Cultural Events
Library Welcoming 'Blankets' Author For Virtual Forum
Published: Apr 21, 2023 8:30 am
C.H. Booth Library has arranged for a special author event on Wednesday, May 3, at 5:30 pm.
The autobiographical graphic novel Blankets by Craig Thompson is among a few titles currently being challenged by residents of Newtown. The Newtown Board of Education is fielding this challenge.
Thompson will be joining virtually for a live discussion moderated by library employees Tom Nolan and Darcy Sowers. The author program will be in the meeting room of the library, 25 Main Street.
Donated copies of Blankets are available to check out.
Questions will be encouraged. Registration is requested; call 203-426-4533 or visit chboothlibrary.org.
‘being challenged for inclusion in the public school library.’
Just some questions…
-Was there any reason the Bee didn’t include any other images from this book to give folks a better idea of some of the topics covered?
-Will the author read a few chosen excerpts and show images from the book(read to the audience) pertaining to the kerfuffle, of some Newtown citizens are concerned regarding this being placed in the Middle and High School libraries?
-will this zoom call have a warning before starting? At a recent BOE meeting it was noted that “adult language” may be heard (right from the book), and even with that warning some parents took issue with the graphic language used.
-finally, will the C.H Booth library be carrying this book in the adult or children’s section of the library?
Many thanks to the library for hosting this event!
The Newtown Bee runs book covers with announcements of approaching author programs, so that readers recognize the book that will be discussed. This has been standard policy for years. C.H. Booth Library has multiple copies of the book available. Due to current interest in borrowing the book, copies are on the second floor by the Circulation desk. The book is regularly shelved in the adult graphic novels section. To answer your other questions, you will have to attend the Zoom session yourself.
Per The Bee, this book is “regularly shelved in the adult graphic novels section.” In the state of Connecticut, the term “child” or “children” is defined to mean any person or persons under age 18 that has not been legally emancipated; thereafter, they are considered “of the age of majority” — in other words, an adult.
It is quite the interesting dichotomy that CH Booth Library administrators think that the book belongs in the adult section, but some Newtown parents and teachers think its perfectly acceptable to be in a school library that caters almost exclusively to “children” as that term is defined under state law. Interesting.