Jonathan Calder has the welcome news that Liberal Democrat run Islington Council has stepped in to the controversy over Labour run Hackney Council’s decision to ban the launch of a book by Iain Sinclair from one of its libraries because the book expressed, “controversial or political opinions”.
This excuse has been given very little credence by anyone outside Hackney Council. The real motive for the ban looks to be the author’s critical views of the 2012 Olympics plans, which the council has been an enthusiastic supporter of.
In response to the ban, Islington Council has invited the author to come and launch the book in one of their libraries. As Jonathan says, “This episode has a happy ending – and one that makes me proud to be a Liberal Democrat”.
Read the full story here.
P.S. If you look at the list of forthcoming events that are being permitted at the library, you’ll see events several that contain “controversial or political opinions”. Included in the list are Black History Month (a historical topic that isn’t exactly short of politics or controversy), a book fair with an invited range of publishers that includes Pluto Press, a regular publisher of titles that contain “controversial or political opinions” and a reading group discussing a famous novel about the struggle for Kenyan independence (politics anyone?). None of these have been banned from the library, though of course none of them involve criticising the 2012 Olympics either.
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6 Comments
Obviously Hackney don’t consider this to be political or controversial
http://library.hackney.gov.uk/02_Catalogue/02_004_TitleResults.aspx?searchTerm=mein+kampf&searchType=99&searchTerm2=&media=&branch=353&authority=&language=&junior=
(A TinyURL doesn’t work)
As I read it, it’s the book launch that has been banned, not the book itself, though.
I know – but its a thin line. Mind you Hackney do stock Mein Kampf, unlike Islington it would seem.
What do they think would happen? Really…? Riots? Revolution?
“Comrades, our brother’s arguements against the 2012 olympics ring true. Let’s overthrow our councillor overlords”
OK, Labour come out badly here. But I’m not sure we come out too well, either. Now, of course public libraries should stock controversial books, including anti-Olympics books, including Mein Kampf, even. But what about book LAUNCHES? Why exactly should the taxpayer be involved in supporting the commercial business of launching books?
Well, I suppose if it’s books for children, then we might say, let’s have our libraries involved in encouraging literacy. If it’s Black History Month, then perhaps we might say, let’s show that our libraries are inclusive. But if it’s a launch for a politically motivated book, in favour of UKIP, or Labour, or the Lib Dems, or the Tories …..well, shouldn’t that be kept well away from a taxpayer-funded institution, like a public library?
This isn’t the only scandal in the libraries in Hackney.
The Labour council budgeted £400,000 to put computer chips in all the library books, whilst the libraries are almost empty of books. Pleased to say that the Lib-Dems on the council proposed spending the money on books and shelving instead.