We join the New York Library Association (NYLA), Public Library Directors Association of Suffolk County (PLDA), Governor Hochul, countless other organizations and library professionals in condemning the Smithtown Library Board of Trustees’ June 21, 2022 resolution to “remove all Pride displays, in addition to the removal of all books of the same subject on display from all Children’s sections in all Smithtown Library buildings”
We condemn this act of bigotry against library patrons and employees who are part of the LGBTQIA+ communities. All community members have equal rights to find materials they want on library shelves and for those items to be included in library displays.
JJML is committed to supporting our diverse community — all individuals and families of every background, belief and identity. We believe representation matters for library users of all ages. Inclusive displays show our users that they are welcome, accepted and valued. They illustrate our core belief and mission that libraries are for everyone.
The Board of Trustees of the John Jermain Memorial Library (JJML) reaffirms its commitment to the upholding the American Library Association’s (ALA) Library Bill of Rights. JJML supports ALA’s Statement on Censorship standing “opposed to censorship and any effort to coerce belief, suppress opinion, or punish those whose expression does not conform to what is deemed to be orthodox in history, politics, or belief. The unfettering exchange of ideas is essential to the preservation of a free and democratic society.”
In an emergency meeting of the Smithtown Library Board of Trustees. The Board voted 4-2 with 1 abstention to rescind it’s June 21, 2022 resolution removing Pride displays from the Children’s Rooms of its Libraries. To watch the meeting and to read their statement please visit: https://smithlib.org/