CHARLESTON — The West Virginia House of Delegates debated the merits of removing protections for public librarians and school librarians from criminal prosecution in the off chance a minor encounters books and content some consider to be obscene. The House passed House Bill 4654 – removing bona fide schools, public libraries, and museums from the […]

CHARLESTON — The West Virginia House of Delegates debated the merits of removing protections for public librarians and school librarians from criminal prosecution in the off chance a minor encounters books and content some consider to be obscene.

  • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
    1401·
    9 months ago

    My wife is a public library administrator. We are in Indiana, not West Virginia, but I could absolutely see the same thing happening here and I’m terrified. Between this, me being Jewish and having a queer daughter, I feel like my whole family is so fucked.

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        461·
        9 months ago

        We can’t afford to. We also both have elderly mothers who are still living on their own but may not be for long. My mother is 82. Hers is in her late 70s and has lupus.

        • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
          27·
          9 months ago

          Sounds like you guys are living with some considerable stress… Sorry. I hope it all works out okay for you all.

            • lennybird@lemmy.worldEnglish
              8·
              9 months ago

              For sure but we’re all in this together and like my wife always likes to say when I downplay my problems and stresses, it’s not a competition :)

          • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
            1·
            9 months ago

            I agree, however, the further we get into Illinois, the further away we get from our mothers.

            Also, the closest Illinois towns to us are Marshall, Paris and Casey and I don’t know if I could take living in a town as small as any of those.

            • PriorityMotif@lemmy.world
              2·
              9 months ago

              Effingham, Champaign/Urbana, and Bloomington/Normal are not that much further. I would personally pick blono as cost of living is cheaper with better job prospects than Champaign/Urbana. Effingham is going to be much more like Indiana.

              • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
                1·
                9 months ago

                Further enough that if there is an emergency, it would take way too long to get to our mothers. They’re already a 70-minute drive in the opposite direction.

    • BassTurd@lemmy.world
      29·
      9 months ago

      My mother is a librarian past retirement age in Iowa. She’s the director and has been running the library for probably around 30 years. The state is working on killing library boards and giving all control to local government. It would be absolutely terrible for libraries. My mom won’t retire because she’s standing up for the library and can’t do the same in retirement, and she can’t find a replacement with the same passion to fight.

      Republicans are doing everything in their power to hurt people, take away freedoms, and keep the population poorly educated. They are literally the worst thing for this country. I’d say pedophiles are worse, but they’re the same thing, so…

      • flipht@kbin.social
        1·
        9 months ago

        I’d encourage your mom to consider retiring and then running for local office.

        We need the custodians of the public good to be in positions of authority. It’s scary to give up control you know for a long shot, but at the same time, if enough people make the leap and give us solid options in every jurisdiction, we might be able to get out ahead of the regressives’ next attack.

        • BassTurd@lemmy.world
          3·
          9 months ago

          I think the library would die in the amount of time it would take to maybe get a local position. Further, she’s pushing 68 this year which imo is too old for something like that. Lastly, it’s a small Iowa town, and while it’s not as conservative as Western Iowa, she’s far too liberal to get mass support for a vote. That and her house is surrounded by family farm land that the city keeps trying to develop and she is fighting tool and nail against that. They wanted to build a massive horse arena right across the street some years ago, which would drastically lower her property value and qualify of life. The city keeps pushing forward trying to get things done and keeping her out of the loop like planning and land surveys for roads and shit. If I inherit some of that land when she passes, out of spite, I will ensure that the city never touches it because of how shady they’ve been. I’ll have it converted to protected prairie land before letting them ruin the area.

    • PRUSSIA_x86@lemmy.world
      2·
      9 months ago

      I live in Ohio, my husband is a librarian in a small-ish town. He’s had to start looking for jobs in Columbus and out-of-state, which sucks because he really loves his community and knows most of the patrons by name. It’s maddening watching people actively campaign and vote against things like library funding, then turn around and complain that programs are being cut and service quality is dropping…

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        2·
        9 months ago

        It really is. My only hope is that the library board in this town really cares about the library and freedom of speech, so maybe they will help shield the employees. I hope your husband finds something that works for him and you. Good luck!

    • asteriskeverything@lemmy.world
      14·
      9 months ago

      I am so sorry this is off topic. You’re not a woman? (I ask because you said wife and only specifying your daughter as part of the LGBTQA community)

      Seriously was convinced you were a woman because everything I ever see you say is much more aligned with a woman’s perspective than I’m used to seeing on the internet.

      That said I’m sorry you don’t feel secure and safe in your home state. I hope this backsliding ends soon