PFOX asks for RESCIND of Award being given to West Bend Library

Letter from PFOX to Graduate SLIS.  The SLIS has refused to respond.  The truth hits home, doesn't it?  WHO is censoring?  Guess we know the answer to that one.


_____________________________________________________


Dear Faculty of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign:


Please rescind your award to the West Bend Community Memorial Library in West Bend, Wisconsin, as the recipient of the 2009 Robert B. Downs Intellectual Freedom Award.  Contrary to your beliefs, this library bans ex-gay books for children, and therefore cannot be considered a champion of intellectual freedom.  We at PFOX have repeatedly asked the Library Director Michael Tyree to place an ex-gay children’s book in the library which we offered to donate to the library’s shelves.  He has refused to do so, in effect only allowing gay children’s books.  Banning ex-gay books for children while allowing gay themed books should not be rewarded.


Although your press release mentions that the American Library Association has issued statements in support of this library and against censorship of controversial books, the ALA has refused to state specifically that libraries should not ban ex-gay books.  Please issue such a statement so that we can encourage the ALA and all other intellectual freedom organizations to stand boldly for actual intellectual freedom.


Thank you for your consideration,


Sincerely,

Regina Griggs

Executive Director

Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays
PFOX
804-453-4737
www.pfox.org
pfox@pfox.org

West Bend not the only ones UNinvited to ALA Convention

Well, well, well. Deju vu.

"Perhaps it is time for all the librarians to get their heads out of their books to digest, and then practice, some of the solid information therein.

Many librarians are now at the American Library Association (ALA) convention where a panel informing librarians on aspects of ethnic diversity has been canceled because a speaker's views were. . .too diverse for the other panelists!


According to this / report in the Washington Times , three of the four speakers scheduled to speak as part of a panel, "Perspectives on Islam: Beyond Stereotyping" canceled because they disapproved of the fourth speaker, Robert Spencer.

"While I heartily endorse the principles of free expression and diversity of viewpoints that are part of the ALA mission, the way in which this information session about Islam and Muslims ... was modified and politicized at the last moment raises serious concerns about the integrity of the session," she (panelist Marcia Hermanson) said.

.....

It appears the free expression and diversity of viewpoints that are a part of the ALA mission are only those that agree with the ALA. Free indeed.

.....

"While I heartily endorse the principles of free expression and diversity of viewpoints that are part of the ALA mission, the way in which this information session about Islam and Muslims ... was modified and politicized at the last moment raises serious concerns about the integrity of the session," she said.

.....
"He starts from the point of view that Islam is evil. I don't see the need to debate that."

Mr. Spencer challenged that interpretation of his views in an e-mail to The Times.

"Terrorists use the texts and teachings of Islam to make recruits among peaceful Muslims, and to justify their war against the United States and the West. I explore how they do it," he said.

And that just might be too much for the ALA. After all this is the same organization which campaigned against the Patriot Act allowing the FBI, after jumping through a few hoops, to trace who searched for terrorist instructions on library computers. And at an earlier convention, they hosted a Hugo Chavez apologist and refused to help their beleaguered counterparts in Cuba from Fidel Castro but opposed US sanctions against Cuba."