I understand from Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, currently under criminal indictment, that the internet is "a series of tubes". It just so happens that one of those tubes runs straight from my house to the Wasilla Public Library, which has currently been much discussed in the news due to the attempt by Sarh Palin back in 1996 to censor the library collection by getting rid of a few books. Yes, I am well aware, Palin supporters, that the censoring never got to happen. But you need to be aware in turn that it never happened because the librarian at the time, Ms. Emmons, said no to Sarah Palin.
Anyway, the thing that occurred to me as a citizen blogger journalist is this: has anyone taken a look at the Wasilla Library catolog online to see what kinds of books they do and do not have?
FYI one of my favorite young adult books that deals with sex education, "The Teenage Body Book", is not currently owned by the Wasilla Public Library. There are other copies in the catalog for nearby libraries which are probably available to the Wasilla residents through delivery or by driving to the other library. Actually, when you do the subject search "sex education" you find only one book at Wasilla, and it is a 1990 book, a bit outdated. One of the most controversial books on teen sexuality is actually a novel- entitled "Forever", written by Judy Blume. I think it interesting that there is a new copy of this book being processed at Wasilla, but there is no copy on the shelf. That interests me, because "Forever" is a much challenged and highly controversial story of a teen girls first sexual experiences. She practices birth control and does not get pregnant, and the love affair that she felt sure would last forever soon ends when she heads of for college. This is the kind of book that right wing Christians hate.
I have to admit that my interesting bit of reseach is really quite inconclusive. there are too many things that I do not know. I don't know what happened after mS. Emmons retired fromt he public library in 1999. Did Sarah Palin hire a more conservative and censorship minded librarian? There are not many of those, it runs counter to the American Library Association policies, but if you hunt around you can find someone to intimidate. On the other hand it is qute possible that they had a copy of forever right through the Palin years, but somebody's dog chewed it and they had to buy a new one. A big part of the challenge here is that Palin moved up the ladder of politics in 2002 so it has been six years since she ran Wasilla. MSNBC and CNN, if you are reading this, please take note. You need to send one of those reporters to the public library in Wasilla and ask some more question to get the rest of the story.
Ultimately, I do not need this to prove Palin's lack of fitness to be VP. There is more than enough evidence out there already. Who cares what happened after she tried to fire Ms. Emmons? What possible excuse could anyone have for firing a public librarian either for lack of "loyalty" or for unwillingness to censor book collections? Public Librarians are not much of a political threat to anybody, though it is true that most of them are Dems, which in itself is probably a good enough reason for Ms. Palin to fire somebody.
If you would like to search the Wasilla Public Library catalog, it can be found at http://www.cityofwasilla.com/index.aspx?page=72.
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Comments: 23
I have known some sassy librarians in my time, but who knows what transpired in Wasilla.
I hope in a few months we can all look back and laugh - I fear crying and screaming, but hope for laughter.
Great job Chris!
They have Titan By John Varley and it has nude drawings in it and lots of alien sex in it and it's still available at the Wasilla public library. Guess they are falling down on the job.
Did Sarah Palin hire a more conservative and censorship minded librarian?
And if a frog had wings would he bump his ass if he jumped?
Why does Yellow trucking have orange trucks?
What if? What if? What if?
So, if you assume that the hearsay piece of reporting that I just hear at "On the Media" on NPR is true, then somebody got rid of the book at Wasilla Publica Library sometime after Ms. Emmons retired in 1999. Notable that Sarah Palin was still Mayor until 2002. Circumstantial evidence only, not conclusive, I will admit that much.
And may I give a very sincere "thank you" to all the conscientious, open-minded librarians around the country who have the courage of their convictions (like Ms. Emmons) to resist this kind of intimidation, as well as the efforts of the federal authorities to invade the privacy of library patrons.
I like how you presented information that you found but you're admitting that it's inconclusive. You're giving us information for which we can investigate further on and make our own decisions.
Thank you!
The book WAS in the library at the time Palin was mayor. It appears to no longer be in the collection.
You know, let's spin this a little and see if the excuse still works.
Mayor: (to secretary) So, what would you say if I told you that you had to sleep with me to keep your job.
Secretary: I'd say no. What kind of a question is that.
Mayor: Oh, nothing, just hypothetical. Oh, here is your pink slip.
(TOWN GOES INTO UPROAR. Threatens recall. Mayor hires secretary back).
Since he never actually tried to force her to sleep with him, is his behavior still acceptable?
Julie, are you interested in running?
Now, you realize what you have done, don't you? I have to go write up my platform...
Ms. Emmons, the Wasilla librarian in question, campaigned actively for Ms. Palin's opponent. According to the Wasilla charter, the Librarian position serves "at the pleasure of the Mayor". What could be more displeasing than campaigning for one’s opponent?
In a place like Minneapolis and Chicago, the day after election, the list of terminations and transfers can be as thick as a book.
No books were removed from the Wasilla library or a purchase list by Ms. Palin or anyone connected to Ms. Palin.
But then the truth is not as fun as a lie.