[Libs-Or] Shakespeare Books & Antiques closing

Wed Sep 7 11:32:39 PDT 2016

Very well said, Kirsten,

One of the things that struck me on my first visit to the Holocaust Museum
in D.C. was the sensitive way in which outrageous content was portrayed. I
remember especially the Mengele medical experiments exhibit. The multiple
screens were set low, so that you stood above them and could view them
almost privately. The other thing that struck me at that first visit was
the number of people who had deep personal connections to the exhibits.
They knew were uncle Saul had lived, or died. They looked for pictures,
cried at the eyeglass and shoes exhibit--again set low, so that crying was
a private and not a public event.

I too honor intellectual freedom, but on reading the library statement, am
troubled by the issues you and others have raised, Kirsten, and by memories
of that first visit in D.C. (In fact, I have returned several times, but
never have done the entire tour again).

I’ll add that I am not Jewish, or Romani, or a Russian communist. And that
although I am not an American Indian, I work with them frequently and work
with Indian history and culture in my library constantly. And that time and
again, historically and today, Indians are slighted, their history and
culture omitted or denigrated--and often by folks like me, white liberals
who think we know what they think and feel--or should think and feel.

Enough. Thank you Kirsten and Mike and others. Keep up the good
conversation. It is always good to think about the over and undertones in
the work.

rich wandschneider
Josephy Library of Western History and Culture

On Sun, Sep 4, 2016 at 1:44 PM, Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney <
kbrodbeck-kenney at lincolncity.org> wrote:

> Mark, I really appreciate your raising the thornier aspects of this.
>
> I have found myself conflicted over this. I do see this as an intellectual
> freedom issue.
>
> However, I also know that boycotts are a time-honored mode of exercising
> freedom of speech. In this case, while this is an intellectual freedom
> issue, it is also, ultimately, about a conflict between two entities -- a
> private business and a non-profit corporation -- who do not agree on the
> best modes of handling racially sensitive material. In some ways, I wonder
> how this would play out if a book and antique store were displaying
> golliwog dolls in the window, or a particularly fine collection of WWII
> German memorabilia. I am saddened that OSF and Shakespeare Books & Antiques
> couldn't come to an agreement that left both parties feeling that their
> concerns could be satisfied.
>
> What it has caused me to contemplate in a library context is to what
> extent we have a responsibility to ensure that our educational displays
> serve the community and do not re-traumatize individuals who are feeling
> the direct effects of attacks based on their race, gender, sexuality, etc.
> I recently had opportunity to discuss this particular issue with a friend
> of mine who works in museums and often has occasion to work on displays
> incorporating racist imagery. She feels that choice on the part of the
> individual is deeply important, and stated that the choice she would make
> as a museum professional would be to have the material available to view,
> but allow the viewer to make the decision to view it, rather than having it
> be in a public thoroughfare. I find myself agreeing, although I think the
> specifics would need to be adjusted for every context and community. There
> are a great number of items that I would fight tooth and nail to retain in
> my library collection, but that I would not force on any patron without
> their consent.
>
> Just some further thoughts.
>
> Kirsten Brodbeck-Kenney, MLIS
> Library Director
> Driftwood Public Library
> 801 SW Hwy 101, #201
> Lincoln City, OR 97367
> 541-996-1251 (desk)
> 541-996-1262 (fax)
> www.driftwoodlib.org
>
> >>> Mark KILLE <markk at multcolib.org> 9/2/2016 11:10 AM >>>
> Hi all,
>
> Okay, now that the "truth to power" line has been broken out, I feel I
> have to say something.
>
> I wish people would stop talking about this situation as though there is
> one clear villain and one clear hero. For a relatively balanced
> presentation, see for example: http://www.mailtribune.com/
> article/20160805/NEWS/160809755
>
> I think we can all agree that freedom of speech, as an ethical principle
> as opposed to a legal right, comes with an obligation to use that speech
> responsibly. I think we can also all agree that you have to expect that
> other people may speak right back at you, if they don't like what you have
> to say.
>
> It's an extremely sad situation--especially since the two private entities
> involved seem to have roughly similar views about what racism is and why
> it's bad--but OSF didn't make their complaint up out of nothing. It came
> from the real pain and concerns of real people.
>
> It's fine if folks sympathize more with Shakespeare Books & Antiques than
> those concerns as expressed by OSF. It's fine if folks think OSF was
> overbearing and counterproductive. Just, please, don't dismiss the pain and
> concern that led to their actions--or their equal right to their own free
> speech.
>
> I say this *especially* in the context of calls for libraries to use this
> situation as an opportunity to educate patrons about censorship. Consider
> that some of those patrons might actually approve of OSF's actions, and
> might already be mistrustful of public institutions that may be perceived
> to care more about abstract principles than creating a welcoming space for
> everyone in the community.
>
> To pick just one related example: Libraries can and should have books that
> express the full range of views on same-sex relationships. But in the wake
> of the Supreme Court ruling that legalized marriage equality across the
> country, I would have never set up a display that included those books in
> order to "teach the controversy." Because it *sucks* to walk in and see
> books denying the validity of one's existence being actively promoted as
> being of interest.
>
> I am not trying to convince anybody here of anything, or to start an
> argument. I'm just saying--please look at this situation, and others like
> it, as holistically as possible.
>
> Thanks for your consideration,
> Mark
>
> *Mark Kille*
> *Library Assistant*
> Multnomah County Library
> Hillsdale Library
> 503.988.5388
> multcolib.org
>
>
>
> On Fri, Sep 2, 2016 at 10:27 AM, Tony <tony_greiner at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Ross' reminder about the upcoming Banned Books week gives us the
>> opportunity to point out to our library readers the censorship and bullying
>> tactics used by the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. It is a great opportunity
>> to speak truth to power.
>>
>> Tony Greiner
>>
>> Primo and Alma: Making WorldCat Local Look Good
>> **tony_greiner at hotmail.com**
>>
>> _____________________________________________________
>> Libs-Or mailing list
>> Libs-Or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
>> http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/mailman/listinfo/libs-or
>> Hosted by the Oregon State Library. The Library is not responsible for
>> content.
>> Questions related to message content should be directed to list owner(s)
>> or the sender of the message, by phone or email.
>> Technical questions? Call 503-378-8800.
>>
>>
> If this is an unsolicited spam message, please click this link to report
> it: Report Spam
> <http://gwava.lincolncity.org:49285/contents/spamreport.shtml?rptid=494503&srvid=195s08f>
>
> _____________________________________________________
> Libs-Or mailing list
> Libs-Or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
> http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/mailman/listinfo/libs-or
> Hosted by the Oregon State Library. The Library is not responsible for
> content.
> Questions related to message content should be directed to list owner(s)
> or the sender of the message, by phone or email.
> Technical questions? Call 503-378-8800.
>
>

-- 

rich.wandschneider at gmail.com
josephylibrary.blogspot.com/
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20160907/d98dbc63/attachment.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: image/png
Size: 5016 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20160907/d98dbc63/attachment.png>