What? Really? Book banning on TV?

This is starting to feel farcical. Have I mentioned this is about a bath?

Watch for yourself. A local ABC affiliate picked up the story.

Here's the link (for full viewing pleasure): http://www.abc27.com/story/18528203/is-the-dirty-cowboydirty?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Here it is embedded in my blog. It's cut in half by my blog, but you'll get the idea:

Two parents complain about a book and then this:

Re-cap of last night's board meeting (photos too):

http://www.ldnews.com/ci_20638051/annville-cleona-school-board-live-coverage-5-17

Wow. All I can think is: Do you really want to get to this situation? Two parents. That's all it took. And then this . . . Something is truly wrong. 

And now they've got a book-banning on their hands . . . Good gravy.

It makes me shake my head when I realize that this book has probably been sitting on that library's shelves for nine years. See, most libraries bought this book back in 2003 when it reviewed. The Dirty Cowboy got starred reviews in 3 of the 4 major review journals and a lot of libraries bought it. So for nine years it's been used and loved by probably hundreds of parents and kids and then all of sudden, two parents. . .

So about last night: 

I heard that the people (two) that showed up in support of the ban don't even live in the district, but they came out to speak in favor of the ban (rather vehemently -- or so I heard.) Well, read the above link and you'll get the flavor of the dialogue. 

(For clarity sake, let me say that I don't think these two people are the two parents that began the situation.)

Still, a good handful of folks bravely, thoughtfully, and in a well-reasoned way defended The Dirty Cowboy. They did wonderfully well. Yay! 

This is to the community fighters (if you're reading this): Thank you. I've appreciated this so much. And I know it's not about me or my book (really) but about the kind of community you want to live in. I admire that. You guys inspire me. Yes, it does sound like you've still got a fight on your hands, but this is a good struggle, and it seems pretty clear to me that you're going to figure this one out. Cool. 

For the rest of you, here's an article that says the A-C Board isn't budging on banning The Dirty Cowboy: 

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/05/annville-cleona_school_board_s.html

NOW FOR SOME GOOD NEWS: 

The librarians are staying put! Their jobs are not getting cut. Scroll down the below article until you get to: 

Two full-time librarian positions and a health and consumer science teacher that had all been in danger of being cut were put back into the budget.

Here's the link: http://www.ldnews.com/ci_20597306/annville-cleona-taxes-could-rise-2-1-percent

I am very, very happy about this! YAY!!!

So good news too. 

Thanks everyone!

Amy

American Library Association Weighs in about Book Banning

Oh wow. It's everybody now . . . In anticipation of tonight's meeting, the ALA wrote a letter! 

COOL.

I'm going to upload the document and hopefully you'll be able to read it . . . Okay, can't figure how to do that. (Yeah I know: the woman who drew that camera in Illustrator can't figure out how to attach a document to a blog . . .)

Alright. Just changed it to an image and uploaded it. Ha! (I know it's small, but hey I'm just happy to get it up here!)

YAY!!!!!

How you want to be defended: One Great Letter

Check this out: 

TDC Letter to AC Schools 5-15-12

Awesome!

And just found out on Twitter that at least 4 parents are signed up to speak up for The Dirty Cowboy at tonight's meeting . . . Yay! 

I'm cheering for you!

Amy

P.S. Thanks to Adam Rex for posting this first. This where I saw it (and I stole his blog title too...)