Fotonovela Subscriptions Ended
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The Denver Public Library has canceled its subscription to four series of Spanish-language fotonovelas, but library officials said they won’t be reviewing similar publications in other languages unless someone files a complaint.
“We have millions of items in our collection, and our job is to strike a balance and serve a diverse community,” library spokeswoman Diane Schieman—Christman said Tuesday. “We aren’t going to do any reviews unless there is a request for reconsideration.”
The library removed the fotonovelas—comic-book-style publications—in response to complaints from illegal-immigration opponents that they contained sexually explicit illustrations.
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“That does make it look as if they are discriminating against the Spanish-language part, not the content,” said Estevan Flores, executive director of the Latino/a Research & Policy Center. “As long as they are in the adult section, I don’t know what the problem is.”
Others said the library—which has been under attack by Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo and the Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform (CAIR) for serving the Spanish—speaking population—was pushed into a corner.
“Agencies like the library are being attacked, and they have no choice but to retreat,” said Lisa Duran, director of the immigration group Rights for All People.
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The canceled series are “El Libro Vaquero” (“Cowboy Book”), “Frontera Violenta” (“Violent Frontier”), “La Novela Policiaca” (“Police Novel”) and “El Libro Policiaco” (“Police Book”).
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(Posted on August 25, 2005)