We at the City of Wasilla have received many emails and requests for information about “banned or censured” books at the Wasilla Library while former Mayor Palin was in office. We have no records of any books being “banned or censured” ever.
–CITY OF WASILLA, •Office of the Mayor•
’The books in the Wasilla Library collection were selected on the basis of national selection criteria for libraries of this size, and I would absolutely resist all efforts to ban books.’”
–Mary Ellen Emmons
Snopes discredits the list of books that were alleged to have been suggested for banning by Governor Palin.
The list was posted on the ALA Council Discussion list on September 7, 2008 where members noted incorrect facts.
The City of Wasilla has issued “Banned or Censured Books Response.”
Banned Books Week: Celebrating the Freedom to Read is observed during the last week of September each year. Observed since 1982, this annual ALA event reminds Americans not to take this precious democratic freedom for granted.
This story about Sarah Palin, vice-presidential GOP candidate has caused much discussion among librarians:and should be the topic of interviews and investigation.
WASILLA — Back in 1996, when she first became mayor, Sarah Palin asked the city librarian if she would be all right with censoring library books should she be asked to do so.
According to news coverage at the time, the librarian said she would definitely not be all right with it. A few months later, the librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, got a letter from Palin telling her she was going to be fired. The censorship issue was not mentioned as a reason for the firing. The letter just said the new mayor felt Emmons didn’t fully support her and had to go.
Emmons had been city librarian for seven years and was well liked. After a wave of public support for her, Palin relented and let Emmons keep her job.
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However, Snopes discredits the lists of books that were alleged to have been suggested for banning by Governor Palin.
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Here is a site for Librarians Against Palin.
Here is a site for Librarians for Palin.
Here is a post with an alternate view examining the progress of the discussion from SafeLibraries.