Church in Kentucky advocates for removal of books from public library, sparking debate over acts of unlawful taking or nonviolent resistance
In the heart of Shelbyville, Kentucky, a local church is stirring controversy by encouraging its members to strategically check out books from the Shelby County Public Library and never return them. This action, deemed as "stealing" by the library's director, Pamela Wilson Federspiel, has left the library's collection in a state of loss.
The Reformation Church of Shelbyville, led by Pastor Jerry Dorris, defends this action as an "act of civil disobedience." Three of its leaders have spoken out in support, claiming it as a biblical category where obedience to God and love for neighbor demand it. However, Dorris also states that this is not a formal position of the church, and not every member agrees with it.
The library's collection manager, Amanda Perry-Davis, has reported a loss of 16 books valued at $410.85 since a member of the church checked them out last year. The titles of these "lost" books include "The Art of Drag," "My Two Moms," "My Two Dads," and "Kind Like Marsha: Lessons from LGBTQ+ Leaders."
The books in question portray gay characters and historical figures or explore LGBTQ+ themes. The library's director, Federspiel, mentions that most of these books had not been in high demand by library patrons. The library acquires books generally based on their popularity and professional recommendations.
This practice of strategically checking out books with no plans to return them as a method of permanently removing certain books from local public libraries is not common, according to Chris Hartman, executive director of the Fairness Campaign. Hartman has never considered "theft to be a form of civil action."
The library offers a variety of books for a diverse community, and all books are library property. The library handles overdue books like any other case, issuing notices before turning the matter over to a collection agency after 60 days. No library staff or board member has followed up with the church, made a request for the return of the books, or replaced the removed books.
Pastor Dorris justifies this action by stating that it is not literacy, but grooming. He has also been vocal in his opposition to a now closed Shelbyville bar and a fall fundraiser in Cynthiana involving witches, which the church has also engaged in public protests against.
Sarah Prager, the author of one of the lost books, has expressed her disapproval, stating that the book is about real, caring people and it is wrong to remove it from the library. Matt Burgin, president of the library's board of trustees, has not been contacted about the books by anyone other than the library director.
Complaints about books to public libraries are increasing in Kentucky and the United States. In 2024, there were 302 challenges to Kentucky public libraries, up from only 26 in 2023. This incident in Shelbyville seems to be a part of a broader trend of book censorship.
