Members of the Sandwich Public Library’s Board of Trustees had a lively discussion this week about the controversy surrounding the children’s books of Dr. Seuss, which turned into a broader look at book censorship.
The controversy was sparked last week when the estate of Dr. Seuss (whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel) announced it would no longer publish six books that in today’s light could be seen as racially insensitive.
“These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong,” Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced on March 3, Mr. Geisel’s birthday. “Ceasing sales of these books is only part of our commitment and our broader plan to ensure Dr. Seuss Enterprise’s catalog represents and supports all communities and families.”
Some libraries have dumped their Dr. Seuss books, Sandwich Library Director Joanne Lamothe said, but Sandwich does not plan to follow suit.
Currently, the Seuss books—along with many of the library’s children’s books—are coincidentally unavailable.
“All of our Dr. Seuss books are in storage offsite,” while renovations are underway at the library’s Main Street building, Ms. Lamothe told the board at its meeting Tuesday evening, March 9.
“The library is full of things that could potentially raise objections,” Ms. Lamothe said. “We’re not in a position to censor library materials.”
“We have a ‘freedom to read’ policy,” library trustee Joseph R. Roche said.
The announcement catapulted Dr. Seuss back onto the bestseller list, and requests for his books from library patrons—including Sandwich’s—have exploded, Ms. Lamothe said.
“Everyone wants to see what the fuss is about,” she added.
The library’s policy is that anyone with objections to a particular book can fill out a form and request that the book be removed, the library director said.
Board chairman Mark A. Wiklund said the library must tread carefully as changing social mores cause books and other materials to be reexamined.
“It’s about the intent of the provider and also how that provider is perceived,” he said. “We just need to be careful.”
The trustees laughed along with board member Edwin (Ted) Scribner’s response.
“I must be the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on with Dr. Seuss,” he said, adding that he had read many of the author’s books as a child.
“I’m concerned I might be tainted,” Mr. Scribner said.
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March 12, 2021 at 12:00PM
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Sandwich Library Board Holds Lively Discussion About Dr. Seuss Books - CapeNews.net
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