The New York Public Library will keep six controversial books by Dr. Seuss on the shelves, despite this week’s decision to stop publishing them because of racist images.
The library, which serves Manhattan, the Bronx and Staten Island, said it does not censor the books and will keep controversial titles in circulation until they are in a suitable shape to borrow, a spokeswoman said.
“As with all public libraries, the New York Public Library does not censor books,” said library spokeswoman Angela Montefinise.
“In this case, the six titles in question are out of print by Dr. Seuss Enterprises, so very few copies of these titles that we have will continue to circulate until they are no longer in acceptable condition,” he said. said Montefinise.
“Meanwhile, librarians, who are deeply concerned about serving their communities and ensuring accurate and diverse representation in our collections – especially children’s books – will certainly take this information into account when planning stories, displays and recommendations, ”she said.
Montefinise said the books are also part of the library’s historical research collection.
A spokesman for the Brooklyn Public Library said Wednesday that the books remain in circulation. Queens Public Library officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday.
The half-dozen books by Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, made headlines this week when the company that publishes the titles for Penguin Random House said it would no longer publish them.
The six books – “If I Run to the Zoo,” “And to Think I Saw Him on Mulberry Street,” “McElligot’s Pool,” “On Beyond Zebra !,” “Scrambled Eggs Super !,” Cat’s Quizzer ”- have been set on fire in recent years due to its stereotypical portrayal of different ethnic and racial groups.
But major libraries, including the Denver Public Library, said this week that they will keep these titles on their shelves as well.