An Unofficial Banning of Books? - Use of Inter library loan process

 The Movie "Origin" made reference to a book titled "Deep South".  After viewing the movie, I did a search of my local Hamilton East (Fishers, Indiana) library's catalog.  Unfortunately, it was not among the holdings in the library.  I did a book request via the library's book request system to have them purchase the book.  The next day I checked for a response from the library.  The response was that the book was felt to be to "scholarly" for the holdings of the Hamilton East library, but they would borrow the book and get it for me via an interlibrary loan system.

I then decided to find the book to purchase via a private vendor.  It arrived in a few days and I quickly delved into the first few chapters.  The content of the first chapters gave an unfiltered and embarassing view of the actions and beliefs of white people in the South.  The book did not read as an overwhelming scholarly text book.  The impression I got was that the person who said it was too scholarly was offended by the content of the book's depiction of white people, and did not want that depiction in the Hamilton East Library catalog for patrons to read and talk about.

I located the selection criteria that guides the library's acquistion of books.  It lists nine criteria.  Several seemed relevant to "Deep South".  Those being "accuracy and timeliness of content", "current and anticipated needs and interests of the public", "contribution to diversity or breadth of collections", "presentation of unique or controversial points of view", and "price".

I then followed up and sent a letter of complaint to the library board asking them to reconsider the book not being purchased for the holdings of the Hamilton East library.  Then it ocurred to me.  Not purchasing a book, is the same as banning a book.  Not purchasing a book to me means you do not want that book available for your patrons to read.  This process is likely being repeated across the country.  Libraries are avoiding the controversy of removing books off the shelves by never purchasing books  that some find offensive.

I am awaiting a response from the library board regarding "Deep South" not being approved for the library's holdings.

Letter to the Mayor of Fishers, Indiana on diversity of materials in local library

 Mayor Fadness,

 As a retired person on a fixed income, I try to find ways to save money.  One way is to use our local library to obtain books instead of purchasing a book for a one time reading only.

 

As a black person, the topics I seek are often covered by minority authors. Or the topics in a book might run contrary to the belief that European Americans can do no wrong.

 

In the past two years I have sought several books from the Hamilton East Public Library.  I have often been shocked to find out that some classic books by black author, or controversial books involving treatment of black people in this country, are not part of the library’s holdings.  To their credit the library does try to obtain the books using the interlibrary loan system.  In some cases the library has even purchased books by black authors that I suggested.

 

One of the books I sought from Hamilton East is titled, “Before the Mayflower” by Lerone Bennett.  It is a classic book on the history of black people in the United States from our roots to enslavement.  The library obtained it through the interlibrary loan system and did not decide to purchase it for its holdings.

 

Fishers prides itself on being  one of the top upcoming municipalities in the United States.  This does not seem to follow in the area of diversity and availability of diverse library holdings.  I also found that books on the treatment of Native Americans seem to be un welcomed as part of the library’s holdings.

 

The library has sent me a link to the policy on what books and materials the library will seek.  I understand that approximately 90% of Fishers’ citizens are European Americans.  But does that mean that only topics and viewpoints of European Americans will be sought for the holdings of the library?  To paraphrase a current theme, the Fishers library does  not make it seem as if “all lives matter”.  Or the phrase, “God Bless the United States of America….and no one else.”.  The content of the library’s holdings makes it seem as if topics involving non white races/cultures are not aggressively sought.  Viewpoints that paint European Americans in a negative view seem to be kept out of the library. 

 

Fishers has initiated a race relations initiative.  That is a positive move.  Just understand that if supporting institutions such as libraries, schools etc. do not promote diversity your actions will not succeed.  If the viewpoints of minorities are not sought via something as basic as library books in the holdings of the public library, progress is not being made.

 

Books that outline what really happened to Native Americans, and books that document the massacre of black people during and after Reconstruction must be shared.  It is only through revelation of the facts that healing from past racist policies can occur.

 

Sincerely,

 

Mr. Arnell Hill