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QUESTION

How is the New York Public Library ensuring access to books amidst censorship?

0:48:29

·

98 sec

Council Member Shahana Hanif inquires about the steps the New York Public Library (NYPL) takes to ensure New Yorkers have access to books amidst heightened censorship, specifically regarding Palestinian authors and books. Anthony W. Marx, President of the NYPL, responds highlighting the library's commitment to providing diverse perspectives, particularly on matters concerning the Middle East. Marx emphasizes the NYPL's efforts to prevent Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian efforts, and anti-Semitism from hindering access to books. He asserts the library's stance on protecting individual choice in reading, while acknowledging the role of parents in guiding their children's reading, and strongly opposes the imposition of restrictions by others on what one can read.

Shahana Hanif

0:48:29

At this moment, Palestinian authors and books are grappling with the heightened wave of censorship and threats like Hannah Moshebeck, who published homeland by Father Dreams of homeland.

0:48:41

And in particular, December last year, the near public library made some headlines about an arrangement of books that included books about Native Americans and Palestinians.

0:48:50

What steps have you taken to ensure that New Yorkers have access to these books?

0:48:54

And how did the library respond to that issue in particular?

0:48:59

And what conversations are happening now.

Anthony W. Marx

0:49:03

We are committed to providing books across the spectrum.

0:49:08

To ensuring that the folks who want to learn more and need to learn more about what's happening in the Middle East have every opportunity to do so from every perspective.

0:49:19

We will not present allow Islamophobia or anti Palestinian efforts or anti Semitism.

0:49:27

To get in our way.

0:49:29

It's very simple, council member.

0:49:32

We protect the right of everyone to make a choice.

0:49:36

Parents should help make the choice for their parents.

0:49:38

We want everyone to be inclusive in that, but parents do have a role in this.

0:49:45

Parents can say I want to encourage particularly our youngsters what to read.

0:49:49

We wanna help make sure they have every possibility.

0:49:53

What we cannot allow is other people's parents telling me what my kids can read or what I can read.

0:50:02

That is fundamentally unAmerican.

Shahana Hanif

0:50:06

I really appreciate hearing then.

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