Exposed: More Orwellian Doublespeak from the ALA
Exposed: More Orwellian Doublespeak from the ALA
Notes from Oceania, where Intellectual Freedom means Censorship
In June 2023 the American Library Association’s Director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom gave a talk entitled “Libraries and the First Amendment: Book Bans, Meeting Rooms, First Amendment Audits and More.” This presentation, given as part of the virtual Library 2.0 Conference, was shared on YouTube. You can watch it here (at least until they take it down):
It seems the “Director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom” isn’t actually too big on intellectual freedom.
Maybe she should put down her well-worn copy of Gender Queer and watch the Princess Bride, because…
While in saner times one might assume that a professional lecture from an expert on the ever-welcoming world of public libraries would instruct librarians on how to welcome all types of ideas and patrons, we now live in times that are… not sane.
And in these insane times, the ALA has a problem.
The problem is, not everyone agrees with their rainbow-coated agenda. And they especially don’t like Kirk Cameron’s BRAVE Books Story Hours or the ideas and beliefs they represent.
Now, it’s ok for them not to like these books, or ideas, or Kirk Cameron (though he was adorable in Growing Pains… remember Mike Seaver?!). We could accept that. But they don’t just let it end with grumbling about that mean ol’ KC and his family-friendly book events.
No. They must stop families from gathering together in public and reading dangerous books like Little Lives Matter and Elephants are not Birds.
So, they had their Orwellian-titled “Director of the Office of Intellectual Freedom” give this talk in part to help libraries AVOID having to allow these types of events to occur in the public library. In fact, she specifically states that she altered the presentation to include this information.
(Enjoy these Youtube screenshots with the transcript and time stamp circled, in case the actual video mysteriously disappears from the internet.)
She says: “I’ve altered my presentation to kind of give you a guideline about how to use public forum doctrine to create rules and regulations that help you keep and control the library in particular situations.”
Yes… like particular situations when patrons present ideas you don’t like. For instance, Kirk Cameron’s campaign to host BRAVE Books Story Time events nationwide on August 5th.
She says: “For example, right now Brave Books and Kirk Cameron are conducting a campaign to take over libraries on August 5th by applying to use or encouraging individuals to apply to use Library meeting rooms for Kirk Cameron Story Hours.”
Now, since Kirk Cameron isn’t omnipresent or omnipotent, we all know that he isn’t personally going to “take over” libraries on August 5th. One could assume that she knows that too. Rather, this event is for local library users to host events in their own libraries that correlate to a nationwide emphasis on reading certain types of children’s books on the same day.
If they could put their politics and ideology aside, the ALA should like this event. It is promoting literacy across America. It is pushing patrons into their local libraries, where they can be converted into cardholders, volunteers, and possibly even donors. And yet... they just can’t put their politics and ideology aside.
A few minutes later in the presentation, she offers strategies for libraries on how they can discourage or AVOID hosting Kirk Cameron’s Story Time event. She even goes as far as to specifically suggest that the libraries intentionally book up their facilities for August 5th SO THAT if local folks want to host a Story Time that day, there is no room.
She says: “You can… make a priority for library-sponsored programs and what if your library decided to offer a whole host of programs (in its) meeting room on August 5th, making it unavailable for the public. That’s another option for you.”
Now, if you’re thinking - wouldn’t it be discriminatory for staff to conspire to fill up the rooms on a certain date to avoid renting it to a private citizen because they don’t approve of that person’s beliefs?
Yes.
Yes, it would.
(Perhaps this is why she was careful to mention that her seminar doesn’t count as actual legal advice? So when libraries follow her advice and then get sued, she won’t get in trouble?)
But even she is forced to admit that, as long as library policies are followed and the room is available, they have no right to deny room use to BRAVE Books Story Hour if they are allowing other members of the public to use the facility.
However, she has a suggestion:
She says: “…so if you have a Kirk Cameron Story Hour booked in your library you could actually have a library-sponsored pride festival the same day and fill the library with rainbows and have other programming in place…”
(What, other programming… like Drag Queen Story Hour?)
Ok, so if the library is forced to follow the law and not exclude the Story Hours they don’t like, they will just make sure that staff members are standing by the door puking rainbows on every child who dares to attend the Kirk Cameron event.
All of this ALA resistance to the August 5th event, and other Story Hours like it, is very curious. And that’s because, if you’ve followed this issue for more than five minutes, then you know that when conservatives have brought up concerns about graphic books and events like DQSH being made available to kids in public libraries, they have been told:
“Why do you care? Don’t like it, don’t come.”
“We don’t censor books!”
“We are a public library. We represent our whole community.”
And yet, when someone like Kirk Cameron says, “Ok, we’ll write our own books and host our own events,” the ALA tries to sabotage their efforts.
It goes to show that the ALA and other self-proclaimed Intellectual Freedom Warriors have been gaslighting the public all along.
Because, for the ALA, “equal” doesn’t really mean “equal” and “freedom” doesn’t really mean “freedom.”
They love to bring up Orwell, but they are on Big Brother’s side.
They want you to believe they are fighting for Winston when they have really been the Thought Police all along.
P.S. There are 14 videos on this YouTube channel from this conference. This post only covers one of them. Citizen advocates who want to help expose the unfair tactics of this progressive organization are strongly encouraged to watch the rest of these videos and see what else they can find. Share your findings with us at massinformedparents@gmail.com or reply to this post.