Fulton County is committed to diversity and inclusion and supporting exploration of ideas and history. Yesterday Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced that it will cease the publication of six titles by author Dr. Seuss. Some of these books are in the collection of the Fulton County Library System.
The Fulton County Library System follows the guidelines of the American Library Association’s “Library Bill of Rights” which specifically states that “materials should not be excluded from a collection solely because the content or its creator may be considered offensive or controversial.” Our vast collection of materials does include some works that may be offensive to some, and may not align with our values of diversity and inclusion. We maintain an array of materials in support of intellectual freedom, as an acknowledgment of our past, and as documentation accessible for researchers.
While Dr. Seuss is an iconic children’s author and figure in American literature, we also take great care to highlight a broader and more inclusive group of children’s authors. We will continue to do that as part of future celebrations of “Read Across America Day” and in all our programming. We look forward to the continued work of fostering a love of books and reading for library users of all ages.
