[LIBRARYDIR] [EXTERNAL] Controversial Book Request-your thoughts?

[Jacquelyn Ray]

Thanks Candice!    I am hoping for a collective brainstorm as my lean was towards "no" with some suggested alternative titles, but it wasn't an automatic "no" for me either.   Yes, this caught my eye as well, a very small number of publics (6, I think?) have this title and two happen to be KCLS and Sno-Isle.

I will honestly say I think WWCC is pretty darn good on making sure that we have multiple perspectives, one of our titles that is more conservative leaning is constantly out on ILL-something I just discovered a month ago--oddly enough to KCLS and SPL most frequently.

Anyway, yes, it is an interesting question to ponder!


​Jacquelyn Ray, MLIS, MA | Library Director | she/her
Walla Walla Community College
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________________________________
From: Watkins, Candice <cwatkins at tacomacc.edu>
Sent: Monday, August 23, 2021 2:49 PM
To: WACTC Library Directors <librarydir at lists.ctc.edu>
Cc: Jacquelyn Ray <jacquelyn.ray at wwcc.edu>
Subject: Re: [EXTERNAL] [LIBRARYDIR] Controversial Book Request-your thoughts?

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That's a tough one, Jackie! Wow. I'll venture my perspective here.

Like you mentioned, it would be easy to deny this acquisition if you base it on your collection development policy which no doubt primarily supports the curriculum and probably doesn't prioritize biographies.

That said, does your library have works that offer the other perspective? If so, then she has a legitimate request. I also see that two public library systems in WA have this title (King and Sno Isle). Perhaps that's because public libraries invest more in biographies, but I do think it's interesting that this book is about her experience in higher ed and no academic libraries carry it. Freedom of speech, censorship, academic freedom...these are weighty and important topics for all of us in higher ed right now. Do we only purchase the books that speak to one side of the topic?

I know there are many, many arguments against this purchase, but I don't think it's an automatic 'no.' At least, not for me.

Just brainstorming here!
Candice




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From: LIBRARYDIR <librarydir-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> on behalf of Jacquelyn Ray via LIBRARYDIR <librarydir at lists.ctc.edu>
Sent: Monday, August 23, 2021 2:25 PM
To: WACTC Library Directors <librarydir at lists.ctc.edu>
Cc: Jacquelyn Ray <jacquelyn.ray at wwcc.edu>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] [LIBRARYDIR] Controversial Book Request-your thoughts?

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Hi all~

     I received a request from a student for the biography below which appears to a narrative of the subject's experience with they felt was oppression of their conservative views on college campuses.   This student wants this particular title as she want to start a "Turning Point USA" political activism group on campus.

I was just crafting my response to this student (fyi, I was going to deny the request and offer alternatives more in line with our collection policy) but wanted to check in with the brain trust on your thoughts, if you have run into something similar, etc.  A quick search in worldcat shows that not a single college owns this title and it came out in February.


Frontlines: finding my voice on an American college campus <https://www.amazon.com/Frontlines-Finding-American-College-Campus/dp/1544519303/ref=sr_1_1?crid=37IFHFG26XH8J&dchild=1&keywords=frontlines+isabel+brown&qid=1629752433&sprefix=frontlines%2Caps%2C275&sr=8-1> by Isabel Brown

Thanks for your thoughts!
Jackie


​Jacquelyn Ray, MLIS, MA | Library Director | she/her
Walla Walla Community College
Need help evenings or weekends? Try our 24/7 Ask-a-Librarian Chat Service!<https://askwa.libanswers.com/widget_chat.php?hash=d266f8c192e1c15230f3b8f764dcead2>

Hope, as an ontological need, demands an anchoring in practice.
We need critical hope the way a fish needs unpolluted water.
(Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of Hope)



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