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

Mon Aug 23 15:21:44 PDT 2021

And yet the stated purpose for purchasing the title is student scholarship, and is therefore by definition a ‘student-centered’ purchase (I’m assuming it will be a school sponsored club and if so, will also require some opportunity for faculty scholarship). Does the student already have a faculty/staff sponsor for the club (if one is needed)?
It is a conundrum. ILL would acquire the less than $15.00 book ($6.49 on kindle).
Interesting end-of-day conversation.

Howard

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Great conversation, thanks Jackie,
It looks like the author of the first person account is a spokesperson for Turning Point USA, a part of their Speakers Bureau, and that the book was self-published for between $12K and $20K under the Scribe Media imprint (Houndstooth is a brand). I don’t have 2 cents to offer, but it provided an interesting diversion this afternoon.

Sincerely,
Lori
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I still remember one of my professors in library school saying, “A percentage of your library’s collection should be personally offense to you.”  Never have been able to remember what that percentage was but I’ve always thought of that when something like this comes up.

We have a staff member that consistently argues, with some validity, that our collection dev. tends to be toward a particular point of view.  The argument our librarians have used is that most of our patrons already have experience with one point of view so we want to offer points of view they might not otherwise encounter.   Having said that, I do have that staff member make recommendations that I review and purchase some of as well.

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Big Bend Community College
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Subject: Re: [LIBRARYDIR] [EXTERNAL] 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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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
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