![]() The library routinely offers themed displays coinciding with holidays and cultural events. He said he had gotten “a handful of complaints” about the displays, which remain in teen and adult areas of the library. Lusak said the displays had been up since June 1 and had been scheduled to remain through the end of the month. She was joined by the New York Library Association, which, in a statement, called the Smithtown library board's move "a direct violation of NYLA’s commitment to intellectual freedom and the freedom to read that libraries are entrusted to uphold." To LGBTQ+ New Yorkers: We stand with you, we support you, & you are welcome here." Hochul, in a tweet late Wednesday afternoon, wrote: " … Our public spaces should be accepting our young people - not rejecting them. ![]() The resolution passed after "lengthy discussion," according to the message, but by late Thursday morning the library had not posted minutes from that meeting. Lusak said that after the library board's Tuesday vote, he wrote a memo to the heads of the system’s four buildings directing them to “remove all Pride displays from all of our Children’s Rooms.” A copy of the memo, apparently leaked, circulated on social media, and the library later posted the board resolution on its website in a message from board trustees: "Motion to remove all Pride Displays, in addition to removing all books of the same subject on display, from all Children's sections in all Smithtown Library buildings." Other library trustees declined to comment or could not be reached. In an email Wednesday night, Smithtown library board president Brianna Baker-Stines called the removal a "reminder of the hatred and bigotry that has been festering in the Town of Smithtown, driven by those with a political agenda that runs counter to the role of the Library." In August, after she and her husband said the Smithtown school district was using a learning platform biased against conservative viewpoints and favorable to the Black Lives Matter movement, district leaders restricted some of the content. Previously, she was a frequent speaker at Smithtown school board meetings, where she successfully fought for restriction of learning content she found offensive. Gergenti won her board seat by a wide margin with 1,451 votes, the third-highest total in a seven-candidate race for three seats. Gergenti, elected to the library board last October with the backing of Long Island Loud Majority - labeled an antigovernment group by the nonprofit Southern Poverty Law Center - told Newsday that she had received “complaints about the displays for Pride Month. Library director Robert Lusak, who is not a voting board member, told Newsday that Pride displays had remained in other areas of the system's four libraries. ![]() Library board members had approved removal by a 4-2 vote Tuesday night. Those books included a history of the AIDS Memorial Quilt and picture books like "Pink is for Boys" and "Pride Puppy." Trustee Marie Gergenti, who told Newsday she made the initial proposal for their removal, said she was responding to community complaints. There are lots of fun things to do in the Town of Smithtown.By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |