Libraries: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

LastWeekTonight
9 May 202427:54

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses the evolving role of public libraries, which now lend more than just books, offering items like fishing poles and telescopes. However, libraries face challenges from a culture war, with a significant rise in book censorship attempts, particularly targeting titles with LGBTQ+ themes or explicit content. The script highlights instances of libraries being defunded or librarians facing threats due to the content they provide. It emphasizes the importance of defending libraries to ensure they continue to serve their communities and uphold the principle of providing access to a diverse range of information and resources.

Takeaways

  • 📚 Public libraries offer a wide range of items beyond books, including fishing poles, telescopes, and even mounted animals for study.
  • 🚫 There is a growing trend of book censorship in public libraries, with a 92% rise in the number of titles targeted compared to the previous year.
  • 🗣️ Controversies often arise from misquotes or misrepresentations of book content by those seeking to have them banned, without reading the books in full.
  • 🏛️ Local government funding and oversight are integral to library operations, making them susceptible to pressures from organized groups.
  • ✍️ The process of 'weeding' allows libraries to remove outdated or damaged books, but current challenges target books based on their content rather than condition.
  • 🚨 Book challenges are increasingly organized by groups with specific agendas, often targeting books with LGBTQ+ themes or characters.
  • 📈 There is a legal framework that protects freedom of speech, including in libraries, but obscenity can be an exception, especially concerning minors.
  • 👮‍♂️ In some cases, librarians face threats, false accusations, and even legal repercussions for the content they provide access to.
  • 🏛️ Libraries serve as essential community hubs providing internet access, translation help, notary services, and refuge for the unhoused or those in need of heating or cooling.
  • 🌐 The internet has made access to a vast array of content, including explicit material, much easier and widespread, diminishing the impact of physical library censorship.
  • ✊ There is a call to action for communities to support libraries against censorship attempts, emphasizing the importance of diverse voices and stories being available to the public.

Q & A

  • What is the main focus of the story discussed in the transcript?

    -The main focus of the story is the evolving role of public libraries, the challenges they face, and the ongoing culture war that has led to increased book censorship attempts.

  • What is the 'Mandela effect' mentioned in the transcript?

    -The 'Mandela effect' is a phenomenon where a large group of people remember something incorrectly, such as the misremembering of the spelling of 'Berenstain Bears' as 'Berenstein Bears'.

  • What is the process known as 'weeding' in the context of libraries?

    -Weeding is the process by which libraries periodically remove books from their collection due to reasons such as the books being outdated, severely damaged, or no longer in demand.

  • What is the book challenge protocol in libraries?

    -The book challenge protocol is a formal request system that allows anyone who believes a book violates the library's selection policies to submit a request for reconsideration, after which staff review the complaints and decide whether to keep, re-shelf, or remove the book entirely.

  • What is the legal limit regarding the suppression of speech in libraries?

    -The legal limit is that speech cannot be suppressed solely to protect the young from ideas or images that a legislative body deems unsuitable for them, except in cases of obscenity defined for minors.

  • What has been the trend in book censorship attempts in public libraries?

    -The trend has shown a significant rise in book censorship attempts, with the number of titles targeted for censorship at public libraries rising by 92% from the previous year, according to the American Library Association.

  • What is the role of local government in the operation of public libraries?

    -Local government provides the majority of funding for public libraries and typically oversees them through a local library board, which can be elected or appointed by members of the local government.

  • Why are libraries becoming a target in the culture war?

    -Libraries are becoming a target in the culture war because they are seen as platforms for diverse ideas and content, including LGBTQ+ themes and materials that some conservative and religious groups find objectionable.

  • What is the significance of the book 'Gender Queer' in the context of the script?

    -The book 'Gender Queer' is significant as it is the most frequently challenged book in America for three years running, often being reduced to its most explicit passages out of context and used as a focal point for censorship efforts.

  • What is the argument against placing age-inappropriate books in children's sections of libraries?

    -The argument is that while some books may not be suitable for young children, they may be appropriate for older teens, and libraries should make these books available, properly categorized and with appropriate signage, to serve the diverse needs of their community.

  • How can individuals support their local libraries amidst the challenges they face?

    -Individuals can support their local libraries by standing up to censorship attempts, attending library board meetings, advocating for diverse and inclusive content, and voting against measures that would defund or restrict libraries.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Evolution and Controversies of Public Libraries

This paragraph discusses the expanding role of public libraries, which now lend out more than just books. It touches on the various items available for loan, such as fishing poles and telescopes, and the services libraries provide, like internet access and notary services. However, it also delves into the challenges libraries face, including cultural controversies and accusations of promoting harmful content. The American Library Association reports a significant rise in book censorship attempts, particularly targeting public libraries. The paragraph also highlights the importance of libraries as a refuge for the homeless and those in need of resources, and their popularity among young adults, women, and low-income households.

05:00

🚫 Book Censorship and Legal Boundaries

The second paragraph focuses on the issue of book censorship in libraries. It explains the process of 'weeding,' where books are removed for legitimate reasons. It also details the book challenge protocol, which allows for formal reconsideration of books thought to violate selection policies. The paragraph outlines legal limits to censorship, referencing Supreme Court decisions that protect freedom of speech, even for minors, unless the material is obscene for minors. It provides examples of how some cities have attempted to censor content, including the relocation of books with any sexual content away from minors, and the challenges faced by libraries in navigating these legal and societal boundaries.

10:01

🏳️‍🌈 The Targeting of LGBTQ+ Themes and the Role of Organized Groups

This paragraph examines the organized efforts to challenge and censor books in libraries, particularly those with LGBTQ+ themes. It describes how groups often use misleading tactics and base their challenges on summaries rather than full readings of the books. The paragraph highlights the disproportionate focus on LGBTQ+ content and the impact of these challenges on library operations. It also discusses the influence of these groups in shaping library policies and the potential consequences for libraries that refuse to comply with censorship demands.

15:02

📖 The Misunderstandings and Consequences of Book Censorship

The fourth paragraph addresses the misconceptions about book content and the rationale behind their inclusion in libraries. It emphasizes the importance of providing age-appropriate materials and the role of signage in guiding readers. The paragraph also touches on the absurdity of some censorship claims, such as the idea that a child finding an adult book in the library is the book's fault rather than the child being in the wrong section. It concludes with a librarian's perspective on the responsibilities of parents and the futility of trying to shield children from all adult content when the internet provides unrestricted access.

20:03

💸 The Financial Threats to Libraries and the Fight for Survival

This paragraph discusses the financial threats to libraries due to defunding efforts by community members who disapprove of certain library content. It provides examples of libraries that have faced budget cuts or closure due to such campaigns. The paragraph also highlights the successful efforts to restore funding in some cases and the importance of defending libraries against these threats. It underscores the need for community support to ensure libraries can continue to serve their communities effectively.

25:04

🤝 The Call to Support Libraries and Resist Censorship

The final paragraph calls for support for libraries in the face of censorship attempts and defunding threats. It emphasizes the need to stand up against these attacks to protect the diverse services and resources libraries provide. The paragraph also addresses the introduction of bills in state legislatures aimed at banning or restricting library materials and the potential criminalization of librarians for the content they allow. It concludes with a reminder of the importance of libraries as community hubs and the imperative to defend them against ideological attacks.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Public Libraries

Public libraries are community spaces that provide access to books, resources, and various services. They are highlighted in the video as evolving entities that lend not just books but also items like fishing poles and telescopes. The video discusses how libraries have become more than just repositories of books, offering a wide range of services to the community, which makes them valuable yet also subjects to controversy.

💡Book Censorship

Book censorship refers to the practice of removing or restricting access to books, typically due to their content. The video addresses a significant rise in attempts to censor books in public libraries, particularly those with LGBTQ+ themes or explicit content, which is a central theme of the video as it explores the ongoing cultural debate around freedom of information and the role of libraries.

💡Mandela Effect

The Mandela Effect is a phenomenon where a large group of people remember something inaccurately. In the video, it is humorously mentioned in reference to the misremembering of the spelling of 'Berenstain Bears', illustrating how collective memory can sometimes偏差 (deviate) from the truth.

💡Librarians

Librarians are the professionals who manage and curate the collections and services of libraries. The video emphasizes the challenges faced by librarians, including receiving threats and accusations, as they navigate the contentious issue of book censorship and strive to maintain the library's role as a resource for all ages and interests.

💡Weeding

Weeding is the process of systematically removing books from a library's collection. The video clarifies that weeding is a standard practice done for reasons such as books being outdated or damaged. It distinguishes weeding from censorship, where books are removed or relocated based solely on their content.

💡Book Challenges

A book challenge is a formal request to reconsider the presence of a book in a library's collection, often due to perceived inappropriate content. The video discusses the process of book challenges and how they have increased, with many targeting multiple titles at once, particularly those with LGBTQ+ content or themes.

💡LGBTQ+ Representation

LGBTQ+ representation refers to the depiction or inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals and themes in media and literature. The video highlights the disproportionate focus on and challenges to books that feature LGBTQ+ characters or themes, indicating a broader societal push to include or exclude these narratives from public discourse.

💡Obscenity

Obscenity is a legal term referring to material that is considered offensive and not legally protected, particularly in the context of minors. The video discusses how some individuals and groups are attempting to apply the standard of obscenity broadly to censor library books, which can lead to the removal of books that discuss topics like puberty, sexuality, and human relationships.

💡Community Support

Community support is the backing or endorsement given by the public to institutions or causes. The video emphasizes the need for community support for libraries in the face of censorship attempts, underscoring that libraries serve a diverse community and require public backing to continue fulfilling their role.

💡Cultural War

Cultural war refers to the ongoing conflict over cultural values and norms, often between conservative and liberal ideologies. The video positions the debate over library books and content as part of a larger cultural war, where libraries have become a battleground for values and ideas.

💡Book Ban

A book ban is the prohibition of a book's availability or distribution, often due to its content. The video addresses the attempts to ban certain books from libraries, which is part of a larger movement to control what information is accessible to the public, particularly youth.

Highlights

Public libraries are evolving to lend more than just books, offering items like fishing poles, telescopes, and even mounted sandhill cranes for study.

Libraries provide various services including internet access, translation help, notary services, and printing, serving as a refuge for the unhoused and those in need of utilities.

Conservatives are targeting public libraries, with the American Library Association documenting over 4,200 unique book titles challenged in schools and libraries last year.

Librarians face bomb threats and personal abuse, being labeled as groomers or pedophiles for their roles in providing certain materials.

The process of 'weeding' in libraries involves the removal of outdated, damaged, or unpopular books for legitimate reasons, differing from the politically motivated removal of content.

Most libraries have a book challenge protocol allowing formal requests for reconsideration of books that may violate selection policies.

The Supreme Court has recognized that speech cannot be suppressed to protect the young from ideas deemed unsuitable by a legislative body, except in cases of obscenity for minors.

Instances of book censorship have involved relocating books with sexual content away from minors, even if the content is educational or age-appropriate.

Highly organized groups, often conservative and religious, compile lists of books to oppose, frequently targeting books with LGBTQ+ themes or characters.

Book challenges are increasingly aimed at censoring multiple titles simultaneously, with over half involving a hundred or more books.

Controversial books are sometimes misrepresented or taken out of context by those seeking to have them banned from libraries.

The graphic novel 'Gender Queer' has been the most frequently challenged book in America for three years, often criticized based on selective and explicit passages.

The debate over library content is not just about book banning but also involves attempts to influence library boards and funding to restrict access to certain materials.

Librarians and community members advocate for the importance of libraries in providing diverse resources and resisting censorship efforts.

Over 100 bills have been introduced in state legislatures to ban or restrict material in libraries, indicating a growing need for library defense and support.

The show emphasizes the need for community support to ensure libraries continue to serve their communities effectively amidst ongoing challenges and threats.

Transcripts

00:04

our main story tonight concerns books

00:06

you know beloved works like The Great

00:08

Gatsby Charlotte's Webb and the

00:10

barenstein Bears and you might think

00:12

barenstein is misspelled there you might

00:14

remember it as s i n but that's wrong

00:16

it's a weird Mandela effect thing that a

00:18

lot of people misremember but it's

00:19

always been the baron stain beavers it

00:22

was always spelled with an a

00:25

specifically we're going to be talking

00:26

about public libraries which of course

00:28

lend books but increasingly have become

00:30

so much more than that sure you can

00:32

check out books and DVDs here at

00:34

placental library but now you can also

00:37

check out one of

00:39

these you can also check out a fishing

00:41

pole and keep it for 3 weeks you can

00:43

check out a really neat telescope and

00:46

have a star party with your family

00:48

alongside books and movies are things

00:49

like air fryers and bun cake pans if you

00:51

want to plant a garden we have SE so you

00:54

can check out I don't know of anywhere

00:56

else that they can borrow a mounted

00:59

sandill Trin and just study it up

01:03

close yeah I'll bet there isn't anywhere

01:06

else that you can borrow a mountain

01:07

sandhill crane because according to

01:09

taxidermy.net message boards they're

01:11

very difficult to mount when a user

01:13

named Eric asked for sandhill crane

01:15

mounting information before I tackle

01:17

these tall guys one person said so you

01:20

know in advance you will use Every curse

01:21

word when you are wiring the legs or

01:23

someone called Greg suggested contacting

01:25

a magazine that had cover the topic

01:27

recently saying quote I am not a bird

01:28

guy but I remember reading that article

01:30

and thinking it was fairly easy which

01:33

shut up Greg sit this one out Eric's

01:35

clearly stressing you telling him to

01:37

call a magazine he's reaching out to his

01:39

community for support and you're not

01:40

that Community right now you're not a

01:42

bird guy well this is a bird guy's only

01:45

combo okay Greg

01:47

you the point is at some libraries you

01:51

can now borrow pretty much anything from

01:53

a fishing pole to a leaf blower to seeds

01:56

to a copy of a barenstein Badgers book

01:58

again your remember is wrong Baron stain

02:00

badges was always spelled b a r there

02:03

was never an e in there not just that

02:06

though libraries offer internet access

02:07

translation help notary services

02:09

Printing and a bunch of other

02:11

necessities they're also a refuge for

02:13

unhoused people or those without air

02:15

conditioning or heating all of which

02:16

explains why libraries are incredibly

02:19

popular garnering an estimated 4 million

02:21

visits every day mostly by young adults

02:24

women and lowincome households but as

02:26

you probably know from the fact that I'm

02:28

talking about libraries right now

02:30

they're in trouble because they've

02:31

become another front in the ongoing

02:33

culture War we've talked before about

02:35

how conservatives have targeted School

02:37

libraries but those debates have now

02:38

emphatically migrated over to public

02:41

libraries as well with residents

02:43

spouting talking points like these I do

02:46

not want our children grandchildren

02:48

seeing these books I feel they're

02:50

damaging psychologically it isn't left

02:52

versus right but it's right versus wrong

02:55

these books are wrong and they're

02:57

destroying our community books in our

02:59

taxpayers funed libraries make the jobs

03:01

of human and child traffickers easier

03:05

okay that last one sounds a little hard

03:07

to believe unless one of the books at

03:09

that Library happens to be child

03:10

trafficking for dummies but those aren't

03:13

isolated instances the American Library

03:15

Association documented efforts to sense

03:17

over 4,200 unique book titles last year

03:20

in schools and libraries the highest

03:22

level they've ever recorded with the

03:24

number of titles targeted for censorship

03:25

at public libraries in particular Rising

03:27

by 92% from the pre previous year and

03:30

that's not all bomb threats have been

03:32

called into libraries across the country

03:34

and Librarians themselves have been the

03:36

recipients of some pretty nasty abuse I

03:38

had heard people saying that I was a

03:41

pedophile I was grooming kids people in

03:43

my profession called pedophiles and like

03:46

these horrible horrible things I can say

03:50

unequivocally we are not pedophiles or

03:52

groomers um and I can say that on behalf

03:55

of our staff that that is not why we go

03:59

into public service or librarianship

04:01

yeah of course not that is why you go

04:03

into the clergy everybody knows that we

04:07

all know so given all of this tonight

04:10

let's talk about public libraries why

04:12

they're under attack where these

04:14

challenges are coming from and what the

04:15

consequences might be and let's start

04:17

with how public libraries operate

04:19

because generally they receive the vast

04:21

majority of their funding from local

04:23

government sources and they're typically

04:24

overseen by a local library board which

04:27

can either be elected or appointed by by

04:29

members of the local government and

04:31

Librarians actually get rid of books all

04:33

the time through a process known as

04:35

weeding weeding is done for all sorts of

04:37

good reasons like a book being out of

04:39

date severely damaged or simply so weird

04:42

no one wants to check it out anymore

04:43

books like body watching is Fun latata

04:47

the naughty horse learns to say no to

04:49

drugs and the Christian Child discipline

04:51

classic God the rod and your child's bot

04:55

fun fact a new copy of that is currently

04:57

selling on Amazon for $2

05:00

$14 so if you don't want to pay that you

05:02

better hope your local library has it or

05:04

you know what you can actually just

05:06

borrow my coffee here instead it's

05:09

fine but what we're talking about

05:11

tonight isn't weeding it's books being

05:13

removed or relocated from one section to

05:16

another purely for their content and

05:18

most libraries already have a book

05:20

challenge protocol allowing anyone who

05:22

feels that a book violates its selection

05:24

policies to submit a formal request for

05:26

reconsideration after which staff will

05:28

review the complaints and decide whether

05:30

to leave it reshel it or remove it

05:32

entirely and you should know there are

05:34

some legal limits here you can't just

05:37

demand a book be banned even if it is to

05:40

protect the children and that's because

05:41

through the years the Supreme Court has

05:43

recognized that speech cannot be

05:45

suppressed solely to protect the Young

05:47

from ideas or images that a legislative

05:49

body thinks unsuitable for them but

05:52

there's an exception when it comes to

05:54

obscenity which for minors is defined as

05:57

material that appeals to their puran

05:58

interest is offens Ive to prevailing

06:00

standards about what is suitable for

06:01

minors and lack serious literary

06:03

artistic political or scientific value

06:06

the problem is some have tried to apply

06:08

that standard incredibly broadly take

06:11

what happened in hunting to Beach

06:12

California where the city council

06:13

mandated that library books containing

06:15

any content of sexual nature be moved

06:18

away from anyone under 18 at the

06:21

direction of the Huntington Beach city

06:23

council Librarians at the Central

06:25

Library are starting to sort through

06:27

thousands of books in the children's

06:29

section their task according to

06:31

officials is to relocate books that

06:33

contain quote sexual content Library

06:36

staff began in the health section and

06:38

pulled books pertaining to the human

06:40

body and puberty we also saw books about

06:43

boats that were being moved a peek at

06:45

the pages show a child in a bathtub

06:47

playing with toy boats and a sketch of

06:50

early explorers yeah it's ridiculous and

06:53

it wasn't just shirtless rowers and kids

06:55

in tubs that got flagged that resolution

06:57

ultimately relocated books like own your

07:00

period puberty is gross but also really

07:02

awesome and Everyone Poops to the adult

07:06

section of the library and it is

07:08

ridiculous to do that especially when

07:10

you're keeping shell Silverstein books

07:11

in the kids area books which contain

07:14

actual author photos like this one if a

07:17

kid borrows Ronny babbit reads it to the

07:20

end and sees that photo don't be

07:21

surprised if their first question is

07:22

Mommy what's big dick

07:25

energy and that is not an isolated case

07:28

in one town in Texas officials removed

07:30

three books from the I need a new butt

07:33

series which is a children's book about

07:35

a boy who needs a new butt because his

07:38

has a crack and I haven't read it yet so

07:40

don't spoil the End by telling me if he

07:42

gets one or not they also pulled four

07:44

books about farts starring a goose a

07:47

snowman a heart and a leprechaun and

07:49

first you got to be pretty stupid to

07:51

believe that they are harmful to

07:52

children and second it does seem that

07:54

you can make a killing writing books

07:55

about farting because there are so many

07:58

of them including these are all real

08:00

ones about farting flamingos farting

08:02

unicorns farting turkeys farting

08:04

princesses farting dragons and of course

08:07

Gary the farting gingerbread man and

08:10

while those instances were one-offs

08:12

increasingly the list of books

08:14

challenged at libraries can be

08:16

suspiciously similar and that is because

08:18

challenges are often coming through

08:20

highly organized groups often

08:21

conservative and extremely religious who

08:24

are compiling and sharing lists of books

08:26

to oppose up until 2021 the vast major

08:29

majority of challenges only sought to

08:31

remove or restrict a single book but now

08:34

93% of them involve attempts to censor

08:37

multiple titles with more than half

08:39

involving a hundred or more books and

08:42

that starts to make sense when you see

08:43

how these groups operate take cleanup

08:45

Samuels which is sadly not a group

08:48

organized around the collective goal of

08:49

washing as many guys named Samuel as

08:52

possible instead refers to Samuel's

08:54

public library in Front Royal Virginia

08:56

the groups held events at which people

08:58

filled out over 500 100 forms

09:00

challenging nearly 150 books with one

09:02

event promising beer and babysitting

09:05

which might be the most divorced dad

09:08

activity I can think of okay kids uh get

09:10

in the car I need to go protect your

09:12

innocence by drinking beer and looking

09:14

at

09:15

babysitters those book challenges

09:17

heavily targeted books with lgbtq plus

09:20

characters or themes with people

09:21

frequently admitting when asked if

09:23

they'd read the books in full that they

09:24

hadn't with answers ranging from no to

09:27

who that is normal could get through it

09:29

to I looked at the summary it told me

09:31

all I needed to know and that is

09:34

possible because these groups often find

09:36

problematic books by scanning websites

09:39

and Facebook pages that list them like

09:41

Maring the library rated books and

09:43

perhaps the most prevalent book looks

09:45

and for a site set up as a moral

09:47

Crusader it is a bit weird that in their

09:49

logo the B and the L are I mean

09:52

like definitely right I know

09:55

sometimes I project hoiness when it

09:58

isn't there except for that shell

09:59

Silverstein photo cuz I'm dying on that

10:01

hill but I'm having a genuinely hard

10:03

time seeing anything in that logo that

10:05

isn't a strong bee taking an Willing L

10:08

and absolutely breaking its back book

10:11

looks rates books on a zero to five

10:14

scale from least to most objectionable

10:16

sometimes including a handy chart noting

10:18

the amount of times that certain words

10:19

are used for instance this is the chart

10:22

for the book Wicked and I'll just say if

10:24

there was a party game where you had to

10:26

guess a book or movie based solely on

10:28

one of those charts you could sell no

10:29

exaggeration 10 million of those games

10:33

okay so let let me see it's it's a novel

10:34

from 2001 24 o so it's it's not

10:37

life of pie not the other Bolin girl

10:40

hang on nine dicks wait is it choke by

10:43

Chuck panick yes 24 yes I love

10:48

this

10:49

game even our book A Day in the Life of

10:52

Marlon Bund which has been challenged a

10:53

bunch in libraries he criticized for

10:55

featuring alternate sexualities and

10:58

controversial political and social

10:59

commentary citing the illustration on

11:01

this page depicts two male rabbits

11:03

holding paws as a human would hold

11:05

another person's hand the rabbits are

11:07

discussing how much they love each other

11:09

and want to marry one another you know

11:12

filth but but that is clearly nonsense

11:15

if there is anything controversial in

11:17

our book it's that the animals dress up

11:18

for Weddings But at other times they're

11:20

mostly naked except for this Badger

11:22

whose arms turn into sleeves and even

11:24

then the problem isn't the implied

11:26

nakedness it's just the lack of

11:28

consistency there now to be fair some

11:32

titles on these lists do contain

11:35

explicit content in some cases they

11:36

books about puberty and others they may

11:39

be meant for teenagers and contain

11:41

references to sex which is exactly why

11:43

they're not shelved with children's

11:45

books to begin with libraries generally

11:47

have an adult section A young adult

11:49

section and a kid section it is not like

11:51

teen books with explicit content a sheld

11:54

right next to the barenstein bees book

11:56

yeah it's always been spelled e e n your

12:00

your memory is just very

12:02

bad but the content often gets framed in

12:05

extremely misleading ways for instance

12:06

the book let's talk about it has been

12:08

repeatedly challenged it's buil as the

12:11

teen Guide to Sex relationships and

12:12

being a human and here is how one m in

12:15

Iowa argued for it to be restricted at

12:17

her local library when I initially read

12:19

this book I was filled with anger quote

12:22

sending or getting an unwanted Saucy

12:25

something from a partner or individual

12:28

can be the highlight of your day period

12:30

it is thrilling sexy and fun the online

12:33

world is also a chalk block full of

12:35

pornography professionals and amateurs

12:37

alike sharing their sexy Adventures

12:40

online there is nothing wrong with

12:43

enjoying some corn it is a fun sugary

12:46

treat I have to pause because no matter

12:49

how many times I say these

12:53

words it scares me okay first porn is a

12:58

sugar Retreat sounds like the tagline

13:00

For an upcoming x-rated spin on Gummy

13:02

Bears an adult film that either exists

13:05

already or will shortly after this

13:07

episode ends but look those words are in

13:10

the book and if you go on book looks

13:12

you'll see they're quoted on their

13:13

review page but if you actually read the

13:15

book itself you'll see that they are

13:17

surrounded by a lot of careful advice

13:19

for instance that one line about sexting

13:21

has a ton of context around it with

13:23

advice like get prior consent don't

13:26

share or spread the photos you receive

13:28

and wait till you're a legal adult to do

13:30

it as for that sugary treat line it is

13:33

part of a long thoughtful discussion

13:35

that includes among many other things

13:36

that porn can create unrealistic

13:38

expectations the people you see on

13:40

camera are real human beings who deserve

13:41

your respect and if the amount of porn

13:43

you watch feels like it's impacting your

13:45

life then it's probably time to pull

13:46

back and give it some thought which is

13:49

good advice and in a country where 17

13:51

states provide abstinence only sex

13:53

education it might be the most honest

13:56

discussion about porn some teens get

13:58

especially if they have the kind of mom

14:00

who has a panic attack at the

14:02

very idea of it and why she will say

14:04

that she just wanted the library to

14:06

require parental permission to access

14:08

the book which is still a big barrier to

14:11

a teenager who might need to read it

14:13

there have been other attempts to try

14:14

and get it out of libraries alt together

14:16

and you do get the sense that people who

14:18

want to censor these books can have no

14:21

real idea of what's inside them or

14:22

indeed if they're even at the libraries

14:24

they're protesting at all as happened in

14:27

Idaho 5 years years ago this was

14:30

anointed the best small library in

14:32

America today the trustees are facing a

14:34

recall the director just resigned do you

14:37

feel that you've given in that you've

14:40

been defeated here that part of me does

14:43

yes but they start showing up at your

14:45

house guns on their hips and Bible

14:47

tracks in their hands activists

14:50

demanding that the library ban more than

14:52

400 books like gender queer and even if

14:55

we do nothing to you eventually if you

14:58

don't repent

14:59

of wanting to harm our children with

15:01

pornography that's up to God things need

15:04

to change otherwise you bring curses

15:07

upon yourselves

15:08

period from the most high are any of

15:11

those books in the library not a single

15:13

one yeah it's true activists demanded

15:17

that books they hadn't read be removed

15:19

from a library that didn't have them

15:21

which as far as protest go is about as

15:23

meaningful as marching to the Hollywood

15:24

Sign to demand Frankie munies return his

15:26

Oscar for Schindler's List he not there

15:29

he wasn't in that and the Very fact that

15:31

you're protesting this tells me you're

15:33

probably not familiar with the

15:34

material and even after that group was

15:37

told the library didn't have any of the

15:39

400 books they wanted banned they

15:41

demanded its board pass a policy

15:43

promising not to order controversial

15:44

books or if they did to place them in an

15:46

adults only room they also asked the

15:49

library to judge books under God's

15:51

standards and not of the world standards

15:53

you know God the freak known for

15:55

building the nude Garden he could watch

15:57

all day the guy who Commission in the

15:59

construction of an all animal boat

16:01

and who sat back and watched while his

16:03

own son got nailed oh I'm sorry am I

16:05

misunderstanding the Bible by taking

16:07

things out of context forgive me I

16:09

haven't read it I looked at the summary

16:13

it told me all I needed to

16:15

know and it is worth taking a moment on

16:18

the book they mentioned there gender

16:19

quit because it is the most frequently

16:21

challenged book in America for the last

16:23

three years running it's a graphic novel

16:25

that's the Memoir of a an author's

16:27

struggles with gender identity but but

16:28

is often reduced out of context to some

16:31

of its most explicit passages one of

16:33

which you might remember was read aloud

16:35

in the Senate last year by John Kennedy

16:37

I got a new strap strap on harness

16:42

today I can't wait to put it on you it

16:46

will fit my favorite dildo perfectly

16:50

you're going to look so hot I can't wait

16:53

to have your in my

16:56

mouth I'm going to give you the

16:59

of your life then I want you inside of

17:03

me that clip is just a perfect mix of

17:07

being horrendously disorienting and kind

17:09

of delightful it's like watching a dog

17:12

walk on its hind legs and then watching

17:14

the same dog say I can't wait to have

17:16

your in my mouth now it is not

17:19

unreasonable to say that shouldn't be

17:22

sheld directly alongside the picture

17:24

books in the children's section of the

17:26

library and you know who agrees with

17:27

that the author of the book I

17:31

don't think the book is for children but

17:33

I do think that it is appropriate for

17:35

teen readers and also that libraries

17:38

have books for all ages and you shove

17:42

them with signage and people browse and

17:47

find the books that they need in a

17:48

library and not every book in a library

17:50

is for every reader but they still need

17:52

to be available exactly it's not a

17:55

children's book which is why it's not

17:57

sheld with them and that author raises

17:59

an important distinction there some

18:00

books aren't appropriate for 5-year-olds

18:02

but might be if you're 16 because those

18:04

are two very different phases of life

18:06

that we don't treat the same way it's

18:08

why a 16-year-old driving a car is

18:10

perfectly legal and a 5-year-old driving

18:12

a car is a news

18:15

story and yet for some keeping books

18:17

like gender queer out of the kids

18:19

section where again it isn't still isn't

18:22

enough children are very literal they're

18:26

very impressionable they're going to

18:28

look at those pictures and they very

18:29

much look like children in the pictures

18:32

sex isn't for kids it has serious

18:34

consequences we should not be

18:36

encouraging them to engage in sexual

18:38

acts in leir the book is shelv in the

18:41

adult section but Park says it's still

18:43

attractive to

18:44

children I mean it's

18:46

beautiful it really is it's nature so I

18:50

think this would attract any child

18:53

because it looks like a car you know

18:54

it's cartoonish but it's in the adult

18:57

section if a child finds it it's because

19:00

they're somewhere that they're not

19:01

supposed to be so if anything the kid

19:02

should get into trouble not the book and

19:04

honestly that is where the rod comes in

19:07

look he's eating cookies on the cover he

19:10

needs to be

19:12

stopped the argument is basically this

19:15

can't be on Library shelves because a

19:16

kid could somehow find it but that is

19:19

something to which this understandably

19:20

exasperated librarian in Louisiana has a

19:23

pretty good response I have parents who

19:26

want these books out of the library

19:28

because they don't want adults to have

19:30

access because what if my child goes in

19:32

the adult section if your child is in

19:34

the library by itself or their s sorry

19:37

uh they probably have a phone in which

19:39

case my library is the least of your

19:42

problems right this entire debate

19:45

basically ends the second you remember

19:46

the existence of the internet if your

19:49

child has a phone they already have

19:50

access to the most sexualized images you

19:52

could imagine by which of course I mean

19:54

this uppercase B taking L on a oneway

19:58

trip to downtown like the last two

20:00

letters trying to start a new alphabet

20:03

and look thankfully not all these

20:05

challenges are successful that Mom's

20:06

efforts to get let's talk about it

20:08

restricted at her local library failed

20:11

but in many places even if that happens

20:13

the fight isn't over because these

20:15

groups will then campaign to replace

20:16

members of Library boards sometimes

20:18

doing so with wildly misleading claims

20:21

like in this ad endorsing two

20:22

conservative board candidates hi Mom I'm

20:26

home hi honey I'm in the

20:30

kitchen how are you today how was school

20:33

we went to the library today and there's

20:36

a special room for kids and this funny

20:39

lady she uh read us a book and she

20:43

showed us all the pictures in the book

20:46

mommy yes

20:49

honey what's anal

20:53

[Applause]

20:56

sex okay so there is lots wrong with

20:59

that including that no kid hears the

21:01

words anal sex and then he's like I'm

21:03

going to ask my mom about that later no

21:05

way you go to your friend with the

21:07

oldest older sister and sit with her the

21:09

whole bus ride home also it is not

21:12

important but where the was she

21:13

going with that dish I'm not trying to

21:16

Monday Morning Quarterback her process

21:17

everything else about her dishwashing is

21:19

totally normal you get dressed in your

21:20

regular chores outfits no gloves and a

21:23

spotless sundress check and check then

21:25

you wash dishes without any soap that

21:27

all makes sense to me but why would she

21:29

hold a soaking wet UNS soaked dish

21:31

instead of putting it back in the sink

21:32

you going to put it away it's too wet

21:34

for that lady is it heading for a

21:36

drawing rack if so why would it be so

21:38

far away from the sink move your glass

21:40

with one flower out of there and put a

21:43

drawing Rack in its place you Dopey

21:45

freak but the thing is the two

21:47

candidates that ad was supporting won

21:50

and who is on the library board matters

21:52

in Campbell County Wyoming the library

21:54

systems executive director refused to

21:56

remove 17 books sented around the

21:58

experiences of lgbtq plus people and I

22:01

will note not one of the requests to

22:03

remove the books had come from a parent

22:05

whose child looked at or checked out a

22:07

book that their parents thought was

22:09

inappropriate not one and and while the

22:11

library board initially backed her the

22:13

County Commission then quickly appointed

22:15

four new members to the board who then

22:17

moved to fire her although before the

22:19

vote they did get this impassioned

22:21

speech from a local resident can you

22:23

start outline books because of your

22:27

personal religious and moral beliefs in

22:31

this country you're you're going against

22:34

the Constitution you're going against

22:36

what we were founded for and you're

22:39

personally an affront to myself and most

22:43

of the people I know this is a show

22:47

and I'm embarrassed for this board thank

22:53

you wow I have to say usually when you

22:57

see a white guy with a bushy mustache

22:59

holding a microphone at a town meeting

23:01

you get worried but he proved my

23:04

expectations wrong there kudos to you

23:05

guy i' otherwise assume storm the

23:07

capital but but for all the support the

23:11

argument to defend the library director

23:13

got in that room just a little later the

23:15

board did this I make a motion to um

23:19

vote for Terry Lesley's position to be

23:21

terminated as the Campell County Public

23:22

Library director all in

23:25

favor wow

23:28

you have it yeah they fired her and for

23:31

what it's worth you shouldn't be allowed

23:33

to fire someone while wearing this dumb

23:35

of a hat that that was bought on a beach

23:38

day in carbo you screamed how much Poore

23:40

and how much dairo and the guy claimed

23:43

he was giving you a deal while charging

23:44

you double and you were like graas I'm

23:46

going to wear this to the meeting where

23:47

I fire a librarian despite public

23:49

opposition the carbo hat I got for muaro

23:51

penda that means that means on sale

23:54

gracius inor

23:57

myen the point it is these groups have

24:00

all sorts of levers they can pull and if

24:02

all else fails they can even try and cut

24:04

the libraryies funding all together in

24:06

Jamestown Michigan community members

24:08

voted to defund a library after an

24:10

intense campaign by residents who

24:12

accused it of grooming children and

24:14

promoting an lgbtq ideology despite the

24:16

fact that of roughly 67,000 items in the

24:19

library's collection only around 90 of

24:21

them had lgbtq themes yet that vote

24:24

eliminated 84% of their annual budget so

24:28

naturally the library was immediately

24:30

under threat of closing and a and a

24:32

board meeting afterward one librarian

24:34

pointed out that this was a natural

24:36

consequence of voter's actions I am

24:39

shocked that the people are surprised

24:41

that the library will close you can't

24:43

vote to eliminate funding for the

24:45

library and say you don't want it to

24:47

close you can't say you're doing it just

24:49

to send a message and not expect there

24:52

to be consequences to your actions it's

24:55

not a symbolic move it's a death

24:57

sentence

24:59

and I hope the community is prepared to

25:00

live with that exactly why wouldn't the

25:03

library close if most of its funding is

25:05

cut any establishment whether it's a

25:08

business or a government service needs

25:09

money to operate if you don't believe me

25:11

just visit your local Circuit City and

25:13

ask them to explain it to you now

25:16

thankfully last November there was a

25:17

vote to restore that library's funding

25:19

through next year and it passed

25:21

comfortably and that is the thing here

25:23

protecting libraries is a fight but it's

25:26

also winnable it just means standing up

25:28

to all these attacks whenever

25:30

they occur and they are occurring a lot

25:33

this year alone more than a 100 bills

25:35

have been introduced in state

25:36

legislatures intended to ban or restrict

25:38

material in school and public librar

25:40

some of which are Bonkers just last week

25:43

the Alabama House advanced a bill

25:45

allowing Librarians to be arrested for

25:47

the content they allow on shelves and

25:49

Arkansas and Oklahoma have already

25:50

passed laws to make it possible to

25:52

prosecute Librarians for Distributing

25:54

obscene content this is all Madness and

25:58

it speaks to the need for libraries to

26:00

be vigorously defended and I know it is

26:03

not shocking that an episode of this

26:05

show would Advocate to support your

26:07

local libraries it's pretty much

26:09

implicit in our whole vibe my suit

26:11

glasses and desk all practically scream

26:14

support your local libraries to which

26:16

the rest of my body would say out of

26:20

respect but depending on where you live

26:22

you might need to pay attention if

26:23

people start showing up at your local

26:25

library board meeting and reading ear

26:27

catching parts of young adult books

26:29

because while it is understandable for

26:31

parents to want to have a say in what

26:33

their kids can check out from the

26:34

library it is not their right to have a

26:37

say in what can be checked out at all

26:39

and it frankly doesn't feel like a

26:41

coincidence that so much of this

26:43

conversation concerns lgbtq themes as it

26:46

seems this is just the latest way to try

26:47

and push that Community out of public

26:50

spaces to send a message that their

26:52

lives and stories aren't welcome and by

26:53

extension to tell anyone growing up

26:55

questioning that the answers are off

26:57

limits to them all of which is just

26:59

basically a long way of saying libraries

27:01

badly need our support right now so that

27:03

they continue to serve the diverse needs

27:05

of their communities while also of

27:06

course lending out air fryers seeds and

27:10

copies of the baron steam cheaters we

27:12

all loved those books as kids and before

27:15

we go tonight in case there are any

27:17

bookl type organizations doing a report

27:19

on this show I'll save you the trouble

27:21

and do the chart myself 10 three

27:23

shits three dicks and three

27:26

off buls oh look I just made it 11:

27:30

that's our show thanks so much for

27:31

watching now if excuse me I have

27:33

something that I badly need to return to

27:35

the library before midnight good night

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Public LibrariesCensorshipCultural WarsLGBTQ+Book BanningCommunity ServicesLibrary FundingConservative GroupsSex EducationYA LiteratureFreedom of Speech