HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - Library Board of Trustees - 04/19/2021 - Ad-Hoc Committee Draft Approved Minutes Ad-Hoc Committee of the South Burlington Library Board of Trustees Monday, April 19, 2021 @ 7 p.m. Location: Zoom meeting
Members Present: Jason Chin, Travia Childs, Diane Bugbee, Jennifer Murray, Kelly Kendall, Patrick Leduc
Members Absent:
7:03 p.m. Call to Order
7:04 p.m. Additions and deletions to the posted agenda
None
7:05 p.m. Comments and questions from the public not related to items on the agenda
None
7:06 p.m. Approval of the minutes of March 29, 2021.
Upon a motion made by committee member Jason Chin and seconded by committee member
Diane Bugbee, the committee voted unanimously to approve the Minutes from the March 29th
meeting.
7:05 p.m. Discussion on request for reconsideration of Materials.
Chair Leduc shared where he felt the committee was narrowing its focus to, as he
initiated the continuation of the conversation related to the request to remove
“McElligot’s Pool”, “On Beyond Zebra”, “Mulberry Street”, and “If I Ran The Zoo” from the
South Burlington Library Collection.
In response, the committee members agreed that there was a current lean toward action
that might move some or all of the books in question out of the Children’s section, so
they were not inadvertently viewed by children, but the committee also wanted to
engage in further discussion. Patrick also highlighted the current audit of the picture
book area that the library was conducting and how a system of review might also
mitigate the ongoing risk associated with materials that we may find problematic in a
proactive and continuous manner.
The Committee discussed options related to the materials in question including the idea
of censorship and how a public library is meant to be a place where a broad range of
thoughts could be expressed, regardless of our personal distaste for some of them. Mr.
Chin shared his thoughts and concerns related to a possible broad definition of any
criteria we end up using and how they may set a precedent and be used by others to
request removal of materials that they might find “offensive” while we might find them
appropriate. Jason and other committee members expressed the quandary of feeling
that certain words and visuals, in at least some of the materials in review are not suitable
for children but still may have validity to be in the library and perhaps even in the
children’s section. Dr. Child’s and Mrs. Bugbee, and Mr. Leduc offered similar thoughts
as they worked to fine tune a recommendation.
Following much thoughtful and considered conversation Mr. Leduc offered that he was
starting to hear a consensus that if the committee were to take action on any of the four
books being reviewed, it would be to move them out of the children’s section and into a
place in the library, that would be determined by the library leadership, where they would
not be viewed by children as they enjoyed the stacks on their own. The committee
offered their agreement on this as the approach they saw as most appropriate due to the
issues previously discussed.
Having a possible action in hand, the committee then agreed to build on the prior
discussions and review each book to determine if it should be moved out of the
children’s section.
The Committee started with “If I Ran the Zoo” and determined that the book contained
content that was unequivocally dehumanizing, as represented by its depiction of a
person belonging in a zoo because they were “other” and thereby could be treated like
and animal, two African men depicted with animalistic traits, as well as other problematic
content.
The Committee then discussed “Mulberry Street” and determined that the book
contained content that was exploitative of people who could be identified as “other” as
well as other problematic content.
The Committee then discussed “On Beyond Zebra” and “McElligot’s Pool” and
determined that the books had some problematics content but not enough to rise to the
level of moving or removing the material.
Following the discussion and allowing for any final words Mr. Leduc offered and looked
for agreement on what he felt the recommendation of the committee was. He said, “The
Ad-hoc Committee of the South Burlington Public Library Board is recommending that
the trustees request that two Dr. Suess books, “If I Ran The Zoo” and “Mulberry Street”
be moved from the children’s section and into a place in the South Burlington Public
Library, that would be determined by the Library Director, where they would not be
viewed by children as they enjoyed the stacks on their own.”
Upon a motion made by committee member Jason Chin and seconded by committee member
Dr. Travia Childs, the committee voted unanimously to approve the above recommendation
and to have that recommendation forwarded to the South Burlington Library Board of
Trustees for consideration at their next meeting.
The committee also acknowledges that the Children's Librarian is currently conducting a
diversity audit of the children's collection and is using this information to inform the
addition of new books to the collection. As well, the committee acknowledges that the
Library Director is committed to making decisions about library materials that reflect the
needs and diversity of the community as we move forward.
The committee commends these efforts and, although it is outside its specific charge,
urges the Board of Trustees to strongly support these efforts.
In closing, and for the record Chair Leduc and other members of the Trustees as well as
members of the public in attendance, offered their thanks to the members of the ad-hoc
committee for the depth of the discussion and the thoughtful approach to the topic.
Mr. Leduc also offered specific thanks to the member of the public who initiated the
conversation which he termed as “a critical conversation in our ongoing growth as a
community in the area of racial bias and systemic racism”.
8:34 p.m. Other Business
None
8:35 p.m. Adjourn
Hearing no other business, the Chair declared the meeting adjourned at 8:35pm