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Local Paper's Exclusive: Palin (Sort of) Answers Library QuestionsSeptember 30, 2008
Unfortunately, Palin's answers, via e-mail, aren't fully illuminating, since she isn't pressed to respond, for example, to a New York Times report that, as a city councilwoman, Palin told colleagues that she had noticed the book Daddy’s Roommate on the shelves and that it did not belong there. As the Frontiersman reported at the time, the library director, Mary Ellen Emmons, "drew a clear distinction… between the nature of Palin's inquiries and an established book-challenge policy in place in Wasilla, and in most public libraries" and said that Palin asked if she could live with censorship of library books. Palin does wisely offer a nod to local control when it comes to the donation of some books that might be controversial. The Frontiersman's questions Reporters from around the globe have been investigating policies and decisions you made during your time as Wasilla mayor. Regarding the flap over questioning then library director Mary Ellen Emmons, at the time in December 1996 you said inquiries you made to her about censoring materials in the library were “rhetorical.” Please explain. Were there books at the library at that time you wanted removed? Was there ever a list of books you didn’t want at the Wasilla library? Also, a San Francisco man recently donated two books to the Wasilla library that attempt to explain homosexual family life to children. Do you see any reason these books should not be placed on the library’s shelves? Palin's response As people there know, all questions posed to the library director were asked in a context of professionalism, regarding the library policy that was in place. Before I became mayor, there was conversation in our community about what sorts of books were appropriate for the public library. I asked the librarian about the process for answering that question as a way to familiarize myself with city staff and the issues being discussed in Wasilla at that time. I certainly never advocated banning books. This was a ridiculous, false claim. Supposedly one of the books the media claims I banned was “Harry Potter,” which wasn’t even published back then. There were never any books banned and any reports claiming otherwise are grossly false. I’ve always believed the government closest to the people governs best, so I won’t try to second-guess local officials back home. Posted by Norman Oder on September 30, 2008 | Comments (4)
October 1, 2008
In response to: Local Paper's Exclusive: Palin (Sort of) Answers Library Questions Brenden commented: A subtle way to work yourself around an issue. This is quite a serious issue, atleast in my book, that deserves to be brought up. As a public official she should know that there should be no bearing on what the people of one small town say, over the constitution. The banning of anything is just, well...... It's to fascist and nazi for myself.
October 2, 2008
In response to: Local Paper's Exclusive: Palin (Sort of) Answers Library Questions Kathleen Pearlman commented: State's Rights, eh? A lovely throw-back to the 19th century attitude of government. Let the community decide. What if the local goverment doesn't govern best? Or has an attitude that it knows better than the people who elected it? Or has a loud and very vocal minority? Or aq loud, vocal and monied minority, which is what happens in a lot of communities? Just my opinion...
October 7, 2008
In response to: Local Paper's Exclusive: Palin (Sort of) Answers Library Questions Charles commented: It sounds like people asked her to look into why the library made certain books available which seem to go against the communities morals, and she did.
October 8, 2008
In response to: Local Paper's Exclusive: Palin (Sort of) Answers Library Questions CharlesS commented: Our library, like most, has a vetting process that must be followed before a title is purchased. Our process requires reviews by at least three different sources that can be used to show why the title was selected in the event of someone questioning the appropriateness of a book being "on the shelf." Most non-library people do not know the process as can be heard in the "why don't you have..." questions. Ms Palin was fully within her rights as a patron to question why a book was in the library. Some people don't bother to ask, they simply take upon themselves the role of removing what they consider objectionable titles. I would rather have a policy where anyone can raise a question than one under which titles simply disappear.
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