The Invisible Library

The Nation:

The day-to-day challenges librarians face are inherent in the job description: defending access to controversial or banned books, staving off budget cuts, and creating and expanding programs to draw more citizens into one of the few remaining genuinely public commons in American life. While the ethic of secrecy often prevails in the gathering and dissemination of corporate and governmental information, the work of a librarian is imbued with just the opposite. Be it in the capacity of archivist, reference librarian or information technology professional, a common thread is the profession’s dogged commitment to safeguarding books, research and information to make knowledge more widespread, not less.

In the past few years this dedication has become more important than ever. With the federal government ever more intent on spying on its own citizens, and on classifying, concealing and manipulating larger swaths of information and intelligence, librarians and library custodians are on the front lines protecting freedom of inquiry and our right to privacy. And where right-wing groups, both local and national, have campaigned for censorship, librarians have also stepped up to the plate to defend minority points of view in their collections. Anecdotes there are aplenty, too many to document here. The following are but a few profiles of courageous individuals in the field who exemplify the democratic values and the independent spirit of the profession.

[…] With the recent passage by the House of Representatives of HR 4437 (the Sensenbrenner bill), which would make it a felony for a librarian to issue a library card to an undocumented immigrant, Garcia-Febo and members of Reforma around the country swung in to high gear. In Queens, Garcia-Febo directed a public relations campaign using bus and newspaper ads, to assure the local community that the library would keep its doors open to everybody. Garcia-Febo also helped develop a Librarian’s Tool-Kit for responding to anti-immigrant sentiment.

“When I came over from Puerto Rico, I realized how important libraries are to immigrant communities here, for everything from literacy classes, job postings, readings or as a place for kids to do their homework,” Garcia-Febo says. “That is why they need to continue to provide full, equal access, regardless of background or legal status.” [Emphesis added]

The whole article is well worth reading but I wanted to highlight this last part as it connects to a much bigger issue, namely, the racist immigration policy currently making it’s way through Congress. Th highlighted statement above really captures the heart of this idiocy: let’s criminalize the poor and needy, so they’ll stay uneducated. The reason is not to scare them away. No one in Congress is dumb enough to think they can actually close off the boarders. They wouldn’t do that even if they could. But by keeping books and the tools available in libraries out of the hands of the immigrant population, it keeps them in a second class status, willing to work for lower wages and no benefits. And that is what this is really about: demonizing the working immigrants and keeping a vast pool of cheep labor pool open for exploitation. Criminalizing library cards for immigrant sis just one aspect of this. But it’s all towards the same end. Just follow the stench of money and see whose hand is in whose pocket.

ALA:

“Throughout history, there always have been a few people who don’t want information to be freely available. And this is still true,” said ALA President Leslie Burger. “The reason more books aren’t banned is because community residents - with librarians, teachers and journalists - stand up and speak out for their freedom to read. Banned Books Week reminds us that we must remain vigilant.”

Bookstores and libraries around the country will celebrate the freedom to read with exhibits, readings and special events during Banned Books Week, September 23-30, 2006. First observed in 1982, Banned Books Week reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted. City Lit Theater in Chicago and ALA will kick off the week with theatrical readings from recently challenged books September 24. The ALA also will participate in a virtual panel discussion with author Chris Crutcher (”Whale Talk”) and 15 high schools on September 25. Participants will hear about Crutcher’s experiences as a frequently challenged author, learn more about the history of book banning in the United States and examine contemporary issues in intellectual freedom and access to information.

There were 405 known attempts to remove books in 2005. Challenges are defined as formal, written complaints filed with a library or school requesting that materials be removed because of content or appropriateness. About 70 percent of challenges take place in schools and school libraries. According to Judith F. Krug, director of the Office for Intellectual Freedom, the number of challenges reflects only incidents reported, and for each reported, four or five remain unreported.

“We are as busy as we’ve ever been in fighting censorship attempts in schools and libraries,” Krug said. “Libraries are no longer simply about books - but also about DVDs, videogames and online information.”

Number one on the list of most-often banned books? That hot-bed of radical thought, Judy Bloom’s Forever.

All through September I’ll be featuring reviews and discussions of some of my Favoite banned books.  As always, suggestions are welcome, in comments.