Hello Janet,

I think you make a lot of good points about where parents are coming  
from and it does make sense where their feelings of frustrations come  
from.  I agree parents  should be able to have a say in their  
children's education and access to materials.  The issue that arises i  
feel is when they start saying that no children should have access or  
be taught something which then infringes on the boundaries that a  
different parent may have.  I know when I was in school you could have  
a parent opt you out of a particular lesson if it was something that  
could be controversial or a difficult subject.  America is a nation of  
choices and options and we always seem to get into a pickle somewhere  
with how many and who do we offer them to.  We're still a young nation  
and with an ever changing population with new ideas and expectations  
and we may never find the right balance.  Hopefully we can continue to  
grow and progress and maybe one day we'll be able to find a spot that  
works well enough. Thank you for your views and I hope this message  
finds you well,

-Sincerely,

Racheal Sylvester
Outreach Coordinator
Bridgton Public Library

Quoting Janet Wilson <[log in to unmask]>:

> These are scary times, and yes, intellectual freedom is under attack  
> from many directions. However, I always look at things slightly  
> differently when it involves children. I know very few people who  
> think that children should have access to all materials which are  
> available. Even most librarians (who strongly support the freedom to  
> read) would have a problem with a school making Playboy Magazine  
> available to their students. And there is not a clear line between  
> "acceptable" materials and "unacceptable" materials. It is on a  
> continuum, but pretty much everyone draws a line somewhere. The  
> question is, "Who gets to decide where that line is and what is  
> appropriate for children to read?" I have not looked into what  
> materials are in question in Tennessee (and am not suggesting that I  
> think having the legislature approve reading materials is a good  
> solution). However, it is my opinion that parents (who generally  
> care more about their own children than anyone else does) should  
> have a lot of say in what their children read and are taught. And,  
> it seems to be more frequently the case that parents have been shut  
> out of this decision in schools. I think what we are seeing is  
> parents' frustrations boiling over from lack of respect for each of  
> their standards for their own children.
>
> Just another perspective... (and I am sorry for the uproar I am  
> likely to provoke with this),
>
> Janet Wilson
>
> Quoting Pamela Dunning <[log in to unmask]>:
>
>> Absolutely outrageous! Are troglodytes running the country? I have recently
>> encouraged the Wiscasset Library Board of Trustees to make adopting the ALA
>> Freedom to Read statement an annual duty. This will reinforce our stand on
>> censorship as new members come on the Board.
>> Pam Dunning, Wiscasset
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Apr 28, 2022 at 10:55 AM Mamie Anthoine Ney <
>> [log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>
>>> It's getting more scary all the time for more than just book burning:
>>>
>>> Tennessee Lawmaker Suggests Burning Banned Books (bookriot.com)
>>> <https://bookriot.com/tennessee-book-ban-bill/>
>>>
>>> Best,
>>> Mamie
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Auburn Public Library
>>>
>>> 49 Spring St.
>>>
>>> Auburn, ME 04210
>>>
>>> 207.333.6640 x 2020
>>>
>>> [log in to unmask]
>>>
>>> www.auburnpubliclibrary.org
>>> “The public library is where place and possibility meet.”
>>> ― Stuart Dybek
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Pamela Dunning, Director
>> Wiscasset Public Library
>> 21 High Street
>> Wiscasset, ME 04578
>> 207-882-7161
>
>
> -- 
> Janet Wilson, Director
> Rangeley Public Library
> P.O. Box 1150
> 7 Lake St.
> Rangeley, ME 04970
> (207)864-5529
> [log in to unmask]
>