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<p class="MsoNormal">Many of you may be aware, but in case you’re not, I wanted to call attention to the controversy surrounding
<i>George</i>, by Alex Gino, being included on the Grades 3 to 5 list for OBOB next year. There have been complaints by parents because they do not feel
<i>George</i> is an age-appropriate title to be included on the list. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In case you are not familiar with the book, here is the publisher’s summary:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background:white">"When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their
class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part . . . because she's a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not
just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all."</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The response by the OBOB board up to this point is:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white"><em><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">“George</span></em><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"> was nominated for the 2018-2019 OBOB Elementary
Division when title nominations were open for anyone to nominate up to three titles per division that they think would be appropriate for OBOB within that grade division. Members of the elementary title selection committee read George and found that it met
the selection criteria of OBOB which includes:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;word-wrap: break-word;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">It is an appropriate reading level for 3-5th grade.</span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;word-wrap: break-word;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">It adds diversity of character, plot, perspective, and genre to the OBOB reading list.</span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;word-wrap: break-word;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">It is an award winning book that has high-quality writing and is well-reviewed.</span></strong><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;word-wrap: break-word;font-variant-ligatures: normal;font-variant-caps: normal;orphans: 2;text-align:start;widows: 2;-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px;text-decoration-style: initial;text-decoration-color: initial;word-spacing:0px">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Outside of the committees we read and consider the feedback we’ve received from the feedback forms available for anyone to give feedback. There was not sufficient feedback to cause concern for
the committee to exclude the book from the list.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="mso-margin-top-alt:0in;margin-right:0in;margin-bottom:7.5pt;margin-left:0in;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;word-wrap: break-word">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The OBOB Handbook states:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;word-wrap: break-word">
<em><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">Once a title has been placed on the final list and announced to the public, it cannot be removed.</span></em><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;word-wrap: break-word">
<em><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">In accordance with the Library Bill of Rights and its interpretations, titles that otherwise meet the selection criteria will not be excluded: ‘because of the origin, background or views of
those contributing to their creation;’ or ‘because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval;’ or ‘because of actual or suspected parental objections;’ or ‘in an effort to avoid controversy with parents.’</span></em><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt;background:white;box-sizing: border-box;word-wrap: break-word">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif">The OBOB Handbook also provides all the guidelines and the outline of how titles are discussed and chosen under the heading ‘Criteria for the Selection of Titles’.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">However, I understand that the decision is not actually final, and due to the pressure being applied by those who feel it is inappropriate, George may not remain on next year’s reading list. If you would like to provide feedback, you may
email <a href="mailto:obobtitlechair@gmail.com"><span style="color:windowtext">obobtitlechair@gmail.com</span></a> and
<a href="mailto:oboblsta@gmail.com"><span style="color:windowtext">oboblsta@gmail.com</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Holly Campbell-Polivka<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Youth Services Librarian<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Tigard Public Library<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Direct: 503-718-2811<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Children’s Desk: 503-718-2673<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hours: Wed 5:30-9:30; Fri 9:30-6; Sat 10-6:30<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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