Letter to Editor in support of Botetourt Public Libraries

Dear Editor,

Thanks to so many in the community who are supporting the Botetourt Libraries—the collection, the policies, and the employees. Thank you for publicly showing your appreciation and also for returning again and again to check out books, conduct research, and enjoy programming for children or adults. Thanks also to people who have questions about or criticisms of the collection. Every voice matters.

Each of us in the community has the right to express an opinion about the topics in the library collection, and we also recognize that the library serves a broad community full of many differing viewpoints. Although not all  community members may feel comfortable speaking up, the public library must protect their rights too.

This spring, a challenge to our library collection included a list of 59 books, only 12 of which are owned by Botetourt County. Another title was submitted for reconsideration after this first request. The list included adult, young adult and children’s materials, most of which involved LGBTQ+ content.

All patrons’ religious and political values are important, but religion and politics can’t determine the content of the collection. Libraries serve all segments of the population, and people who want to read about LGBTQ+ issues have the legal right to do so.

A few of the challenged books are children’s books that include information about sex and pictures of body parts. Some people might label these books “offensive,” and other parents might find them to be useful tools in educating their children. Parents get to decide if their children are ready for these books and/or discussions about them. Parents are required to be in the library with their young children; they can choose to check out or not check out the materials. They agree to this responsibility for a child’s or teen’s library materials when a minor gets a library card.

The inflammatory discussion of obscenity has been conducted for years, and the courts have gone to great lengths to define obscenity and to protect readers’ rights. For this reason, the library is not obliged to remove art books that include pictures of nudes. Images of body parts are not inherently obscene, nor are books with LGBTQ+ content.

Is it possible that a book isn’t appropriate for our collection? Yes, mistakes in the acquisition of a book can happen, and that book can be removed. Our reconsideration process is a double-check to be sure a book fits the acquisition policy. Even if a book is removed through this process, however, that doesn’t mean that whole sections about that particular topic will be removed from the library – or put in a separate room. (Yes, someone actually made that suggestion regarding materials with LGBTQ+ content.)

Because of the challenges to the collection, many library users have taken this opportunity to call or write, expressing support for the collection and the staff. Two comments from Botetourt citizens follow:

• Public libraries are that…for the public, and for ALL of the public, not a select demographic. No topic should be off-limits, nor should any book be banned. Parents/guardians can and should be aware of what their children are reading, and as a family, make those decisions. Censorship doesn’t stop here. Where will it end??
• I want to keep public libraries public. Censorship has been a frightening thing in the world’s history, and talk of any group determining what is available for others to read smacks of censorship. As others have said, if you don’t want to read it, or want your child to read it, don’t check it out. Everything imaginable, and unimaginable, is available on the internet. I hope people are as concerned about what children are accessing there as they are about what they might see in a public library. (Petition to support freedom to read in Botetourt: https://www.change.org/p/support-the-right-to-read-in-botetourt-county-s-libraries)

You can read more comments in the minutes from the April 25 Board of Supervisors meeting, including notes from those who spoke and those who posted online comments.

Why should I care? I’m an avid user of the library, Chair of the Library Board, and member of the Fincastle Friends of the Library. My accompanied grandchildren routinely peruse the collection at the Fincastle branch, happily checking out stacks of books. My family also benefits by borrowing books through the Roanoke Valley Consortium, a system that provides tremendous cost-savings to our taxpayers. As a volunteer, I’ve spent countless hours working to support the library, including a previous stint on the Botetourt Library Board in the early ‘80s. I’m doing everything I can to help assure that we have a successful library system for all.

Why should you care? You have the right to choose (or not choose) materials for yourself and for your family from an accessible library collection. Every citizen of Botetourt County should be free to read, including you and people whose interests may differ from yours.

If you have ideas for improving the library, please join the many folks—library employees and volunteers—who are spending their time constructively to build the greatest system we can afford.

Sincerely,

Marlene M. Preston

Botetourt County