I’m sure I don’t need to tell you who sent in this Princeton Packet article. The Princeton Public Library has inadvertently set off a firestorm of criticism involving Cuba, health care and human rights.
According to some critics, two of the 15 films shown during the library’s annual Human Rights Film Festival last weekend are “propaganda” and do not accurately reflect life in Cuba.
“I think it’s outrageous to have a film festival at a public library that leaves out all the realities of Cuba, especially when you have thousands of witnesses to the human rights violations,” said Maria C. Werlau, executive director of Cuba Archive, an organization that collects information about the country.
- Next One Citzen’s Response to Mandatory Filtering
- Previous From Princeton to Harvard, Historian Darnton Makes the Leap
Recent Posts
- E-Books Can Subvert Book Bans, But Corporate Profit-Seeking Stands in the Way March 10, 2024
- Ten Stories That Shaped 2023 December 15, 2023
- War Sows Disruption at the National Book Awards November 16, 2023
- “No one else is saving it”: the fight to protect a historic music collection November 16, 2023
- No, I Don’t Want to Join Your Book Club November 9, 2023
- Iowa election 2023: Pella Public Library retains independence November 9, 2023
- A door at a Swedish library was accidentally left open 446 people came in, borrowed 245 books. Every single one was returned November 9, 2023
Recent Comments
- Examining Arab and Muslim librarians in fiction – Pop Culture Library Review on Librarian Combats Muslim Stereotypes
- St. Paul libraries face moment of reckoning – LISNews – News For Librarians on Secret and mysterious libraries
- Ellie on Just How Gross Are Library Books, Exactly?
- Prodigious1one on The Teaching Librarian Versus The Teacher
- Jason on Ten Stories That Shaped 2019
- centaurea on Libraries using Internet Trust Tools
LISNews Archives
- March 2024 (1)
- December 2023 (1)
- November 2023 (5)
- October 2023 (1)
- September 2023 (1)
- August 2023 (22)
- February 2023 (3)
- January 2023 (20)
- December 2022 (6)
- February 2022 (3)
- December 2021 (1)
- December 2020 (1)
- July 2020 (11)
- June 2020 (11)
- January 2020 (1)
- December 2019 (2)
- November 2019 (4)
- October 2019 (1)
- June 2019 (1)
- May 2019 (4)
- April 2019 (3)
- March 2019 (11)
- February 2019 (41)
- January 2019 (31)
- December 2018 (6)
- November 2018 (11)
- October 2018 (15)
- September 2018 (9)
- August 2018 (22)
- July 2018 (1)
- June 2018 (1)
- May 2018 (7)
- April 2018 (8)
- March 2018 (5)
- February 2018 (17)
- January 2018 (13)
- December 2017 (8)
- November 2017 (16)
- October 2017 (18)
- September 2017 (11)
- August 2017 (8)
- July 2017 (8)
- June 2017 (21)
- May 2017 (39)
- April 2017 (22)
- March 2017 (15)
- February 2017 (21)
- January 2017 (40)
- December 2016 (20)
- November 2016 (9)
- October 2016 (20)
- September 2016 (48)
- August 2016 (48)
- July 2016 (55)
- June 2016 (61)
- May 2016 (39)
- April 2016 (67)
- March 2016 (81)
- February 2016 (85)
- January 2016 (69)
- December 2015 (90)
- November 2015 (126)
- October 2015 (107)
- September 2015 (85)
- August 2015 (42)
- July 2015 (32)
- June 2015 (35)
- May 2015 (39)
- April 2015 (14)
- March 2015 (60)
- February 2015 (75)
- January 2015 (44)
- December 2014 (30)
- November 2014 (39)
- October 2014 (43)
- September 2014 (30)
- August 2014 (36)
- July 2014 (59)
- June 2014 (46)
- May 2014 (62)
- April 2014 (58)
- March 2014 (52)
- February 2014 (37)
- January 2014 (42)
- December 2013 (41)
- November 2013 (25)
- October 2013 (43)
- September 2013 (28)
- August 2013 (32)
- July 2013 (61)
- June 2013 (51)
- May 2013 (50)
- April 2013 (52)
- March 2013 (68)
- February 2013 (62)
- January 2013 (62)
- December 2012 (53)
- November 2012 (64)
- October 2012 (111)
- September 2012 (109)
- August 2012 (128)
- July 2012 (57)
- June 2012 (75)
- May 2012 (163)
- April 2012 (158)
- March 2012 (109)
- February 2012 (125)
- January 2012 (136)
- December 2011 (109)
- November 2011 (74)
- October 2011 (82)
- September 2011 (95)
- August 2011 (106)
- July 2011 (93)
- June 2011 (102)
- May 2011 (94)
- April 2011 (105)
- March 2011 (100)
- February 2011 (92)
- January 2011 (110)
- December 2010 (124)
- November 2010 (83)
- October 2010 (118)
- September 2010 (115)
- August 2010 (110)
- July 2010 (108)
- June 2010 (113)
- May 2010 (78)
- April 2010 (121)
- March 2010 (191)
- February 2010 (182)
- January 2010 (168)
- December 2009 (129)
- November 2009 (116)
- October 2009 (131)
- September 2009 (149)
- August 2009 (162)
- July 2009 (166)
- June 2009 (189)
- May 2009 (112)
- April 2009 (164)
- March 2009 (185)
- February 2009 (151)
- January 2009 (173)
- December 2008 (200)
- November 2008 (155)
- October 2008 (252)
- September 2008 (267)
- August 2008 (193)
- July 2008 (208)
- June 2008 (161)
- May 2008 (208)
- April 2008 (253)
- March 2008 (201)
- February 2008 (246)
- January 2008 (185)
- December 2007 (200)
- November 2007 (208)
- October 2007 (241)
- September 2007 (227)
- August 2007 (269)
- July 2007 (201)
- June 2007 (205)
- May 2007 (157)
- April 2007 (217)
- March 2007 (250)
- February 2007 (183)
- January 2007 (181)
- December 2006 (163)
- November 2006 (180)
- October 2006 (170)
- September 2006 (215)
- August 2006 (210)
- July 2006 (202)
- June 2006 (257)
- May 2006 (280)
- April 2006 (271)
- March 2006 (347)
- February 2006 (284)
- January 2006 (300)
- December 2005 (267)
- November 2005 (238)
- October 2005 (364)
- September 2005 (349)
- August 2005 (377)
- July 2005 (382)
- June 2005 (403)
- May 2005 (371)
- April 2005 (420)
- March 2005 (367)
- February 2005 (368)
- January 2005 (346)
- December 2004 (311)
- November 2004 (260)
- October 2004 (308)
- September 2004 (228)
- August 2004 (319)
- July 2004 (395)
- June 2004 (338)
- May 2004 (288)
- April 2004 (364)
- March 2004 (348)
- February 2004 (438)
- January 2004 (266)
- December 2003 (222)
- November 2003 (226)
- October 2003 (281)
- September 2003 (317)
- August 2003 (315)
- July 2003 (278)
- June 2003 (282)
- May 2003 (265)
- April 2003 (271)
- March 2003 (249)
- February 2003 (283)
- January 2003 (210)
- December 2002 (186)
- November 2002 (184)
- October 2002 (222)
- September 2002 (210)
- August 2002 (207)
- July 2002 (184)
- June 2002 (166)
- May 2002 (160)
- April 2002 (195)
- March 2002 (183)
- February 2002 (195)
- January 2002 (203)
- December 2001 (203)
- November 2001 (238)
- October 2001 (183)
- September 2001 (153)
- August 2001 (204)
- July 2001 (243)
- June 2001 (176)
- May 2001 (92)
- April 2001 (116)
- March 2001 (153)
- February 2001 (142)
- January 2001 (131)
- December 2000 (110)
- November 2000 (124)
- October 2000 (128)
- September 2000 (132)
- August 2000 (138)
- July 2000 (166)
- June 2000 (135)
- May 2000 (120)
- April 2000 (121)
- March 2000 (181)
- February 2000 (163)
- January 2000 (54)
- November 1999 (37)
Leave out the eye rolling
Blake, I think you could have left off the “I’m sure I don’t need to tell you who sent in this Princton [sic] Packet article.”
It sounds an awful lot like “oh, there he goes again” editorializing. Even if that isn’t your intention, it reminds me that I am still wondering: when it was that librarians stopped caring about balance, presenting all sides, and professional objectivity? When did people in this profession start becoming Michael Moore cartoons (cartoons of cartoons, I guess)?
your premise
When did we stop? I wasn’t aware we had. If you want to cherry-pick examples from non-representative samples I could decry the lack of material about Wicca in the public libraries of rural Oklahoma or the dearth of Al Franken books at Regent University library.
Re:Leave out the eye rolling
Point taken.
It was “oh, there he goes again” editorializing. I’m all about balance, presenting all sides, and that’s why it’s not a one person show here. I never stopped caring, but I ocaisionally take a jab or two. As far as I can remember I’ve never had a Cuba story come in from anyone else. It looks to me like this is a one man issue (maybe I’m wrong on that). That’s why I editorialized there. And it’s not that I stopped caring about Cuba, I just never cared. It’s just not something I care about because I simply don’t have any interest in this. It’s nothing personal, and I’ve had this discussion with him before. I have nothing against him, it’s just not an issue that’s on my radar. I’m not pro or anti anything on this issue, not sure why, it just doesn’t catch my eye. Your story is WAY more interesting than anything I’ve ever heard about Cuba.
As far as I can tell, many people in this profession were always Michael Moore cartoons. I’ve always hoped that I’m not one of them though.
But anyways, you’re right, I could’ve left that off.
Re:Leave out the eye rolling
Librarians are only as human as anyone else; of course they all have their individual opinions and viewpoints. Working in a milieu that panders to balance, objectivity, and presenting all viewpoints doesn’t prevent one from having and airing one’s own. If I’m a 9/11 conspiracy theorist at the reference desk and you come into my library looking for books on engineering and WTC architecture, I can help you find that material and still tell you that the towers were brought down by implosions rigged by the Bush admin. It’s if I refuse to help you find what you need where I violate the ethics of the profession.
(N.B.: just to clarify, I’m not a librarian at all, but the analogy stands.)
Re:Leave out the eye rolling
I was invited to a Progressive Pinellas meeting by 3 different people. Bet they don’t get a lot of Fascists at those.
When I was a public librarian last year I collected what I thought people wanted, and what they specifically asked for. Sure I collected what I wanted to read personally as well, but not to the exclusion of what others wanted to read.
Balance, sure it can be done. I think I did it.
Re:Leave out the eye rolling
If you want to be passionate about your profession, the first thing you better dump is that whole “objectivity” crap.
I’m about as subjective as I can get about what I do. And, from what I’ve been told by most of my patrons, that subjectivity is what makes me different than others in this field. I get involved with patron questions, problems, and requests. Objectivity is for science, and take it from a scientist, public library work isn’t a science.
As far as librarians presenting all sides in balanced ways, well, screw that if that means I lose the right to my opinion on a public message board.
Re:Leave out the eye rolling
You are; it’s just that most of those involved don’t post here; Nat Hentoff, Andrei Codrescu, Madeleine Albright, Ray Bradbury, Amnesty International, the Organization of American States. I try to not belabor one issue or stick to one incident or movement. The FREADOM group, however, is quite focused on the matter of the jailing of private Cuban citizens for lending out books out of the privacy of their own homes, the burning of six of the collections seized, the now deliberate and wilfull conspiracy of silence by the ALA.
Ms. Burger is simply taking heat primarily because she is not in good odour. Unfortunately, she is not in good odour largely because she has made of herself an apologist for Cuban book burning and a propagandist for the Castro regime.
Re:Leave out the eye rolling
“As far as librarians presenting all sides in balanced ways, well, screw that if that means I lose the right to my opinion on a public message board.”
On the contrary, it does help if the message board administrators don’t get in the way of the message that someone has asked them to post – it’s not a sin, but it is “poisoning the well.” Blake could have added his own comment…in the “comments” section. He has made the gentlemanly effort to acknowledge this.
As far as you and Fang Face promoting your views to patrons unasked…even if I agreed with you (or with Truther Fang – God forbid), as a patron I would avoid you. I’m really not interested in being served a stranger-bureaucrat’s political opinions – or served with opinionated zeal – along with my information needs.
Actually I was connecting Blake’s intro to the Princeton Packet article itself, and the quoted clueless librarian director who can’t understand what all the fuss is about:
“What we were trying to do is focus on things that we think are the rights of human beings versus the human rights violations in the world,” Ms. Burger said.
Well…pro-Cuba films that champion Cuba as a victim of Capitalist aggression would obviously lend themselves to being countered – at a “Human Rights Film Festival” – with films depicting Cuba as a human rights black hole – and there are many such films.
Re:Leave out the eye rolling
As far as you and Fang Face promoting your views to patrons unasked…even if I agreed with you (or with Truther Fang – God forbid), as a patron I would avoid you. I’m really not interested in being served a stranger-bureaucrat’s political opinions – or served with opinionated zeal – along with my information needs.
Promoting my views unasked? First off, where did I say that? And second off, I rarely present my own views even when they do ask. I just took another look at my comment and nope, I don’t see that statement or anything like it anywhere. I said I get involved in patron questions and problems, in other words I try and see things from their point of view. I try and be more than just a fetcher of books and websites. I talk with them and see what they’re on about and my opinions have changed here and there because of listening to others and judging their views.
On the contrary, it does help if the message board administrators don’t get in the way of the message that someone has asked them to post – it’s not a sin, but it is “poisoning the well.” Blake could have added his own comment…in the “comments” section. He has made the gentlemanly effort to acknowledge this.
I’m not going to speak for Blake. I will say one thing though, based on my own experiences of running an online forum: Last I checked, I’m a library nerd, a historian, and a Doctor of Divinity. I don’t see any qualifications on my resume listing me as a journalist. So when I last ran an online forum, I wasn’t interested in, nor was I obligated to, withhold my opinion from a story. This is Blake’s board and we’re all living in it. If you’re looking for fairly non-biased news, I suggest you try the BBC or Guardian UK.
Re:Leave out the eye rolling
My mistake – I thought you were adding to Fang’s comment about giving his views unasked. You never said or implied that. I’m sorry I didn’t read your reply more closely.
And I do still think that moderators should moderate. If I were to ask people to suggest stories, and an individual forwarded their story/link to an article, I hope I would refrain from framing the story in such a way as to cause readers to prejudge the person who volunteered the information. That seems pretty basic to fair play — on an online forum or anywhere else.