been next to impossible to get librarians to open up to
the hard criticism appearing in each issue of The American Dissident.
Over the course of 15 years, I’ve been able to obtain only 12 libraries as
subscribers. Poetry Magazine and Agni, on the other hand, have over 3000
each. That means nearly 3000 library directors do not wish to abide by
your Library Bill of Rights and provide alternative points of view.
In any case, I will let you know when the cartoon is posted on my blog
site. It will also be published in the next issue of The American
Dissident. Unfortunately, the many patrons of the Clams Library System of
Cape Cod will not be able to access the issue because it is essentially banned
from that system. Yes, celebrate Banned Books Week… and librarian
hypocrisy while you’re at it.
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