DS upset at library removal of books

[Scallybatch]

Went into my local library today with DS, only to be told they have removed all Tin Tin and Asterix books! He was really upset as these are his favourite books!. All the lady could tell me is that they had been told to as they upset some people. I'm baffled. Would I be unreasonable to complain?

Ask if you can have or buy the removed books

You wouldn’t be unreasonable to ask why. And then report back! Is there some racism, maybe? I can’t really remember the books in detail.

It was inevitable.

Friends/Family/You - great Christmas Presents.

Tintin I think definitely has racist elements.

Asterix may have one or two dodgy bits too.

You would be unreasonable to complain without asking why first.

Although I have a feeling this is an attempt at a political correctness gone mad thread

I did ask..she didn't really give much away!

Yes I think it's unreasonable to complain she's obviously only following instructions, I doubt it was her decision to remove them.

If he loves the books so much then I'd buy him them for Christmas.

one of the pirates in Asterix (I think the most erudite one, actually?) is a fairly old-fashioned representation of the classic French stereotypical Black person

Not sure about Tintin, never really got into them

I don't mean complain to or about her..I mean complain about the decision

Also I use the library as I can't afford books

The librarian at your branch may not know all the details behind the removal of the books, I’d guess it’s someone more senior who’s made the decision.

As a pp says, it gives you some Christmas present ideas. If you’ve not already bought everything!

If the books are being removed permanently then there may be the chance to buy them, my council’s library often sells withdrawn books. Maybe ask the librarian if that’s an option?

Ask if you can have them, if they still have them?

My God, do we have to have such control over us. Surely we are able to make up our own minds regarding what we read. It's like we're being turned into droids/ robots. All in the name of political correctness!

Sadly not for sale...been sent off somewhere

I had a very quick look at Vinted and postage included you can get some for a couple of quid. There might be some near you on Facebook marketplace too.

Asterix does have some nasty depictions of black people. Banning books is not a good idea though, a sticker on the front explaining might be better to educate.

Whaaat? I loved Asterix the Gaul when I was young. Even looking at them as an adult I don't think they're problematic. The took the piss out of every nationality. Surely it was more satirical than malicious 🤷

"Where they burn books, they will in the end, burn people."

It’s bull shit. I used to work for Waterstones and the Americans had to buy their tin tins etc in the uk. Same as the mr men series. I would strongly complain.

But who would you complain to about the decision? It was obviously an order from higher up and complaining about it won't change the decision. The books have been removed for a reason and there's nothing anyone at the library can do to change that.

There's lots of second hand books available, I'm sure you could find some for your budget.

Mr Men as well? Why?

That's ridiculous.
I would ask for details of whoever at the council is in charge of libraries and contact them.
I would also contact the local MP.
Unless there is a genuine reason then that's not on.
I believe there is one Tintin book that's no longer in print as it was considered inappropriate by modern standards.
I don't know about Asterisk but there's a whole theme park devoted to them in France so they can't be that bad.

Because black children should be able to take out books from the library without having to check for a sticker that explains there’s racist depictions in the book.

Whilst I recognise that the desk staff or volunteer you spoke to said they they had upset some people, there's also every chance that they were just removed as part of normal library function (charmingly called 'weeding') where less popular (and old and ratty) books are removed to make shelf space for newer and more popular titles. An awful lot of people (sometimes including people who work in libraries!) seem to not understand this process and assume the removal of books is always censorship. Stock selection at public libraries is also often done centrally, and the individual branch might have little control over what lands on their shelves (and what gets taken away)

I came on to say this!

I would at least like to know why.