You are Pat Ortiz, children's librarian at the Maysville Free Public Library. You advocate retention of Halloween ABC. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the American Library Association's Office of Intellectual Freedom and ALA's Library Bill of Rights in preparation for your role.
You are Don(na) King, a parent, and you are one of the three people who asked Pat Ortiz (the children's librarian) to remove Halloween ABC from the collection. For your role, be sure to familiarize yourself with the objections to this book, which you can find in some of the sources listed in the recommended information sources bibliography.
You are Sam(antha) White, a fourth-grade teacher in Maysville, and you are one of the three people who asked Pat Ortiz (the children's librarian) to remove Halloween ABC from the collection. For your role, be sure to familiarize yourself with the common objections to this book, which you can find in some of the sources listed in the recommended information sources bibliography.
You are C. J. Small, a parent, and you are one of the three people who requested that the library remove Halloween ABC from its collection. For your role, be sure to familiarize yourself with the common objections to this book, which you can find in some of the sources listed in the recommended information sources bibliography.
You are Leslie Wilson, a Library Board member. Instead of arguing for or against removal of Halloween ABC, it is your role to listen carefully to the debate. You may make comments during the discussion, and you should ask clarifying questions to those whose arguments are unclear to you. When it comes time to vote, vote however you would vote if you yourself really were a Library Board member in this situation.
You are Linn Williams, a Library Board member. Instead of arguing for or against removal of Halloween ABC, it is your role to listen carefully to the debate. You may make comments during the discussion, and you should ask clarifying questions to those whose arguments are unclear to you. When it comes time to vote, vote however you would vote if you yourself really were a Library Board member in this situation.
You are Terry Lyders, a Library Board member. Instead of arguing for or against removal of Halloween ABC, it is your role to listen carefully to the debate. You may make comments during the discussion, and you should ask clarifying questions to those whose arguments are unclear to you. When it comes time to vote, vote for whichever side you think has won the debate.
You are Jo Ettma, a Library Board member. Instead of arguing for or against removal of Halloween ABC, it is your role to listen carefully to the debate. You may make comments during the discussion, and you should ask clarifying questions to those whose arguments are unclear to you. When it comes time to vote, vote for whichever side you think has won the debate.
You are Jess Park, the Library Board president. Your role is integral to this debate. It is your job to moderate the discussion, making sure that everyone has a chance to speak and that no vicious fighting (well, maybe just a little vicious fighting) occurs. Instead of arguing for or against removal of Halloween ABC, concentrate on keeping the meeting running smoothly. At the beginning of the meeting, ask everyone to introduce him- or herself (for examples: "My name is Jamie Lee, and I'm a school librarian here in Maysville." and "My name is Dale Richards. I'm from New York City, and I'm here representing the National Coalition Against Censorship."). Then let the discussion begin. About ten minutes before the end of the discussion, ask if anyone who has not yet spoken has anything to say. Then, instruct the audience to take a break while the Board members each decide how they'll vote. As for your vote, vote for the side that seems to have won the debate.
You are Lee Farley, president of the local Family Friendly Libraries organization. You advocate removal of Halloween ABC from the library. Be sure to familiarize yourself with Family Friendly Libraries.
You are Kelly Aldrich, a lawyer and the head of the local American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) chapter. You advocate retention of Halloween ABC. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights as a basis for your arguments, as well as the ACLU itself.
You are Jamie Lee, a school librarian in Maysville. You object to Halloween ABC and refuse to add it to your collection at school. You may give any reasons you wish for advocating removal of the book, but make sure you carefully consider your reasons in advance of the debate. You will want to familiarize yourself with the common objections to this book, which you can find in some of the sources listed in the recommended information sources bibliography.
You are Chris Kozmetsky, the Director of the Maysville Free Public Library. You do not need to express an opinion as to whether or not Halloween ABC should be removed or retained. You are just worried about bad publicity for the library, and you are particularly upset about the AP news wire story. You want every one to stop talking and vote quickly to end the matter.
You are Dale Richards, a representative from the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC). You have never been to Maysville before the day of the debate. You are from New York City, and you introduce yourself as being from there. You are in favor of retention of the book. Be sure to familiarize yourself the NCAC organization.
You are Lou Schamber, a representative from the People for the American Way Foundation. You are from Los Angeles, and you introduce yourself as being from there. You are in favor of retention of the book. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the People for the American Way.
You are Sal Price, a grandparent. During the debate, you can suggest restricted access of Halloween ABC as a compromise solution. You may suggest that only adults be allowed to check out the book, that the book be moved to the adult department, that the book be kept behind the children's librarian's desk--whatever you want. You will want to familiarize yourself with the common objections to this book, which you can find in some of the sources listed in the recommended information sources bibliography.
You are Sandy McCain, a waffler. You change your position frequently. You may agree with anyone who says anything at any time during the debate. Just be sure to change your mind a lot. You will want to familiarize yourself with the common objections to Halloween ABC, which you can find in some of the sources listed in the recommended information sources bibliography.
You are David(a) Stein, a Holocaust survivor. You advocate retention of Halloween ABC because you remember that in Hitler's Germany, you saw many books being banned and burned. Consequently, you object to censorship in any form.
You are Kerry Crane, a citizen concerned about the cost of the library to the taxpayers. You want to drop the issue of Halloween ABC entirely and discuss how the library is an economic drain on the community. Also, you openly dislike anyone who is not from Maysville.
You are Robert(a) Salton, a teacher who used the book in class and liked it. You advocate retention. Be sure that you are very familiar with Halloween ABC so that you can support it. You will want to familiarize yourself with the common objections to this book, which you can find in some of the sources listed in the recommended information sources bibliography.
You are Paul(a) Beaulieu, a parent who opposes the book and who would like to see it removed from the library. Be sure that you are very familiar with Halloween ABC and with common objections to it, which you can find in some of the sources listed in the recommended information sources bibliography.
You are Randy Levy, a child who likes Halloween ABC. You may decide how old you are and how you want to represent the child's point of view. You will want to familiarize yourself with the common objections to this book, which you can find in some of the sources listed in the recommended information sources bibliography.
You are Erik(a) Falcone, a child who does not like Halloween ABC. You may decide how old you are and how you want to represent the child's point of view. You will want to familiarize yourself with the common objections to this book, which you can find in some of the sources listed in the recommended information sources bibliography.
You are Alex(andra) Ingwersen, a parent who advocates retention. Be sure you are very familiar with Halloween ABC so that you can support it, as well as with the common objections to the book, which you can find in some of the sources listed in the recommended information sources bibliography.
You are Louis(a) Cruz, a parent who ojects to the book. Be sure you are very familiar with Halloween ABC and with common objections to it, which you can find in some of the sources listed in the recommended information sources bibliography.
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created 12/05/98; last updated 01/27/07