Anti-Immigrant Criticism in Denver Extends to Library Fotonovelas

-- Library Journal, 08/18/2005

The protest from anti-immigrant activists over the Denver Public Library’s (DPL) support for Spanish-language collections has now extended to criticism of the library’s Spanish-language fotonovelas, adult comic books between 50 and 100 pages in length. After a local radio talk show and its web site highlighted some adult themes in the books, DPL received several calls protesting their availability. In response, DPL pulled all the materials from several branches, to be reviewed for sexually explicit content and depicting violence against women. The library policy is to review materials that receive complaints, said DPL's director of strategic planning Diane Lapierre.

Groups both protesting and supporting the library’s policies recently demonstrated outside the system’s central library. The fotonovelas, which aren't cataloged individually, are being reviewed as quickly as possible under the same criteria that would apply to any other materials. Fotonovelas have been part of DPL's adult collection for more than ten years and currently number slightly more than 6500 titles. An article in Críticas noted that “the garish covers with their full-figured protagonists in ill-fitting clothes are generally the most racy part of the story.” Lapierre said that the Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform is against DPL providing any library service to illegal immigrants.