Sarah Palin and libraries
By Marjorie Kehe | 09.05.08
She’s got the eyes of the nation on her now, so you can bet Sarah Palin’s name will be popping up on blogs of every description. What you might not have expected, however, was to see her featured in a blog about libraries.
But two days ago, less than a week since many of us heard her name for the first time, there she was, in Jessamyn West’s librarian.net blog. West was writing about a Time magazine story that asked whether Palin had expressed an interest in censoring books in the town library while she was mayor of Wasilla.
The Time story suggests that Palin may have threatened to fire the town librarian for saying that censorship would be unacceptable, but subsequent news stories (such as a recent posting by the Boston Herald) don’t seem to support this notion. According to the Herald, Palin did ask the librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, questions about censorship and Emmons responded by saying that any form of censorship would be entirely inappropriate.
Palin later attempted to fire Emmons (along with other public officials) but there is no evidence that the attempt to remove Emmons was related to the censorship question.
Palin later relented. Emmons kept her job only to resign at a later date.
Nor does there seem to be any evidence that any books were actually banned from the Wasilla library.
However, for librarians it’s an uncomfortable topic. “Usually I’m just happy to see libraries even mentioned in national level politics, but not like this,” writes West.
But it will perhaps be good for all of us to engage in a discussion about the whole notion of censorship. It could make for a very lively time on Sept. 27 when we arrive at Banned Books Week.
Comments
2. Mary L. | 09.05.08
Check out this story from the Anchorage Daily News.
http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/story/515512.html
Sarah Palin asked the librarian about censorship three times, fired the librarian for not playing ball, and brought her back the popular and courageous librarian because of pressure from the good citizens of Wasilla.
As a librarian, this woman terrifies me.
4. Nikolai | 09.05.08
I am completely against banning books in libraries. However, I’m curious to know what others think about libraries using software that censors the internet. This has come up in my community, and there were arguments for (protect children, discourage predators, etc.) and against (freedom, privacy, & inadequate level of technology). Judging by the crowds around the computers in the youth section after school, this is a topic that is going to come up again.
5. Peggy McGilligan | 09.05.08
I can’t say enough about Sarah Palin. I liken her detractors to skaters who go down hard; that look of disbelief. Again, we’re seeing them fold like lawn chairs. It’s long overdue. Anyway, here’s a clip from Jan & Dean. I found it apropos, better than “Barracuda.” Bet you can’t watch just once: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX7X4FovYRA&NR=1 And how ‘bout them Dems: lost in space, or true tales from the Pork-master General: http://theseedsof9-11.com
6. MichaelConley | 09.05.08
I am shocked at the extreme views of this candidate. There is strong evidence that she sought to ban books at the library when she was mayor, she has expressed strong support of teaching creationism in schools, and she supports “abstinence only” education. She clearly is well outside the mainstream of public opinion on all of these opinions; taken together, they show us an unusually conservative position that most Americans would totally reject.
I hope more journalists do stories that investigate the vetting of Sarah Palin, the awareness of the average citizen of what her policies are, and other issues that have been underreported so far like her original support of the “bridge to nowhere”, and her seeking after earmarks as the mayor of a town of 9.000 and now denouncing them.
7. Charlotte Fairchild | 09.05.08
So, why did Emmons resign?
What was the point of the censorship at the time Palin was discussing it with Emmons, belly dancing or something like ethnic dancing?
It would be nice if more information were available. It would seem less like the inexact count of people who died in Mr. Clinton’s run for the Presidency.
This could be interesting.
8. mary emerson | 09.06.08
Does anyone know if there were specific books mentioned by Palin in conjunction with her questions to the librarian about censorship?
9. Cindy Lowther | 09.06.08
Banned books or not it is utterly irreprehensible to try and censor libraries and fire people such as this poor librarian on a personal whim - it just shows how damaged Palin is - she seems to have issues when it comes to power. Imagine what damage she could do as VP or god forbid President ?
10. alberto | 09.06.08
these issues that are beginning to surface are very serious. npr also mentioned that she, as a pentecostal indicated that the iraq war was a holy war and that the islamic religion is a religion of the devil. i am a christian episcopelian, trying to find reconciliation between faiths; one the reasons why i left the catholic church. if these issues are accurate she is more dangerous that our present vice president. check it out please.
11. LibrariansAgainstPalin | 09.06.08
In the weeks before Sarah Palin drafted a termination letter for Mary Ellen Emmonds, Sarah Palin questioned Emmonds three times about her opinion of censorship. Each time, Emmonds objected strongly to the issue. This was during a period where Palin was ‘testing the loyalty’ of various departmental heads.
After Emmonds spoke to the press about the issue, Palin did draft a termination letter, which was withdrawn during a period of public outcry from community activists and city council members. Wasilla resident Ann Kilkenny reports that the termination was directly related to the opposing views of censorship.
13. stephen | 09.07.08
Well you can’t just fire someone who doesn’t agree with you, right? She seems to be a bully, pushing around a librarian, who probably wasn’t too tough a target. This is really scary stuff. I mean this kind of view of power in the office of the VP probably wouldn’t amount to much, unless of course you are again referring to energy policy being discussed there out of the sight of all except powerful interests. We have had enough of avp with too many ties to the oik industry. And quite frankly I am tired of these Western politicos. They seem to think the law is a nuisance.
14. Richard Smith | 09.07.08
A few decades ago, in Abingdon, Virginia, a local politician tried to get the names of people who had checked out certain “controversial” books. The librarian refused to grant his wish, and suffered some political abuse. Later she got several national awards. I find the similar Palin story, discussed in several sources, quite believable. Combine this with her religious fundamentalism and the reported incidences of her abuse of authority, and the story gains credibility. She was obviously interested in more than getting an update on censorship laws.
15. mara sindoni | 09.08.08
Educators on all levels, librarians, scientists, researchers, Holocaust survivors and refugees from Communist and other dictatorships where books were or are banned, and all Americans should be shocked and outraged at the possibility that a VP candidate and possible eventual president would even suggest censorship of library books. The fact that the librarian was not directly fired but eventually “resigned” does not let Sarah Palin off the hook!
16. Fred Fernandez | 09.08.08
Jesus Christ & his disciples were community organizers. Pontius Pilate was a governor.
17. Barbara Levie | 09.09.08
OK, so now the smartest thing for Palin to do if she really wants to quash these stories once and for all would be to make a clear statement to the national media of her belief in freedom of press and her support of open aquisition (no banning, no challenging) of books in public libraries. I’m not holding my breath on this one. Scary, scary woman.
19. AnneY.Moss | 09.09.08
OK! Maybe Sarah Palin wanted to censor books. If she’s guilty of something wrong, shame on her. But, first! What books? Why did she want to get rid of them? More to the point—did the library have books giving all sides of every issue, or just the politically correct side of some issues???
20. Francis Perry | 09.13.08
IN a country where thew government can give criminals better living standards than their victins and where we award illegal immigrants with medical care and social security benefits–why in the world would anybody want to ban any books at all.
Double standards?? Government does what is politically beneficial to them (including their lies) and really does not care about filling promises nor taking care of citizens with proper housing,medical care and education.
SHAME on us for letting this farce continue.
21. johnc | 09.14.08
The NYT has another story about censorship and Palin. Before she became mayor she mentioned that a childrens book dealing with gay parents should be removed from the library. Nothing came of it.
It seemt to be a part of this agenda from her church. A reporter who interviewed the librarian at the time said that she claimed 3 books were at issue. One he remembers as “Pastor, I’m gay”, written for adults. Her church at the time was crusading against this title.
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1. Tim | 09.05.08
The article said it was some sort of “loyalty test”. That librarian should have gotten a promotion or a pay raise for her “loyalty” to freedom of thought….