(Headline USA) Opposing parental control over the children’s sections of libraries will be a major focus of the American Library Association’s annual meeting this weekend in Chicago.
Librarians may attend sessions aimed at helping them confidently counter parental book challenges and fight legislative regulation of indecent library material.
All day Saturday, attendees are invited to climb atop a giant chair to read their favorite banned book, in an infantile display of opposition.
“With an unparalleled rise in challenges and bans and legislation suppressing access to books and learning materials in libraries, schools, and universities, it is more important than ever to join forces in the fight against banning books!” the event description reads, putting a radical left-wing spin on parents not wanting their kids to be exposed to perverted material.
The conference brings together authors, educators and librarians who seek to oppose parents and red-states that seek to regulate children’s access to obscene material.
Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom and executive director of the Freedom to Read Foundation, explained that her organization is supplying material for the left’s side of the culture war.
“We have almost two dozen programs addressing intellectual freedom, advocacy … attacks on public education and public libraries, all intended to equip our members with the knowledge they need to go out and advocate and defend the right to read in their libraries,” she said.
Christine Emeran, director of the Youth Free Expression Program of the National Coalition Against Censorship, a First Amendment advocacy organization, explained that her organization would not listen to parental concerns regarding the content of libraries.
“You can’t just concede to demands of a particular group of parents and to censor libraries,” she said.
Emeran, who is scheduled to be featured in a panel discussion called “Help! They’re coming for our books!” at the conference Sunday, explained that library activists are feeling the pressure of the culture war.
“Librarians are under pressure and they’re feeling frustrated, discouraged,” said Emeran, indicating that parental rights groups, like Moms for Liberty, are putting pressure on their opponents.
Groups such as Moms for Liberty, No Left Turn in Education and Citizens Defending Freedom have had a large impact on the indecent material children are exposed to, according to Emeran.
Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press
