This letter is written in response to Cheryl Brown’s letter published Feb. 14th. As Ms. Brown seems want to do she has conveniently cherry-picked facts then twisted them to meet her group’s perverse agenda. In this letter, I will list and untwist the facts. Keep in mind that Ms. Brown has raised and misrepresented our limited concern with the books she listed in a further attempt to distract from the fact that the Library is keeping pornography in the teen section of the library. If you are unaware of this fact, please follow the link below for factual information.
(Editor’s note: Per our Letter submission guidelines, which were provided to the author, Owensboro Times does not include links to other web pages.)
Daviess County Citizens for Decency asked Daviess County Public Library to review, rate and/or move certain titles contained within the juvenile and teen sections of the library. Review of any questioned titles is covered in the DCPL’s policies. They have a declared responsibility to do so. We did not ask that they create a nonsensical and punitive “limited access card.” Nor did we ask that a new sign mischaracterizing the patrons of that section as “young adults” be hung in the teen section. DCC4D was never asked about or allowed input on these so-called compromises. If we had been, we would have called them exactly what they are: a ridiculous waste of taxpayer dollars. A juvenile attempt to bamboozle concerned citizens.
DCC4D used three rating systems in addition to reviewing many of these titles on our own. Book Looks was among the several sources we relied upon. What Cheryl Brown is attempting to do is create guilt by association. Something her side engages in regularly because they cannot defend their position. The fact is Book Looks, Rated Books, and all other resources we relied upon, have one thing in common. We all recognize that groups like Cheryl Brown’s either intentionally or unintentionally, are working toward the sexualization of innocent children. Through the American Library Association (ALA) they’re using our libraries to normalize behaviors that should not be recognized as normal. They are intent on taking your children’s innocence and will stop at nothing to do that. We tried to use industry-recognized content rating systems as Cheryl Brown suggests, but learned very quickly that these industry-recognized content rating systems are a part of the problem. It is in fact the publishing industry that is perpetuating this problem and their “rating systems” are little more than a means for hiding objectionable materials from parents and concerned citizens. It is that very fact that gave birth to systems created by concerned parent groups like Rated Books and Book Looks.
What Cheryl Brown conveniently leaves out of her letter is our request for a rating system. We did not ask that the books she cited be removed or even moved. We asked that they be rated, so parents knew what they were getting before their children were exposed. I don’t think that’s too much to ask from an entity that exists for the benefit of all citizens. The titles she listed are all in the children’s section. If you aren’t familiar with how the library is divided, the juvenile section, sometimes referred to as the children’s section, houses literature and other materials that are supposed to be appropriate for children ages 3 through 12. The teen section, or what they are now calling the “Young Adult” section is supposed to be appropriate for 13- to 17-year-olds. Hanging a new sign didn’t change that. It’s still for teen children.
(Editor’s note: This letter exceeded OT’s guideline for length, which was provided to the author. We have not included the entirety of the letter.)
Written by
Jerry Chapman
Chairman, Daviess County Citizens for Decency
