Libraries Censor IndyKids

[KPalicz]

STATEMENT AND ACTION ALERT
Libraries Censor IndyKids Newspaper

A new project of New York City Indymedia, IndyKids, has been censored by two area library systems. After agreeing to distribute IndyKids to their local branches, both the New York Public Library and the Queens Public Library changed their minds and now refuse to distribute the paper. They say the reason for their decision is that IndyKids is not “balanced.”

Yet a look at the periodicals offered at the Donnell Children’s Library shows a striking bias. For example, “Biography Today-Profiles of People of Interest to Young Readers” September 2005 issue calls Pope John Paul II “the charismatic ‘people’s pope’ who helped topple Communism while championing Catholic values and a culture of peace.”

The publication, “Faces: People, Places and Cultures” has a special March 2006 issue devoted to Afghanistan. The glowing description of the current situation there defies even mainstream reporting: “The United States military trained more than 25,000 Afghan troops so that the Afghans could better protect their own country. Schools, hospitals, roads and towns are being rebuilt. Girls are allowed to attend schools, and people are free to do their business. Today, Afghanistan is a relatively stable country.”

In addition, the library’s periodicals for children feature numerous ads for video games, candy and sports wear, and generally carry the message: “life is good, have fun and play sports.”

It is fine for the library’s materials to put forth these perspectives, but the library should not pretend that these are balanced and exclude other points of view. As a public institution supported with taxpayer dollars, the libraries have the responsibility to distribute all kinds of publications from a variety of perspectives.

The American Library Association’s “Library Bill of Rights” states: “Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.”

IndyKids is a new, free progressive current events newspaper for kids in grades 4 to 8 in the New York City area. It is currently distributed at over 40 schools and community organizations in New York City. IndyKids encourages kids to form their own opinions and to engage in politics. In its first five months, IndyKids has received praise from many teachers who lack materials on current events to use in the classroom.

“I have been teaching current events for years, and always had to face the fact that ‘regular’ newspapers are difficult for 11 and 12 year olds to read,” said John Yanno, a 6th grade teacher at John Jay High School in Brooklyn. “Indy Kids has really made teaching current events a lot easier. The kids are finally motivated to read, and more importantly, to discuss and get active.”

IndyKids asks the public visit the local library and to request that it carry IndyKids. The pubic is also encouraged to write letters to the libraries urging them to distribute IndyKids. Since the library will not allow IndyKids inside its doors, a public distribution of the paper will take place in front of the Mid-Manhattan Public Library on Saturday, March 25, from 2:00 to 3:30pm.

For more information on IndyKids and to download the paper, go to www.indykids.net. To order copies for your school call 212-592-0116 or write to IndyKids at indykids@indymedia.org


ACTION ALERT

Stop Library Censorship of IndyKids!

The New York Public Library and the Queens Public Library refuse to carry IndyKids, after they originally agreed to do so. They say that that IndyKids is not “balanced.”

Please visit your local branch library and ask your branch to carry IndyKids. Please write to the libraries and ask that they make IndyKids and all diverse points of view accessible to the public.

Please write to:
Margaret Tice
Coordinator of Children’s Services
New York Public Library
455 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10016
mtice@nypl.org

Roseanne Cerny
Coordinator of Children’s Services
Queens Library
89-11 Merrick Boulevard
Jamaica, NY 11432
Rosanne.cerny@queenslibrary.org

*please send a copy of your letters to IndyKids at: indykids@indymedia.org or to P.O. Box 1417, New York, NY 10276


Distribute IndyKids!
If the library will not distribute IndyKids, we will distribute IndyKids at the library! Join us in handing out IndyKids in front of the Mid-Manhattan Library

Saturday, March 25 (rain date: April 1)
2:00 to 3:30pm
Mid-Manhattan Library
455 Fifth Avenue (at 40th Street).
Subway: F/V/B/D or 4/5/6 to 42nd Street


IndyKids Bake Sale
Support IndyKids and distribute papers!
Saturday, April 15 (rain date: April 16)
2:00 – 5:00pm
Union Square South (14th Street near Broadway)
Subway: N/R//W, 4/5/6 or L train to 14th Street, Union Square

Of course IndyKids comes from a certain perspective that probably isn't balanced. However as they point out, the stuff kids are given currently isn't balanced either. A free marketplace of ideas accepts conflicting viewpoints and allowed the individual to make up their own mind.

Apparently libraries think different rules apply for kids, that they shouldn't be free to make up their own minds about issues but just accept a sanatized, establishment approved viewpoint.

btw, IndyKids did an article about our push to lower the voting age in NYC.

So, IndyKids

[twenty1]

i think in america parents are being very over protective of kids. they want to keep them away from anything that is semi-negative and teach them life is fair and there is nothing bad happening. with rapid growth of globalization when these kids grow up and see how tough kids from other countries are they are going to have a hard time competing with them.
If parents thought having a half second peek at janet jacksons partly covered nipple is going to make there kids mentally ill for the rest of there lives, there is a problem.

[MiNi]

The older kids at my school in kidergarten would always tell me life would kick me down on my face. My God, they were so right.

And at 15, am I hopelessly screwed up because I learned the truth? Hell no!! In fact, it made me prepared for when life really did start sucking! I'm not some hoplessly depressed person drugged up the yin-yang and cutting myself. I'm a better individual for knowing life the way it is.

[MiNi]

Of course IndyKids comes from a certain perspective that probably isn't balanced. However as they point out, the stuff kids are given currently isn't balanced either. A free marketplace of ideas accepts conflicting viewpoints and allowed the individual to make up their own mind.

Apparently libraries think different rules apply for kids, that they shouldn't be free to make up their own minds about issues but just accept a sanatized, establishment approved viewpoint.

btw, IndyKids did an article about our push to lower the voting age in NYC.

So, IndyKids

Don't forget...you can't think for yourself until you're 18

[Fabuluke]

I hate that philosophy.

[arc]

IndyKids isn't balanced? When was the last time these people read the New York Post? The New York Times (leftist) and The Wall Street Journal (conservative) have political agendas, though they try to be fair to the other side.

Judging by the first issue, I can see a political slant in IndyKids... somewhat more so than The Times or The Journal, less than the Village Voice or the NY Post. New York has about 300 newspapers, and while they're not all available in the libraries, quite a few of them are, commonly including both lefty and conservative papers.