Fahrenheit 451?

This Wednesday, 6/15, the Hillsborough County Commission will consider some very important library issues. Here is the link to the agenda: http://docs.hillsboroughcounty.org/repository/00002/261/06-15agenda.pdf
Here are some highlights from the agenda:

1. Public comments are scheduled for 9:10 am.

2. At 10:30, the BOCC will "receive the DVDs and Material Selection Policy." This relates to Commissioner Ronda Storms's agenda item that the library should no longer purchase any tapes, CDs or DVDs that are not "educational." (Sound like "Fahrenheit 451" to anyone?).

3. At 2:20 pm, "Discussion regarding libraries acting as video stores." (Commissioner Storms)

4. There's also an item that doesn't show up on the internet version of the agenda yet. Item F-9: "Discussion regarding the adoption of a policy that Hillsborough County government abstains from promoting and DCM participating in Gay Pride recognition and events." This item relates to Commissioner Storms's objections to the Gay & Lesbian literature displays in the libraries. (If it was the bible being banned from the library what would the Commissioners say?)

What you can do:

1. Pass along the word of the BOCC meeting Wednesday, attend if you can, and speak up if you're able.

2. Contact your commissioners and let them know how you feel about these policies. Here are their phone numbers:

Kathy Castor - 813-272-5470
Ken Hagan - 813-272-5452
Thomas Scott - 813-272-5720
Ronda Storms - 813-272-5740
Jim Norman - 813-272-5725
Brian Blair - 813-272-5730
Mark Sharpe - 813-272-5735

Some talking points (or use your own!):

1. Book (or CD or DVD) banning is an extraordinary affront to American values and our Constitution. Restricting what citizens read and denying them access to ideas because those in power disagree with them is the hallmark of authoritarian regimes that deny their citizens the basic freedoms we have and cherish here.

2. Libraries are important sources of information for all of us. Moreover, libraries are for everyone, regardless of their background. And children of all backgrounds are entitled to see their communities, families and children like them represented in books. Just like children of minority communities, children who lost a parent, and children with disabilities benefit by reading stories about other children like them, so do children who grow up in families with gay parents or other gay family members.

3. Gay people are part of the family and community. Many children have close family members who are gay. There is nothing inappropriate about children's books that depict gay characters. Just like librarians can judge what kinds of depictions of heterosexuals and their relationships are appropriate for children, they can determine which books have age-appropriate depictions of gay relationships.

Please feel free to forward this e-mail as you see fit.

Rebecca Harrison Steele

ACLU West Central Florida

P.O. Box 18245

Tampa, FL 33679-8245

813.254.0925

813.254.0926 fax

Wendy Sears Grassi
Director of Public Affairs
Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida
2055 Wood Street, #110
Sarasota, FL 34237
941/365-3913 x108
www.plannedparenthood.org