[Michlib-l] [EXT] Re: [all-tln] Challenged/Banned Books

Fri Nov 19 15:50:32 EST 2021

Thanks for bringing up the fact that some schools don't have professional
librarians Kathy. I'm in the UP and we have many public/school libraries
that are under the authority of the school superintendent and not the
librarian, most of which do not have a library degree. I haven't looked yet
but I hope the ALA and MLA come out with a statement of support and also
additional guidance for librarians that face this specific anti-first
amendment/Freedom to Read movement. Oh my goodness about giving out
student/patron information on who was reading a specific book, they must
not have even been trained properly. We recently changed our LMS to Ex
Libris/Alma and I am beyond perplexed as to why the system keeps historical
records of what someone checked out, except that they are a worldwide
company that is 'one size fits all'.
This current wave of anti-intellectualism and aggression against school
libraries certainly strengthens the case for the necessity of professional
librarians in all schools and public/school libraries.
We are in this together!
Take care, Rebecca

On Fri, Nov 19, 2021 at 3:28 PM Lester, Kathy via Michlib-l <
michlib-l at mcls.org> wrote:

> Yes.  I also have had school librarians reach out to me as well.
> Unfortunately, there have been cases where the parents are requesting for
> the school librarian to be arrested.
> This is not happening in all school districts in Michigan -- but it has
> been stressful in cases where it has been happening.
>
> I also can't help but wonder -- what is happening in the districts
> *without* certified school librarians?
> As Klaudia has mentioned -- there is the possibility that books are just
> being pulled off the shelves without following a policy (or even knowing if
> there is a policy?)
> In one case, there was a paraprofessional who gave information to the
> parent groups about which students had checked out the books in question.
> {*This was wrong for so many reasons.*}
> As always, I am most concerned about our students  -- our students deserve
> the freedom to read diverse books that have been selected by a certified
> school librarian for their age range and school community.  They also
> deserve to have equitable access to certified school librarians who will
> support them.
>
> Here is the latest biweekly OIF Newsletter --
>
> https://membership.informz.net/informzdataservice/onlineversion/ind/bWFpbGluZ2luc3RhbmNlaWQ9MTAzMjY3OTImc3Vic2NyaWJlcmlkPTExMjAwMDY5NDg=
> Look at how lengthy this Censorship item is (and this is just the last 2
> weeks).
> BTW.  There is a link to subscribe to the newsletter is at the bottom of
> the newsletter.
>
> --Kathy
>
> Kathy Lester, MLIS, MA
> *Advocacy Co-Chair, Past-President 2014, *
> Michigan Association for Media in Education (MAME)
> *President-Elect, 2021-2022*
> American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
> *Councilor At Large*
> American Library Association (ALA)
> *School Library Media Specialist / Technology Coach, *
> *East Middle School, Plymouth-Canton Schools*
> *SL21 Model Library, 2017-2018*
> *SL21 Exemplary Ranking - Michigan School Libraries for the 21st Century
> 2019-2022*
> *ISTE Making IT Happen Award Winner*
> *2017 MAME Michigan School Library Program of the Year*
> *2012 **State Librarian's Excellence Award Winner*
> kathyL at mimame.org
> twitter: @LibraryL <https://twitter.com/LibraryL>
> 810.333.5873
>
> "Every school librarian is a leader; every learner has a school librarian"
> --American Association of School Librarians
> <http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/advocacy/tools/docs/AASL_Position_Statement_Effective_SLP_2018.pdf>
>  (AASL)
>
>
> On Fri, Nov 19, 2021 at 12:41 PM Klaudia Janek via Michlib-l <
> michlib-l at mcls.org> wrote:
>
>> It is happening here in Michigan.  There are several groups and the one
>> that seems to be most prominent is called Moms for Liberty.  They are
>> passing around lists of books to bring up at board meetings.  Some of the
>> people are the same people who came into board meetings about masking, then
>> CRT, now school library books.  I think next on the list will be
>> misunderstandings about SEL (social, emotional, learning programs).  There
>> is a lot of language about how schools are brainwashing students with
>> leftist, communist propaganda and pornography.  I have a few school
>> librarian friends who are currently going through this.  I just don't want
>> to name them in a public forum without their consent.  They can jump in if
>> they want.
>>
>> I think that there are some school libraries that have been operating
>> without librarians and budgets for years....they do not have the newer
>> books listed on the "sheet".  I also think that if the books are somehow in
>> an unstaffed library, an administrator can just walk in and take anything
>> off the shelf.  No one would ever know.
>>
>> But we are already at breaking points in schools.  Everyone is subbing or
>> schools are going virtual because of staff shortages.  To add book
>> challenges to this list that consist of not just one book, but hundreds, is
>> completely overwhelming to have to think about or deal with.  :(  It's not
>> good.
>>
>> Klaudia
>>
>> Klaudia Janek, MLIS
>>
>> *School Librarian*
>>
>> *IB Extended Essay Coordinator*
>>
>> *Michigan Association for Media in Education - 2018 Past President*
>>
>> *2019-2020 AASL Presidential Task Force - Equity, Diversity & Inclusion*
>>
>>
>> 248 341 5925
>>
>> https://libresbooksmi.blogspot.com/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Nov 19, 2021 at 11:52 AM Maria Williams via Michlib-l <
>> michlib-l at mcls.org> wrote:
>>
>>> Jim & TLN-
>>>
>>> There was also a brief article in TIME earlier this week that addressed
>>> increasingly frequent challenges at school libraries:
>>>
>>> https://time.com/6117685/book-bans-school-libraries/
>>>
>>> M.
>>>
>>> Maria Williams
>>> Assistant Director
>>> Northville District Library
>>> 212 W. Cady Street
>>> Northville,  MI 48167
>>> 248-349-3020, ext. 208
>>> mwilliams at northvillelibrary.org
>>>
>>> Currently Reading
>>> <https://www.goodreads.com/user/email_signature_destination/9555257?utm_medium=reading_link&utm_source=email_signature>
>>> [image: Book Cover]
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>>> ------------------------------
>>> *From: *"Jim Flury" <jflury at tln.lib.mi.us>
>>> *To: *"all-tln" <all-tln at lists.tln.org>, "directors" <
>>> directors at lists.tln.org>, "partnerscda" <partnerscda at lists.tln.org>,
>>> "michlib-l" <michlib-l at mcls.org>
>>> *Sent: *Friday, November 19, 2021 8:50:51 AM
>>> *Subject: *[all-tln] Challenged/Banned Books
>>>
>>> Good Morning,
>>>
>>> Thought I would share this PW article that discusses what appears to be
>>> an increasingly organized, possibly national trend to challenge and/or ban
>>> books. I am not on the "front lines" as nearly all of you are, so just
>>> wondering if we are seeing this trend in Michigan as well. If not, then the
>>> increased number of challenges/ban efforts that are taking place in other
>>> states might be something to keep in mind.
>>>
>>>
>>> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.publishersweekly.com_pw_by-2Dtopic_industry-2Dnews_libraries_article_87920-2Dlibrarians-2Deducators-2Dwarn-2Dof-2Dorganized-2Dbook-2Dbanning-2Defforts.html&d=DwMFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=LHMBuN8L2Y6IxcHD6lrbABorptvUX4FXRP-_DHNXNO0&m=yFTCYNCgbXHGqVf__Y_hlVzNPNCE9w6j6CAITuKAlEw&s=InPCYmCMG2DZQZicNClO-UcH_mMyQorTdtz7l7k9VnM&e=>
>>> https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/87920-librarians-educators-warn-of-organized-book-banning-efforts.html
>>> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.publishersweekly.com_pw_by-2Dtopic_industry-2Dnews_libraries_article_87920-2Dlibrarians-2Deducators-2Dwarn-2Dof-2Dorganized-2Dbook-2Dbanning-2Defforts.html&d=DwQFaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=LHMBuN8L2Y6IxcHD6lrbABorptvUX4FXRP-_DHNXNO0&m=yFTCYNCgbXHGqVf__Y_hlVzNPNCE9w6j6CAITuKAlEw&s=InPCYmCMG2DZQZicNClO-UcH_mMyQorTdtz7l7k9VnM&e=>
>>>
>>> Jim
>>>
>>> Jim Flury
>>> Technical Services Manager
>>> The Library Network
>>> 41365 Vincenti Court
>>> Novi, MI 48375
>>> 248-536-3100, ext 133
>>> Fax 248-536-3098
>>> jflury at tln.lib.mi.us
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Michlib-l mailing list
>>> Michlib-l at mcls.org
>>> https://mail3.mcls.org/mailman/listinfo/michlib-l
>>>
>>
>> *International Academy*
>>
>> www.iatoday.org
>>
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-- 

Rebecca R. Daly, MLIS

Head Librarian

Office: 906-487-7253

Maki Library, Wargalin Hall

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Hancock, MI 49930

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