The controversial book — “All Boys Aren’t Blue” — will be moved to the adult section of the Oglethorpe County Library.
The library’s board of trustees voted 7-0 with two abstentions to accept the recommendation of the Book Action Committee to move the book. The board had received seven “requests for reconsideration” from the young adult section, for students grades 6-12, to the adult section.
“We feel (the book) will serve the community better in the Adult section,” chair Mike Garner said.
Garner, as was one of three members of the Book Action Committee, abstained, but said he would’ve voted in case of a tie. Trustees Dana Froetschel and Susan Robinson were the other members.
Trustee Bill Cabaniss also abstained, but before the meeting adjourned, said he believes the book should not be shelved at the library, but available at the Athens-Clarke County Library upon request.
“Even though our culture’s changed,” he said after the meeting, “it doesn’t make it right.”
According to a summary by the book’s publisher on the library’s online catalog, “All Boys Aren’t Blue” is a memoir by author George M. Johnson that “weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.”
Athens Regional Library System Executive Director Valerie Bell attended the meeting and expressed satisfaction with how the process of moving the book was handled.
“The system works the way it’s supposed to work,” she said. “We, the library, want to partner with parents. We understand that parents work, that they don’t have a lot of time, that they’re trying to raise a family. The library doesn’t want to stop that, but we do want to recognize that people are different and families are different and the values that families have are different.”
If someone who filed a request for reconsideration is unhappy with the result of the board of trustees’ vote, they can file an appeal that would be heard and voted on by the Athens Regional Library Board of Trustees.
The local board of trustees heard public comments from several Oglethorpe County residents before the vote.
Scott Pettis of Crawford spoke out against the book, which he said he read.
“It’s a social agenda,” he said. “I think men should have men’s books to make them feel like they’re men and not feel like they’re little girls. This book, it does that.”
Pettis continued, calling the Athens Regional Library System “authoritative” and “iron-fisted” and called for the library to shelve a book that “opposed (Johnson’s) agenda.”
Trina Gaither of Arnoldsville spoke immediately after Pettis in support of keeping the book in the library.
“Everybody has a choice as to what books they check out,” she said. “Nobody’s forcing anybody to read anything. As a matter of fact, it’s hard to get young people to read. This country, I agree, it needs to come together, but we have to embrace everyone.”
“All Boys Aren’t Blue” will be sent to the Collection Department in Athens to receive reclassification, Oglethorpe County Library Branch Manager Katherine Ratcliffe said. She expects the book back in a couple weeks.
“There will be the practical side, where they change the sticker on it,” she said. “They’ll change its classification in the (online) catalog, and then it’ll eventually make its way back to us. They’ll also determine what section is best for it, whether it’s biography or just non-fiction.”