“Fahrenheit 451,” Ray Bradbury’s 1953 dystopian novel about censorship via book-burning, is another step closer to reality in Arkansas as self-anointed censors try to control not only what books their children can read but what other children can read as well.
On March 12, at the behest of former state Sen. Jason Rapert, the head of the Arkansas State Library emailed state-funded libraries to ask if they own or have owned 30 specific titles. Rapert was one of two appointees Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders named to the state library board in December.
In the March 12 email, State Library Director Jennifer Chilcoat specified that she was asking only about materials accessible to readers under age 18. It applies to traditional bound books as well as eBooks and audiobooks, she said.
“Your voluntary cooperation is requested,” Chilcoat wrote, adding that responses are due by April 2. (Care to speculate on whether Rapert will be content with any librarian’s “voluntary” decision not to submit to his personal political and religious beliefs?)
Chilcoat, who clearly is in a difficult position, noted that the request was coming from a library board member, though she did not identify that member as Rapert.
At Rapert’s first board meeting in February, he dominated the discussion and tried to cut off funding to library systems that are challenging the state over a new law that targets librarians. His motion failed without a second.
Rapert, who founded Holy Ghost Ministries and the National Association of Christian Lawmakers, later declared himself “the conscience of the Arkansas State Library Board” on Facebook. He then emailed Chilcoat and fellow state library board members and asked Chilcoat to contact publicly funded libraries about the 30 books in question.
“It has been reported to me that these books may have material in them inappropriate for minor children,” Rapert said in that email.
You can see the list of books Rapert wants checked here.
You’ll find books that dare to focus on topics such as transgender issues or addiction. You’ll also find some particularly popular books such as Jeannette Walls’ “The Glass Castle” and Rupi Kaur’s “Milk and Honey.”
At the rate things are going, Rapert and a few other censors will want to be your and my conscience next and decide which books those of us over 18 can or can’t read as well.
Indeed, Rapert’s earlier email suggests he might want to check again later for more books he finds objectionable. He said, “To start with, please ask each library if they have now, or previously had, the following book titles in their collections.”
Alisha Price, attorney for the state Department of Education, said today that Rapert “did not say, and it is unknown where the list came from. … It is also unknown whether this is the full list submitted or whether he plans to submit others after.” (The Arkansas State Library is a part of the education department.)
Price also said that “no libraries have indicated, in writing or otherwise, that they will not reply.” The library board has so far received about 23 responses, she said. Four counties do not get any state library aid and were not asked to respond to the inquiry, Price added.