By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays Public Library met on Wednesday to a standing-room-only crowd after criticism erupted on social media about a display of books in the young adult section of the library during Banned Book Week.
The president of the library board read a statement concerning the book display, followed by 30 minutes of comments from community members in support and against the display.
Amy Feauto, board president, said the books displayed last week in the young adult section of the library addressed the practice of banning books and were part of an American Library Association awareness campaign that runs for one week every year.
"While we understand that a number of the comments circulating on social media these last few days focused on content within examples of books that have been targets of banning that were on display, the display was not about promoting any particular book," Feauto said.
"It was instead about the free and open exchange of ideas. The display included, in fact, arguments on both sides of the issue of book banning, including examples of arguments for and against banning certain books, in keeping with the idea that the foundation of a public library rests upon a free and open exchange of ideas," she said.
Sophie Miller, a young Hays resident, said she had the unique perspective of being able to read most of the books that were part of the display.
Miller described herself as an avid reader when she was 13, checking out as many as 10 books at a time.
"I am so grateful that was something that was available to me and that I was able to learn about it through a source of educational library books, and not through sketchier sources on the internet or through peers who are less knowledgeable on these subjects," Miller said.
She said she thought all ages having access to information is important.
"I'll say that I have experienced no negative results from having read any of those books, and, in fact, it made me a more knowledgeable and more thoughtful person having been well read from a young age," Miller said, "So I would like to thank the board for allowing libraries to exist in this community."
Hays resident John Pyle said he was not supporting banning the books in question, but he thought books on sex or LGBTQ issues should be moved to the adult section of the library.
He compared the books to Playboy or Hustler magazines and called them porn.
"The LGBTQ movement takes a route to teach and normalize gender confusion and transgenderism, and the children will likely grow up to be at least accepting of the movement, or at worst, a part of it, as at the core of this is a sick perversion that seeks to display sexuality to children and, of course, sexualize them," Pyle said.
Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp, a former library employee, spoke in favor of access to diverse titles in the library and urged parental supervision of children's book choices.
Although speaking only as a Hays resident Zampieri-Lillpopp, who is the director of client service at Options Domestic and Sexual Violence services, described how books can be outlets for survivors of vioelnce both young and old to deal with their trauma.
"This curfuffle began over a week ago, and since then, no fewer than three women have told me or the public that bad things were happening in their home when they were young," Zampieri-Lillpopp said.
"They didn't know that these things were bad, because the person hurting them was supposed to love them. They had to seek outside help, and in some cases, not all of them, that outside help was books."
She gave several examples of books that people have tried to ban, which feature characters dealing with traumatic experiences, including "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," "The Kite Runner" and "13 Reasons Why."
"Brave authors, especially those who share their own life stories, give us the words and hope we need sometimes to keep going," Zampieri-Lillpopp said. "I've seen people find themselves in a book after years of feeling invisible. I've seen people find recovery from their failures. ...
"I found the courage to face my fears after reading a book that took me six months. I've seen people find God in the library."
She added, "The greatest gift my mother ever gave me was the unwavering freedom to read. No book ever hurt me. Plenty of people have, and the books laid a path for me to find my way back. Not every book for every reader, but every reader for its book."
Jessica House of Hays said she appreciates what the Hays Public Library provides the community. She said it is more than a building full of books.
"It's a place where people come to learn, connect and grow. I've learned a lot through the programs I've attended here," she said, "practical things to new perspectives that I might not have understood before. That's what a good library does. It opens minds and it brings people together.
Joe Giebler, a rural Ellis County resident, expressed concerns about youth having access to books that contained sexual material.
Giebler said he asked Brandon Hines, library director, if he would allow his own children to read some of the books in the banned book display, and he said no. Giebler called that a double standard.
"I'm not saying anyone should ban any book ever. You can't go to a rated R movie if you're under 18. There are reasons for restrictions, I believe this is one," he said.
David Koshiol, Hays resident, read from a book titled "Gender Queer" that is found in the young adult section.
It describes the use of dildoes, strapons and a blow job.
"There are so many books in publication worldwide that you could fill the library numerous times and still not have any of these books that are inappropriate for our children in Hays, Kansas," he said.
Bernie Hayward, Hays residents, said the library needs to take steps to correct the book issue.
"We've got enough bad things going on in this world. We need to start taking the right steps to correct all this. I don't know what it's going to take to get the people doing what is morally right. Right now, we're going down the wrong track," he said.
Anna Towns, a former interlibrary loan coordinator for the library, said she is proud of the library.
"I am proud of what we have built here as a community. I am proud of every book that's on the shelf," she said.
"It might not be something that I agree with, and oftentimes in interlibrary loan, I was requesting books that were on topics that I did not agree with, or by authors that I did not think we should be promoting, but I am proud that we offer something for everyone."
She added, "It's OK to read something and disagree with it, but it's not OK to tell other people that they can't read about it, that they can't have those conversations in their family.
"Just because it's not something that your kid is ready for doesn't mean that every kid can't have access to it."
Towns also noted that youth have to have their parents' permission to have their own library cards. Parents can also access a list of all the books their children have checked out.
Some of the speakers and social media posters had referenced the banned book display being in the children's section. However, all of the books were in the young adults section, which is geared toward youth ages 11 to 18, she said.
She said moving the books to the adult section of the library was not appropriate because they are not adult books; they are young adult books geared specifically to that age group.
"It's ironic to have this happen during Banned Books Week," she said. "And yes, what you're doing is trying to ban books."
Kelly Ancar, Hays resident, said she thought the library is robbing parents of the right to decide what books their children are exposed to.
"All we're asking is that the books be put somewhere, that an adult can have some supervision," she said. "There are other ways to address kids who are at risk, like Ms. Towns reflected, that there are some kids who reach out to books to learn about situations for themselves and find a way to reach out for some help."
Ancar said other programs exist to help children who are at risk.