Storming the ramparts in defence of intellectual freedom, Sault Ste. Marie librarians have rebuffed a reader's complaint of “inappropriate language, violence, crude adult humour” in a picture book about parenting.
An anonymous person filled out a Reconsideration of Library Materials form on Feb. 15 at Sault Ste. Marie Public Library, expressing concern about the book There are Moms Way Worse than You by Glenn Boozan, an Emmy-nominated, Writers Guild of America-winning comedy writer.
The book playfully encourages parents, drawing attention to very bad moms and dads in the animal world, sometimes using potty-mouth expressions.
"The poison dart frog dad is less a 'hit' and more a 'miss,' the author wrote, adding: "To keep his eggs from drying out, he'll sometimes use his piss."
"At least you're not a cuckoo mom. Whoo boy, that bitch is brazen. She hides her eggs in other nests so she won't have to raise 'em."
Boozan has written comedy for Conan, Comedy Central’s Lights Out with David Spade, Sarah Silverman’s I Love You, America on Hulu, and TruTV’s Adam Ruins Everything.
She's also written for MTV, The New Yorker and The Onion.
She wrote the book in 2022 after her sister was being overly self-critical of her own parenting methods.
"This shocked me because to me, she's the perfect mother," Boozan told Writer's Digest magazine that year.
"I wanted to comfort her, but I don't have kids myself. So, I just blurted out: 'Well, hamster moms eat their kids. So at least you're not doing that.'
"She laughed and it made her feel better. So, I wrote that sentiment into a Mother's Day card for her, and then that turned into the book.
"The world needs to go easier on moms, dammit," she added.
The book was presented like a child's picture book, but it was kept in the Sault Public Library's parenting section.
The complaining patron didn't share Boozan's raunchy sense of humour and asked that it be placed in another library collection.
Such complaints usually are sent to the library board for consideration, but in this case, the form was incomplete and submitted anonymously.
Matthew MacDonald, the library's chief executive officer, nonetheless agreed to review the complaint in consultation with Wayne Greco, who chairs the library board.
They rejected the complaint, directing that the book remain in its existing spot on library shelves "rather than being relocated to adult non-fiction as it is more easily accessible to the book’s targeted audience in its current location."
"We're not in the book banning business," Greco said.
The following is from Sault Ste. Marie Public Library's collection development policy:
The board recognizes that some materials may be regarded as controversial, whether because of bias, frankness of language, political or religious expression, or moral implication.
Selection will be made on the evaluation of the publication’s literary merit, authenticity, presentation, topical interest, and use by the intended audience.
The primary aim of materials selection is to establish a balanced collection that adequately represents various points of view on many subjects.
No library materials shall be included nor excluded simply because of the race, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, place of birth, origin, ethnic origin, ethnicity, citizenship, age, creed, disability, family structure, political, religious, social, or moral views of the author.
Individuals requesting that material be withdrawn from, restricted within or located in a different section of the library should fill out the Reconsideration of Library Materials form and submit it to the library CEO.
The reconsideration will be placed on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled library board meeting.
The library will be organized and maintained to facilitate access. There will be no prejudicial labelling, sequestering or alteration of materials. The Sault Ste. Marie Public Library Board recognizes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom and the Ontario Library Association Statement on Intellectual Freedom and the Intellectual Rights of the Individual.
The presence of an item in the library’s collection is an affirmation of the principle of intellectual freedom. It does not indicate an endorsement of its contents by the Sault Ste. Marie library staff or board.
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If you're going to make a judgement call on something, own it and put your name on it. Anonymous is cowardice. Oh yeah, if you don't like it, don't read it.
Glad to see you didn't give in to ONE complaint. That has been happening far too often.
Good on the Library board for having some common sense here. If you don't like the content of the book just don't read it.
The unnamed complainer is probably not a parent and has zero sense of humor
Kudos to the library. To each their own as the saying goes. If I don't like a book, I stop reading it, simple.
I don't have kids. Nor have the desire to have kids. BUT, you people just need to mind your own business and let people parent how they want to. Not your kids, not your problem. Don't like it, don't buy it. Don't read it, just ignore it. Sheesh
Good decision from the library, as an adult, I should be free to choose what I read. If I started reading something and became uncomfortable with the content, I would simply stop reading it. It is not up to me to decide what is right or wrong for other adults.
If you support the freedom to read what you want to read, consider a donation to the library!
Three cheers for the Public Library!
An individual has a right to control what their children read, they have a right to control what they read, they have no right and no say in what anyone else reads. Thanks to the library staff and the board member that stood against the complaint for ?????.
I’m so happy the library made the right decision!