Facing opposition as recently as this month to some of its books and events, the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library Board has issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to intellectual freedom.
"Our library shall facilitate the free expression of ideas, creativity, and opinions, including those that may be unconventional or unpopular," the board said in a commitment statement approved Monday night.
"Our library shall continue to strive for equitable access to library services and spaces, where individuals can freely explore diverse ideas, including political, religious, and moral perspectives, without censorship or restrictions.
"Our library will make available materials and resources, including books, films, and electronic resources, without discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, or other personal characteristics and will continue to resist efforts to censor or restrict access to information."
The statement followed request to the library earlier this month by a national pro-Israel group to cancel a free public screening of the Academy Award-winning documentary No Other Land on May 15 at the library's North Branch.
Made by a collective of Palestinian and Israeli activist/filmmakers, the film documents life in the West Bank under Israeli occupation.
The Sault screening was organized by a group identifying itself as SSM4Palestine.
Matthew MacDonald, the library's executive director, said the statement released Monday was developed after board members recently underwent training on intellectual freedom.
No mention was made of the request to censor the documentary when the commitment statement was approved Monday night.
The pro-Israel group wrote this to MacDonald the day before the screening:
"It has come to the attention of the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation that a group called SSM4Palestine has booked space in the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library for a viewing of the controversial, anti-Israel film, No Other Land," wrote Andria Spindel, the group's executive director.
"There is no state of Palestine and there has never been one. The area that the film describes as Masafer Yatta is comprised of illegal squatter villages in the middle of an area legally under Israel’s civilian and military control ie: Area C. This designation was negotiated with the Palestinian Authority under the Oslo Accords. This area has never been 'Palestinian' land.
”Palestinians have never even had a treaty or comparable agreement granting them legal ties to eastern Jerusalem, the West Bank or the Gaza Strip.
"Facts are important, and this film neglects most facts, such as the 22 years of litigation against the squatters for building illegally and without any permits and without meeting any construction standards for structures. The Israel High Court of Justice ruled in 2022 that the outposts must be removed. The villagers of Masafer Yatta were relocated. Every country has the right to enforce its laws, and Israel, a country that abides by the rule of law, did follow due process.
"So, we bring this to your attention, not to only provide you with historical accuracy and legal facts, but most importantly, to point out that at a time of rising and dangerous antisemitism across the globe, with attacks on Jews across Canada, with the increasingly anti-Israel campaigners failing to disguise their hostile antisemitism, this film will only engender more Jew hatred.
"The film, No Other Land, misleads viewers, possibly intentionally, and will bring harm to your local Jewish community. This is no different than the use of antisemitic tropes against Jews which fueled hatred over the centuries across Europe and the Middle East.
"Does Sault Ste Marie’s public library have a role to play in fomenting hate or might you consider taking a stand that hatred and lies do not belong in publicly funded facilities? We trust you will seriously consider our concerns and not subject any audience to the disinformation and defamation portrayed in this film," Spindel wrote.
In recent months, Sault Ste. Marie Public Library has also been criticized for hosting Drag Storytime events for children.
The library's collection development policy allows members of the public to request reconsideration of books in its collection.
Last month, library staff declined a request from an anonymous person who filled out a Reconsideration of Library Materials form 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.