A baby steps victory

[Ameanstreakamilewide]

I finally had a response from my local library regarding 'Beyond Magenta...'

They wrote:

The function of a library service is to provide free access to a diversity of information, opinion and ideas in a neutral and hospitable environment.

Selection, provision and access to library material is informed by legislation on terrorism, race relations, equality, local government, freedom of expression and human rights and access to information should not be restricted on any grounds except that of the law.

If publicly available material has not incurred legal penalties then it should not be excluded on moral, political, religious, or racial or gender grounds, to satisfy the demands of sectional interest.

On this basis we do not feel it necessary to remove the item from stock. However, we have decided to move it from the Teens section into the Adult Non-Fiction section. This means that it will not be possible for young people to borrow this title on their own tickets.

Well done: this is the way we will win it. Hundreds and thousands of women quietly and persistently questioning and holding the madness up to public scrutiny. There may be someone gender critical in that library who tried to stop the book being put in the children's section and is now feeling vindicated and supported. Lessons many have been learned. good on you.

On this basis we do not feel it necessary to remove the item from stock. However, we have decided to move it from the Teens section into the Adult Non-Fiction section. This means that it will not be possible for young people to borrow this title on their own tickets.

I think this is the correct decision, I am not in favour of banning books.

I would, however, reiterate what I said on the previous thread regarding this book.

Many library services consider teenagers to be adults in terms of allowing them to select any book from the adult section. My own service allows this from age 13, was 12 until GDPR was introduced last year. We are not unusual in this.

So if you have teenagers yourself it is still worth keeping half an eye on what books they borrow if you have concerns around this or any other issue.

Very much so, Arnold; I didn't want to see the book censored, but just in a more appropriate section of the library.

And thanks Pat...I feel rather proud of myself actually, as i also received a satisfactory response from the council regarding Mermaids and 'training'.

Where I live isn't Wokey McWoke-face, but you just never know, what with them being flavour of the month.

I'll find their response...

I feel rather proud of myself actually, as i also received a satisfactory response from the council regarding Mermaids and 'training'

Good for you.

It is nice to hear about the little victories of ordinary people. Gives me hope.

WELL DONE!

Balanced decision by the library. Well done to you for getting in touch with them. :)

Thank you, Arnold.

I've put them both in the 'win column'.

Just redacted the identifying bits from the letter.

Woo! Thanks, Lang! 👍

I agree Nonny, from the first couple of paragraphs, I thought they were going to tell me to sod off.

There was quite a delay in their response (nearly 2 weeks) and i had actually forgotten about it.
But, the delay now suggests, that it was because they were composing a considered response.
Which i've thanked them for.