By Courtney • 14 years ago

Librarians are Awesome.

Love this story:
Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Connie Schultz writes about a courageous school librarian in Norman, Oklahoma who made sure that local teenagers smitten with young adult novelist Ellen Hopkins got to hear her speak. After realizing that she used the f-word and wrote honestly about meth addiction–which Hopkins own daughter had suffered from–in her wildly popular novel Crank, parents and local radio loud mouths called for Hopkins’ book to be banned. Not only that–the superintendent disinvited Hopkins from speaking, despite the fact that she explores some key social issues affecting the Norman community and brings a definitively anti-drug message.
Middle-school librarian Karin Perry to the rescue! Schultz reports:

Perry asked Hopkins if she would still come. The answer was yes. Then she asked Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College — love the name — if she could move Hopkins’ talk to their campus. The college said yes. About 150 students, parents, teachers and librarians attended last week’s speech.

Go Perry! I love librarians. And it’s a good week to love ‘em. As Schultz reports, “This is Banned Books Week, which is sponsored annually by the American Library Association to celebrate the freedom to read. The library group says there were at least 513 challenges to books last year.” Cool added bonus: check out this blog, Future Feminist Librarian-Activist.
Thanks to the Women’s Media Center for the heads up.

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