The Louisiana Association of School Libraries sees enough crap going on that there's a line on the organization's home page asking librarians with concerns to contact them: "Thank you to all of our librarian colleagues who are doing their best for every child in Louisiana. If you are a school librarian who is being attacked, please reach out to the LASL Executive Board at geauxlasl@gmail.com."
That's shameful. No professional organization should have to defend its members against threats. However, it's obvious that it is necessary.
The St. Tammany Parish Library has 12 branches, including those in Covington, Mandeville and Slidell. The system has been spotlighted recently because some people are spewing hate.
The state fire marshal is investigating the burning of a sign in Abita Springs saying 'Ban Hate, not books' (left). At right is a photo of the sign after it was torched.
Across Louisiana and our nation, there are people who share a common view that minor children shouldn't be exposed to certain types of books, magazines, periodicals, photographs and videos. People of various backgrounds, experiences and sexual orientations agree that content found in adult-only stores and on pornography websites shouldn't be found in public libraries.
But there are people who too frequently reference some love, romance and sex-related content as pornographic, or at least something that our children shouldn't see. These issues have been hot and heavy in St. Tammany for some months. Normally quiet meetings of the St. Tammany Library Board of Control have been packed with people opposing some children's picture books, and even the award-winning Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison. Thankfully, the board took its role seriously and voted to keep the books on library shelves late last month.
Evette Randolph and Laura Dinapolis have experienced the hate since then.
Earlier this month, someone went onto Randolph's private property in Abita Springs to burn a sign she had erected in support of her transgender child. Just off of Louisiana 59, the $500 sign read "Ban hate, not books."
Dinapolis has been disappointed and frustrated by the venomous public debate. Because she could, the semi-retired administrator paid $6,600 for a billboard that read "Support Your Local Library." Perhaps it was the color scheme — rainbow stripes from the traditional gay pride flag, along with pink and blue associated with transgender support and black to include people of color — that pissed off some people who saw it near the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. In just a few days, there were so many complaints that the billboard company removed the sign. It's since reimbursed Dinapolis. I hope it finds another billboard location.
The St. Tammany library started in 1950 and became official in 1951 when residents decided that it was worth a millage. These days, more than 86,100 residents have library cards. More than 14,100 of those are people under 18 years old. With 150 employees, audio books, online resources and a host of regularly-scheduled events and programs, it isn't granny's library.
The last time St. Tammany residents were asked to support the library, they approved a 15-year millage. That millage expires at the end of 2024, so the parish library system is funded through 2025. The future of the library will be at stake when taxpayers are asked to approve another millage, likely for 10 years, to cover operations and maintenance.
Some in St. Tammany have argued that there needs to be a citizen group to oversee the library. There already is one. It's called the St. Tammany Library Board of Control. Some of the board's recent votes were split. Some were tied. That's not a group in lock step one way or another.
St. Tammany Library Director Kelly LaRocca has worked in the parish library system for about 18 years. Libraries have had to adapt to a changing world, she said, but citizens still play a role as the staff aims "to provide a collection for everyone."
Libraries play an important part in creating educated and informed communities. School children rely on libraries for school projects. Some seniors rely on libraries to stretch their budget while providing reading options.
Randolph's transgender son, Ezra, is a part of St. Tammany, like thousands of others.
Those who don't know Ezra might better understand the parish's future, and the world's, if they had a chance to read about people like him.
