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?

My guess would be that one person complained.

My solution would be to get rid of much of the compulsory ideological 'training' in public bodies and replace it with training that equipped people to stand up to such complaints. And back them up with support from management.

I think you need to be less dogmatix about this.

The author of TinTin reportedly was a racist and it may be the books depict that too. Asterix has some dodgy racism/stereotypes too. Sadly even though they represent the age they were written they are out of kilter with today's society so are cancelled...

Then the way Holbein depicted European Princesses isn't either.

@Scallybatch write to your local councillors and copy your MP.

You could probably get offended by every single Mr Man book if you tried hard enough. I'm surprised the Guardian hasn't published an earnest article about them being 'problematic caricatures of neurodiverse conditions.'

We live in a world where they remove books.
Far Left madness. Next, they will burn them

Complain and then contact Toby Young at the Free Speech movement.

Complain if you like but I'm 99% sure it won't change anything. Have you looked into buying some for home? You could probably pick up some second hand from eBay for Christmas fairly cheap.

Amazon have some used in good condition for sale, slightly cheaper than new.

I’ve just ordered one for DS; I had totally forgotten about these books until this thread.

They need some new ones

Mr All Behaviour is Communication

Miss Star of the Week didn’t throw any chairs today

Ms Brain isn’t fully developed until 25

This is the only generation-coincidentally the most narrowly and worst educated-who want to wipe out all that has gone before because it doesn't suit the zeitgeist of the time.
For generations, wiping out the art, books, history and literature of the times and people that had trod before was unheard of.
For these dystopian times, we judge other generations and wipe them out.
Burn books-burn thought-burn discussion and finally burn (cancel) people.

That's good! I will suggest these as gifts to grandparents. Also will Che k tomorrow what the actual situation is. I am annoyed though...DS reluctantly borrowed some books but was disappointed

1. Go online and see if the titles your son wants are available at other locations or by request.
2. If not, use the contact info on the council website to send an email asking about the process for removing books that patrons or councilmembers or activists object to and why these books were removed

If the answer you get is that the books were removed for inappropriate or offensive content and you think the process for doing that is inadequate or amounts to censorship, write your councilmembers. Librarians are by and large vehemently anti-censorship and want to be allowed to do the job they specialize in. Usually battles over "offensive or inappropriate" content are driven by special interest groups, parents, and politicians.

But I've found that many people who complain about censorship (especially when the phrase "politcally correct" gets thrown out) will still turn around and support books content they don't like being removed. Opposing censorship and leaving library curation to the professionals also means accepting that there will be books you don't approve of for yourself or your family.

All that aside, if your DS loves a certain series and it's one like Tin Tin that has been out a long time, it's worth looking online and in retail shops for used copies he can build his own little collection with. Used kids' books are often extremely cheap if you're not looking for pristine copies or early editions. One of mine is working on ingraining some responsibility habits (think remembering belongings, getting ready independently) and their reward system is a new title from their favorite series after X days of success. I found a whole set for cheap in a used book shop and they're stashed in my office to be brought home one at a time.

There are two Tintins that are particularly problematic - Tintin in the Land of the Soviets and Tintin in the Congo.

Why is Tintin in the land of the Soviets problematic? Does it insult communists?

Mr tickle.... (reaching into bedrooms to tickle children while they are asleep)

I wonder if the "Horrible Histories" children's books are on the soon to be banned list!

It doesn't hurt to complain about things you don't agree with. If no-one ever complains then no-one knows that something is wrong and people can get away with anything. Asking for a reason why is perfectly okay.

Could it be as simple as them not being borrowed much?
Our library often "weeds" books and they seem to have a system to look at how popular they are. They do sell them though for 10p each at a table at the front door. A lot of it is slightly out of date health stuff, ones that are really ratty, but sometimes it's just clearly unpopular books.

Well said. It makes me furious that I am not considered capable of judging for myself whether or not something is suitable, but that some young person, with zero life experience, can make that decision for me.

Don't even get me started on "cancelling" people!

I remember seeing these in the library in about 1981 😂 my mum wouldn't let me borrow them, I'm not sure why, and she denies it now

Do you really think this is appropriate for children?

Books in libraries get weeded, something that is old and scruffy gets recycled, they possibly have a date cut off as well (at our local library it's 10 years give or take), something that isn't going out will be ditched and replaced with something that will be borrowed. Anything that isn't going out won't be replaced. Ask why it was withdrawn by all means but don't automatically assume it was withdrawn due to complaints.

I used to work in libraries, there should be a way to complain, via forms in the library or online.

The decision will have been made in conjunction with councillors. If it wasn't that is very foolish of the officers.

Contact the Cabinet Member of Committee Chair with responsibility for Libraries and ask, why the books were removed. Was it because of content or state of the books?

Copy in the Leader of the council, your local councillor & the officer head of libraries. Then wait for their reply. Should take 2 weeks, maybe a bit more because of Christmas.