<div dir="auto">I posted a statement related to this on the People for Oregon Libraries Facebook page yesterday. I think this statement is adaptable to your situation. It is posted on this library’s Facebook page: <div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/358613090563/posts/10165130834365564/?d=n">https://www.facebook.com/358613090563/posts/10165130834365564/?d=n</a></div></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">A STATEMENT FROM WEST WARWICK PUBLIC LIBRARY</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Over the past few days, there have been postings (principally on social media) that misrepresent the content and the goals of the library’s forthcoming Drag Story Hour, particularly through the use of images that are not relevant to the nature of the program that is taking place. The stated intent of many of these posts – the majority of which seem to originate outside the West Warwick community – is to cancel the event.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Drag Story Hours are a recognized form of library programming for children, supported by the American Library Association, and this sort of story time has taken place at other public libraries in the state and across the nation. The event here celebrates Pride month, and will consist of guest readers in costume – both of whom have lead story times in the past – reading children’s books to children and their accompanying parents. The message we are hoping to get across is that people are different, and that difference shouldn't be a reason for teasing or bullying. Our special guests do appear before a range of audiences, but in this instance the program content will be appropriate for the age group concerned, will be guided by professional Youth Librarians, and will not pertain to issues of religious belief or affiliation. We will be partnering for this event with West Warwick Health Equity Zone (who are funding the program), Youth Pride RI and PFLAG of Greater Providence. We are offering two time slots for parents and children to register for the event on June 26th, and the first of these is already at capacity.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">This year we were proud to be one of just 15 libraries nationwide to be a named a finalist for the National Medal for Museum and Library Service by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. We are the first library in the state to be so recognized since 2001, and this honor redoubles our commitment to provide exemplary library service to all of our patrons. We recognize that not every program we offer matches the interests or the values of every member of our community, and that patrons may or may not attend at their own discretion. We will, however, continue to ensure that issues of equity, diversity and inclusion inform and enrich everything that we do. Our message is simple – Libraries are for Everyone.</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">Colin McCullough, Library Director</div><div dir="auto">Nathan Shapiro, Chair, Board of Trustees</div></div><div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sat, Jun 12, 2021 at 11:30 AM Rachael Grindberg via Libs-Or <<a href="mailto:libs-or@omls.oregon.gov">libs-or@omls.oregon.gov</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;padding-left:1ex;border-left-color:rgb(204,204,204)"><div dir="ltr"><div>Hi all,</div><div><br></div><div>Sorry for cross posting.</div><div><br></div><div>I'm in need of help. Around the library we are displaying flags for pride month. Our actual book display is for Eric Carle since he died, and we are very small so only have room for one display. I got an email from a patron complaining about the flags. I tried searching online about how to respond to someone who complains about a display, but all of the responses have to do with books. I need to respond to this email diplomatically, but also tell her we aren't taking the flags down because she asked us to. The following is the email she sent:</div><div><br></div><div>
<div style="font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)">
Dear Librarians,</div>
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<div style="font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)">
I was in the library today picking up a book. I hesitated to say
anything because I so appreciate the hard work of all the library
volunteers and I did not want to offend anyone. But as I have been
thinking about how disturbing my experience was, I think
that it may be helpful to you to know what caused my distress. Gay
flags, transgender flags, etc. flying everywhere. It may be politically
correct to celebrate gay behavior, but for many of us in Douglas
county, it is no cause for celebration. It is particularly
disturbing because you have such a wonderful outreach to children. It
is child abuse to encourage children to destroy their health with
untested hormonal treatments and to mutilate their beautiful bodies
surgically. Furthermore, encouraging gay and lesbian
relationships condemn the child to a life of being unable to have
children of their own. I am not alone in my concerns.</div>
<div style="font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)">
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<div style="font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)">
This is a community library and it is not helpful to alienate a large segment of the community if you want community support.</div>
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<div style="font-family:Calibri,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12pt;color:rgb(0,0,0)">
Please reconsider your offensive advocacy of such a controversial issue.</div>
</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Any suggestions for how to respond to this email would be greatly appreciated.</div><div><br></div><div>Thanks.<br></div><div><div><div dir="ltr" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><img src="https://docs.google.com/uc?export=download&id=14y2kscJe7v_G5S91Dy-ugtPJA2cQ3zsB&revid=0B2fqwBVQaLYuSEJtOTdwVTNzeUFEQUlZLy9zQThVeFVHY0hnPQ"></div></div></div></div></div>
</blockquote></div></div>-- <br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><em><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS";font-size:10pt">Diedre Conkling</span></em><i><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS";font-size:10pt"><br></span></i><a href="mailto:diedre08@gmail.com" target="_blank"><em><span style="color:blue;font-family:"Comic Sans MS";font-size:10pt">diedre08@gmail.com</span></em></a></div>
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<span>“If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.”―Maya Angelou</span><span></span></h6><span style="font-family:"Comic Sans MS";font-size:10pt"></span></div></div></div></div>