By Linda Stamato
“There, where one burns books, the one in the end burns men.”
These prophetic words by Heinrich Heine, a 19th century Jewish poet, were uttered in 1822; they appear at the outset of Geraldine Brooks’ magnificent People of the Book, which is dedicated “For the librarians.”
Among the books consigned to the flames in 1933 were those of Heine.
I’m thinking about this devastating history in Germany as we see the rising attacks on books, libraries and, indeed, on their guardians, the librarians.
Librarians who just months back were being rightly hailed as heroes for keeping books accessible, ensuring safe spaces and continuing services as well as they safely could, are being attacked in the latest version of the culture war.
As highly visible and politicized bans of books have expanded across the country, librarians have found themselves on the front lines of this acrimonious war, with their careers and their personal reputations at risk.
“They have been labeled pedophiles on social media, called out by local politicians and reported to law enforcement officials,” reports the Times. And some librarians, fed up with online harassment, have quit. Others have been fired for refusing to remove books from circulation.
So much for revered public servants.
At the center of People of the Book is a treasured 15th-century Spanish Hebrew manuscript that was saved from destruction during the shelling of libraries in Sarajevo, the heart of intellectual life in Bosnia.
Brooks’ book was published in 2008, as our nation’s sanity was yet to be challenged as we are seeing today. It’s a warning, as I see it. We should heed it, if, of course, we care to see it, care to protect our books, our libraries, our librarians.
It’s curious that in the same week that I discovered People of the Book, I saw that the local Morris Guide, included the Morristown and Morris Township Library in a two-page spread, announcing in bold type that it is “More than just books.” And so it is:
A community library is a refuge of sorts. Whether you’re looking for a quiet place to do homework, need a little bit of reference and research assistance, want to curl up in a chair with a new title, or just need a little bit of comfort, it’s always been a place you can count on to be there for you. Beyond that, a library is so much more than just a place with books.”
A place for classes, for learning crafts or skills, to “borrow” museum passes, get access to the “Library of Things” such as snowshoes, video games, musical instruments and more. And the librarians are at the center of it all.
In short the library is indeed more than books; it is a treasure, a place, a resource, a cherished trove of, yes, books, and it is more than a workplace for the librarians who provide assistance and guidance, who patiently explain, conduct research, apply their talents and creativity to innovate, inspire, and, to serve their communities.
As we grow in our awareness to protect and preserve our access to books, we need to keep an eye out to ensure that our librarians are safe, secure and that they understand how valuable and valued they are.
Valued, by little guys like this one, Carter Mandel, at two years old:
…and the folks on the lawn, reading…
…or attending the Tuesday book sales at the Morristown & Township Library.
Linda Stamato is the Co-Director of the Center for Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. She is a Faculty Fellow there as well. Active in the Morristown community, she serves on the trustee board of the Morristown and Morris Township Library Foundation and is a commissioner on the Morristown Parking Authority.
Opinions expressed in commentaries are the authors’, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication.
