The Library Advisory Board confirmed they will uphold the policy and keep our library collection inclusive for every child. My own kids will grow up seeing themselves reflected on these shelves thanks to your persistence. Let us stay vigilant to ensure our library remains a welcoming space for all families …
November 26, 2022
Petition to Follow the City of Homer's Library Collections Policy and Support Family Choice
Final supporters
We, the undersigned residents and parents of Homer and surrounding area, support the upholding of the City’s Collection Development policy and petition the Library Advisory Board to uphold the Library Director’s decision in full, leaving children’s books in the children’s library.
The Library's policy currently states: “Responsibility for the reading choices and information access by children rests with the parents and legal guardians, not the Library ….The Library encourages parents to be involved with their children’s reading and library use and will work with parents to find materials they deem appropriate for their children.”
Any decision to remove the selected books from the juvenile collection undermines the Library's policy for free access to information, including for minors: "Individual or group prejudice about a particular item or type of material in the collection may not preclude its use by others." Creating a special section for select children's books is violating policy and effectively isolating both the information contained in those books and the families who identify with the characters and themes in those books.
In addition, we the undersigned actively support the inclusion of LGBTQ+ representation in our children’s library as a reflection and celebration of the diverse community we live in, within a free nation.
In signing this I affirm that I meet all the following criteria:
1. I live in the Homer, Alaska area
2. I support the Library’s Collection Development policy which the Director is upholding and which supports parental rights and family choice.
3. I believe LGBTQ+ books for children are valuable and represent our community in a safe and meaningful way.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
November 13, 2022
November 13, 2022
I have spent hours reading through the personal stories many of you shared alongside your signatures. It is clear that we all want a community library that honors families while reflecting the reality of the people living here. I am currently preparing to present our collected names to the board members to show them just how many of us believe in these core values.
November 12, 2022
Seeing our community rally to protect library access for every family has been incredible. We are almost at five hundred signatures so please send this link to your neighbors right now to push us over the top. My own children deserve a library that reflects our entire town.
Reached 100 supporters
November 12, 2022
6 Comments
SO RIDICULOUS. We live in a diverse town and the library should reflect that. Keep the collection open for all.
Keep the books where they are. Parents have always been responsible for what their own kids read and that should stay the same.
Exactly. Let parents parent. Don't start censoring stuff just because some people feel uncomfortable.
Policies exist for a reason. Quit wasting time trying to remove books.
Stop trying to tell other people how to raise their families. If you dont like a book just dont check it out. Simple.
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The Library Advisory Board confirmed they will uphold the policy and keep our library collection inclusive for every child. My own kids will grow up seeing themselves reflected on these shelves thanks to your persistence. Let us stay vigilant to ensure our library remains a welcoming space for all families …
November 26, 2022
Petition to Follow the City of Homer's Library Collections Policy and Support Family Choice
Final supporters
We, the undersigned residents and parents of Homer and surrounding area, support the upholding of the City’s Collection Development policy and petition the Library Advisory Board to uphold the Library Director’s decision in full, leaving children’s books in the children’s library.
The Library's policy currently states: “Responsibility for the reading choices and information access by children rests with the parents and legal guardians, not the Library ….The Library encourages parents to be involved with their children’s reading and library use and will work with parents to find materials they deem appropriate for their children.”
Any decision to remove the selected books from the juvenile collection undermines the Library's policy for free access to information, including for minors: "Individual or group prejudice about a particular item or type of material in the collection may not preclude its use by others." Creating a special section for select children's books is violating policy and effectively isolating both the information contained in those books and the families who identify with the characters and themes in those books.
In addition, we the undersigned actively support the inclusion of LGBTQ+ representation in our children’s library as a reflection and celebration of the diverse community we live in, within a free nation.
In signing this I affirm that I meet all the following criteria:
1. I live in the Homer, Alaska area
2. I support the Library’s Collection Development policy which the Director is upholding and which supports parental rights and family choice.
3. I believe LGBTQ+ books for children are valuable and represent our community in a safe and meaningful way.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
November 13, 2022
November 13, 2022
I have spent hours reading through the personal stories many of you shared alongside your signatures. It is clear that we all want a community library that honors families while reflecting the reality of the people living here. I am currently preparing to present our collected names to the board members to show them just how many of us believe in these core values.
November 12, 2022
Seeing our community rally to protect library access for every family has been incredible. We are almost at five hundred signatures so please send this link to your neighbors right now to push us over the top. My own children deserve a library that reflects our entire town.
Reached 100 supporters
November 12, 2022
6 Comments
Libraries are for everyone. Kids deserve to see themselves in books. Leave them on the shelves!
SO RIDICULOUS. We live in a diverse town and the library should reflect that. Keep the collection open for all.
Keep the books where they are. Parents have always been responsible for what their own kids read and that should stay the same.
Exactly. Let parents parent. Don't start censoring stuff just because some people feel uncomfortable.
Policies exist for a reason. Quit wasting time trying to remove books.
Stop trying to tell other people how to raise their families. If you dont like a book just dont check it out. Simple.
Share Petition
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Libraries are for everyone. Kids deserve to see themselves in books. Leave them on the shelves!