MONROE COUNTY, Ga. — The Monroe County Public Library board addressed two books that some people have asked to be moved out of the young adult section in order to protect their children. Both of the highlighted books have LGBTQ themes.
Stranger Than Fan Fiction and My Most Excellent Year are the books that were in the spotlight. Over a 11-day period, the library received five submissions to relocate the books.
Rod Callahan was one that sent in a challenge. He did not want the books removed. He wanted them to be more protection in place.
“I was just hoping that they would take materials of an adult nature that only a parent or guardian should allow their child to see if they choose to do that, it would be put in an adult section," Callahan said.
The books were shelved in the young adult section on the other side of the library away from the kids section. Kimberly Smothers-Clayton has been the librarian for over six years.
"At the same time there's the choice for you to walk into the library and choose what you want to read," Kimberly Smothers-Clayton said.
During the special meeting, Callahan wanted to make a compromise with fairness at the heart, and she wanted to allow both viewpoints to be available.
“I just feel like that there needs to be a book or two that disagrees with that because we talk about fairness and we live in a federal republic or democracy if you prefer," Callahan said.
Smothers-Clayton said the library does not pick sides. It just provides resources.
"Our collection is based on the totality of the community not just the majority. We also try to represent the perspectives and experiences of the underrepresented and marginalized because everyone whether they are majority, minority, or underrepresented are part of the community," Kimberly Smothers-Clayton said.
Joan Whitehead-Freeman believes the LGBTQ selections in the library are not a threat to children since there are 37,000 titles at the public library.
“58 of those titles have the LGBTQ sticker. That is probably less than one-hundredth of a percent. It makes no sense for folks to be worried about that and if you are that concerned about what your children are reading, you wouldn’t drop them off at the public library," Whitehead-Freeman said.
The board voted unanimously to keep both books in the young adult section. They encourage people to reach out with their concerns, so these conversations can continue happen.