Publications

Table of Contents:


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Books: (Click on page to see inside book.)

Speeches:
ALA Booklist Training Webinar Features SafeLibraries

Cable/Television:

Magazines:
The Blaze magazine, cover, March 2012

Library and Other Schools:




Newspapers:
USA Today
19 Aug 2011
  • "Chatham Man's Website Takes On Library Offerings; Provides Advice to Those Questioning Books' Content," by Matt Manochio, Daily Record, 12 December 2010, p.A1. 
  • "Still Arrogant, Still Wrong," by Editorial, The Daily Herald, 3 December 2010.
  • "Those Challenging Books Find Strength in Numbers," by Didi Tang and Mary Beth Marklein, USA Today, 1 December 2010 (updated 6 December), p.3A.
  • "Banned Book To Be Read at Show," by Jim Walsh, Courier Post, 20 August 2010.
    Dan Kleinman, a Morris County-based "safe library" activist who backs [library director Gail] Sweet's decision, said the protesters were well-intended but mistaken.

    "Libraries may remove books for legitimate reasons," he said.

    "I think it's great what they are doing," Kleinman said of the performers.  "They're standing up against what they believe is book-banning and censorship.  It's not, but that's what they believe it is."
  • "Hen Hud:  Court Order May Be Required," by Barbara Livingston Nackman, The Journal News, 31 October 2009. 
    Public libraries and police are both funded by and created to serve the public, said Dan Kleinman of Safelibraries.org.

    "In this case all they need to [do] is give the police permission to look at the computer they already have in their possession," Kleinman said.  "This isn't invading anyone's privacy.  They are all on the same team.  Libraries are formed by charter to serve a particular purpose.  Child pornography is not usually one of these purposes."
  • "Librarians' Code Does Not Allow Censorship," by Luther Turmelle, New Haven Register, 22 October 2009. 
    Dan Kleinman, a New Jersey resident who operates a blog and Web site that focuses on national library association policies that he says put questionable material in the hands of young people, said Cheshire residents seeking to ban the book would be better served working toward changing the library's policies, which Harten said don't permit the Library Board or any of the town's elected leaders to overrule her decision.

    "These people don't have to be in the situation they're in," Kleinman said.   "Maybe the policy should be changed.  Even the ALA's guidelines don't recommend giving a library director that much power."

  • "Read! Speak! Know! — While You Still Can …," by Paulette D. Kilmer, Toledo Free Press, 25 September 2009.
  • "US Libraries Hit Back Over Challenges to Kids Books," by Sara Hussein, Agence France-Presse [AFP], 6 September 2009, emphasis mine. 
    ....

    Dan Kleinman, who runs the website safelibraries.org, says his concerns are with the sort of sexual content found in "Gossip Girls."

    "It is wrong to say that children should not have books because the Earth is not older than 6000 years.  It is wrong to say children should not have books because there's witchcraft in them.   This is silly," he told AFP, referring to some of the arguments put forward by religious fundamentalists.

    But, he says, "some books have explicit, very detailed sexual conduct that is not of a teaching nature... it's just inappropriate for children."

    Kleinman, whose website is a clearing house for information about challenging books, insists that he does not want to see books banned, but says there is a legitimate legal basis for restricting children's access to sexually explicit material in libraries.

    "All I'm seeking is application of existing law," he said, drawing a parallel between explicit websites or films and literature.

    Kleinman accuses the ALA of hyperbole in celebrating Banned Books Week.  "The whole purpose of Banned Books Week is to provide this kind of misinformation," he said.  "The ALA misleads people into thinking that if you keep an inappropriate book from a child that is considered censorship.  It is not."

    ....
    See also, "É.-U. : Deux Papas Pingouins Gays Déchaînent les Passions," and "O Carte Pentru Copii Despre Doi Pinguini Homosexuali, Stârneste Controverse în SUA," etc.
  • "Librarians:  Throw The Book At 'Em," by Don Corrigan, Editor-in-Chief, South County Times, 26 September 2008.
  • "Who's Controlling County Libraries:  Taxpayers or the ALA?  New Teen Sections at County Libraries Stocked with Sexually Explicit Materials," by Dan Kleinman, St. Louis MetroVoice, 21 August 2008.
  • "Letters:  Board Bans Junk Food, But Not Racy Books," by Guy Hegg, Appleton Post-Crescent, 29 May 2008.
  • "Library Seeks Porn Parity," by Sarah Portlock, The Brooklyn Paper, 17 May 2008.
  • "Librarian in Nation's Headlines; Lindsay Firing Sparks Debate on News Sites and Among Bloggers," by David Castellon, Visalia Times-Delta; Tulare Advance-Register, 18 March 2008.
  • "Library Filtering Legislation Needed," by Dan Kleinman, Chicago Daily Herald, 21 February 2008.
  • "Another Book Stirs Suitability Debate," by John J. Hopkins, Cheektowaga Times (NY), 17 January 2008.
  • "Penguin Papas Lead a List of Literary Controversies; The Most Challenged Book of 2006 is About Two Male Birds Who Adopt an Egg Together," by Stevenson Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 7 October 2007.
  • "Activists Debate Seized Book," by Lydia Seabol Avant, Tuscaloosa News, 1 October 2007.

Trade Journals:

  • "Comment Enabled; Most Oppose Explicit Books," by Dan Kleinman, American Libraries, July/August 2011, p.11.
  • "Perceptions of Self and the 'Other': An Analysis of Challenges to And Tango Makes Three," by Marta L. Magnuson, American Library Association, 12 May 2011, updated 10 October 2011.  Note:  This article was changed to remove the false claim that I sought to censor And Tango Makes Three.  See "On Getting Lumped In With Others; And SafeLibraries Makes Three."
    • American
    Libraries

  • "Book Banners Find Power in Numbers," by American Library Association, Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom, LX:3 (May 2011).
    Yet websites like PABBIS.org and Safelibraries.org have become the vanguard for organized attempts to ban books from public libraries and school curricula.
  • "Libraries and Porn Privacy," by Annoyed Librarian, Library Journal, 27 April 2011.
  • "School Book Challenges Increasingly Organized Efforts," by American Library Association, Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom, LX:2 (March 2011).
    But while challenges once were mostly launched by a lone parent, Caldwell-Stone has noticed "an uptick in organized efforts" to remove books from public and school libraries.  A number of challenges appear to draw from information provided on websites such as Parents Against Bad Books in Schools, or PABBIS.org, and Safelibraries.org.
  • "Chapter 4: Internet Filtering," by Sarah Houghton-Jan, Library Technology Reports 46:8, November-December 2010:
    Finally, the influence of outside lobbying groups on local Internet filtering policies in libraries should not be understated.  Some groups, such as the Values Advocacy Council and SafeLibraries.org, have local affiliate organizations and members that try to get Internet filters into local school and public libraries.  These groups can provide local politicians in their like-minded political party with template proposals for Internet filtering ballot measures, city council resolutions, policy changes, and so on.  This often provides the politician, in his or her mind, with a clear winning platform for the next election.  These prewritten policy-change templates require the politician to insert only his or her city, school, or county name.  With such an easily presented fast lane to election supremacy, libraries and intellectual freedom advocates must stand vigilant and constantly remind politicians that their constituents include people who believe in the right of choice, not only people who believe in their right to remove everyone else's choice.
  • "ALA in the Airport?," by Annoyed Librarian, Library Journal, 15 November 2010.
  • "Libraries Fight Challenges to Graphic Novels," by Brigid Alverson, Publishers Weekly, 27 April 2010:
    Most challenges are brought by parents and grandparents, or adult community members who happen to stumble on a book in the library, Caldwell-Stone said, but there are also organized groups, using names like "family friendly," "citizens for decency," or "safe libraries."  "[They] say they are there to protect kids, that they are there to protect parents' rights to raise their kids the way they see fit, and they think this gives them the right to dictate what is in the library," she said.  "They can often take a challenge in a community where a concern is raised by a single parent and blow it up into a major conflagration."
  • "ALA Event Meet West Bend Community Library Supporters," by Diane Chen, School Library Journal, 30 June 2009.
  • "Wisconsin Library Challenge Heats Up," by Debra Lau Whelan, School Library Journal, 7 May 2009.
  • "Privacy, Shmivacy," by Annoyed Librarian, Library Journal, 9 February 2009.
  • "Obama Wants Your Library Records," by Annoyed Librarian, Library Journal, 21 January 2009.

Talk Radio:
Dr. Gina Loudon
  • "The Dr. Gina Show," guest Dan Kleinman, 101 WYDE FM, 17 August 2011.
    Dr. Gina Show - Guest Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries - 17 August 2011 Hr 2 Seg 3
  • "The Joe Crummey Show," caller Dan from Chatham, WABC 770AM, 27 June 2011.
    .... Also the topic of pornography being available in a public library has come up again, only this time in New Jersey.  Still doesn't seem right that you can access porn in a library, so why hasn't it been prevented?  That and more on today's Crummey Show.  [This call is related to "Access to Pornography at Libraries Raises Concerns," by Matt Murphy, News12 NJ, 25 June 2011.]
  • "Laura Kostial — Bad Books in Libraries — 3-8-08 (part 1)," by Laura Kostial with Dan Kleinman as a caller, Eagle Forum Live with Phyllis Schlafly, 8 March 2008.
  • "Laura Kostial — Bad Books in Libraries — 3-8-08 (part 2)," by Laura Kostial with Dan Kleinman as a caller, Eagle Forum Live with Phyllis Schlafly, 8 March 2008.
  • "Download MP3 Tue 08/21/2007 Hour #1:  Dan Kleinman, SafeLibraries.org and Karen Lukes (parent) re:  Followup on 8/7/2007 District No. 126 (Alsip & Oak Lawn)," by host Sandy Rios, guest Karen Lukes, guest Dan Kleinman, The Sandy Rios Show, 21 August 2007.
  • "Download MP3 Tue 08/07/2007 Hour #2:  Dan Kleinman, SafeLibraries.org re:  Profane books for students in Cook County School District No. 126 (Alsip & Oak Lawn, IL)," by host Sandy Rios, guest Karen Lukes, guest Dan Kleinman, The Sandy Rios Show, 8 August 2007. 

    Author Blogs:

    Experts (Not Already Listed Elsewhere):

    Library Blogs:


    ALA Distribution Lists:
    • "[lita-l] Re: Re: Re: Re: ALAConnect & 8bitlibrary," by LaVerne Poussaint, DeepMed Library, 22 August 2011.

      • From: LaVerne Poussaint
      • To: "SafeLibraries.org"
      • Cc: lita-l@ala.org
      • Subject: [lita-l] Re: Re: Re: Re: ALAConnect & 8bitlibrary
      • Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 11:03:41 -0700 (PDT)
      And the upshot of it all is that I'm as queer and unconventional as they come; so for me to up-in-arms on the matter really should give the group room for serious pause. [You can quote me on that].

      URL: http://deepmed.net/
      Skype: deepmedlibrary
      Twitter: DeepMed Library


      --- On Mon, 8/22/11, SafeLibraries.org  wrote:

      From: SafeLibraries.org
      Subject: Re: [lita-l] Re: Re: Re: ALAConnect & 8bitlibrary
      To: LaVerne Poussaint [email elided]
      Date: Monday, August 22, 2011, 12:15 PM
      Like the Annoyed Librarian says, the ALA's freedom of speech is the freedom to speak and think like them.  All else are cut off.

      See http://safelibraries.blogspot.com/2011/05/will-manley-outs-library-profession-as.html

      -Dan

      On Mon, Aug 22, 2011 at 11:55 AM, LaVerne Poussaint <email elided> wrote:
      Lack of "civility" is what generated the postings in the first place. 

      My point has not been lost as the content has now been removed. Ça y est!

      I'll have no need or desire to ever engage again with that group.

      Done deal.
    • "[lita-l] 2nd Federal 'Sexual Hostilities in Worplace' Lawsuit Filed by Library Workers," by LaVerne Poussaint, DeepMed Library, 22 August 2011.
      From: LaVerne Poussaint
      To: lita-l@ala.org
      Subject: [lita-l] 2nd Federal 'Sexual Hostilities in Worplace' Lawsuit Filed by Library Workers
      Date: Mon, 22 Aug 2011 13:41:52 -0700 (PDT)

      For the clueless [regarding ALA members attacking LaVerne and calling for censoring her: http://connect.ala.org/node/150744 - definitely an eye-opening read]:

      Why are you still sending e-mails to me on civil discourse?

      How has it transpired that my opposition to the crude and illegal fellatio uploads [to an ALA message board] now turns on the false fulcrum of my lack of "civility" and not upon a focus of the heterosexual male prerogative [yes, I must "go there"] which considered it suitable to penetrate and push pass the boundaries of professionalism in such a way?

      I would not deign to upload a cunnilingus graphic on ALAConnect.  Why?  Because there should be boundaries.  My private propensities are mine alone - and those with whom I share particular pleasures.

      The selfsame dynamic evidenced on ALAConnect is what has been now forced before the Bench and Bar.  The Library Foundations are now party to the suits as enablers and facilitators; those mandated with representing the interests of the library workers are defendants, not plaintiffs.

      http://safelibraries.blogspot.com/2011/07/library-employee-harassment-continues.html

      http://www.theblaze.com/stories/librarian-suit-computer-porn-use-lead-to-groping-while-children-present/

      Let us no longer pretend that this is about lack of my manners; there's something far more subtle and malicious going on here.

      ...And if you think what was written is lacking in civility, your ears would burn if you heard what I'm actually thinking.

      -LLP
    • "[ifaction] FW: Book Banners Finding Power in Numbers: Miller-McCune," by Deborah Caldwell-Stone, American Library Association, 11 February 2011.
    • "[alacoun] Re: RE: We are featured on the safelibraries blog," by Diedre Conkling, American Library Association, 10 November 2010.
    • "[alacoun] RE: We are featured on the safelibraries blog," by Christopher F. Bowen, American Library Association, 10 November 2010.
    • "[alacoun] RE: We are featured on the safelibraries blog," by Patrick Sweeney, American Library Association, 10 November 2010.
    • "[alacoun] We are featured on the safelibraries blog," by Christopher F. Bowen, American Library Association, 10 November 2010.
    • "YALSA Board of Directors Meeting Conference Call," by YALSA, American Library Association, 25 August 2009.
    • "[alacoun] those who don't like intellectual freedom," by Carrie Gardner, American Library Association, 22 April 2009.
    • "[alacoun] RE: Censorship Issue," by James Casey, American Library Association, 5 August 2008.
    • "[alacoun] RE: [Fwd: [SafeLibraries] American Troops Defamed by ALA Councilor Peter McDonald]," by James Casey, American Library Association, 27 June 2008.
    • "[alacoun] [Fwd: [SafeLibraries] American Troops Defamed by ALA Councilor Peter McDonald]," by Peter McDonald, American Library Association, 26 June 2008.
    • "[ALACOUN:19056] Re: The invented 'Scrotum controversy'?," by Therese Bigelow, American Library Association, 28 February 2007.
    • "[ALACOUN:19052] Re: The invented 'Scrotum controversy'?," by Steve Matthews, American Library Association, 28 February 2007:
      Since I have now had a request for an interview from Dan Kleinman of SafeLibraries, I am more convinced that Councilor Rosenzweig may indeed be right about the ideological conspiracy although I am sure that this incident is far more complicated than that, but SafeLibraries is a smear of major proportions.   I responded to Mr. Kleinman's request for an interview with the following:

      Mr. Kleinman:  Of course not.  Your organized effort to trash public and school libraries and create a climate of fear disgusts me.  You are as disingenuous and sensationalistic as the supermarket tabloids.  Your real agenda is to destroy the whole concept of the public library and to render school libraries ineffective and ultimately worthless.  You have a right to your opinion, but I’m not interested in being a part of your destructive and misguided zealotry.

      If you have not taken a look at http://www.SafeLibraries.org/ recently, you should.  I stand corrected if I downplayed the persistent efforts of the fringe, Councilor Rosenzweig, we have everything to fear.  And to all councilors, don't forget about that check to the Freedom to Read Foundation.  Now more than ever.
    • "[ALACOUN:17466] RE: Finding a website," by James Casey, American Library Association, 22 March 2006.
    • "[ALACOUN:16498] RE: New Censorship Website," by Jessamyn West, American Library Association, 29 November 2005.
    • "[ALACOUN:16497] RE: New Censorship Website," by James Casey, American Library Association, 29 November 2005.
    • "[ALACOUN:16496] RE: New Censorship Website," by Jim Rettig, American Library Association, 29 November 2005.
    • "[ALACOUN:16494] New Censorship Website," by James Casey, American Library Association, 29 November 2005.
      Oak Lawn resident Mark Decker has been on a campaign since March 2005 to remove Playboy magazine from our Oak Lawn Public Library.  He has thus far been unsuccessful.  Our Board voted unanimously to retain that title in our collection on June 21.  This was publicized heavily in the Chicago area.  The issue hasn't "gone away" as Decker began lobbying our Village government, has broadened his focus to filtering issues and expanded his demands for removal of other "indecent" titles.  Most recently, he and his supporters launched a website.  http://www.safelibraries.org  ALA and the ACLU are among the chief targets of this site.  Several "ALA-Indoctrinated" Librarians are named in various sections, but the chief target of the authors seems to be Judith Krug.  "Now we come to the ALA.  While the ALA has a president elected yearly, the top dog at the ALA is someone working tirelessly, year after year, with ten of thousands of supporters and millions and millions in funding, to ensure, among other goals, children maintain access to pornography."

      If Judith Krug is really the "top dog" of ALA, maybe she should get a raise!

    Librarian Blogs:

    Prominent Political Blogs:

    General Interest Blogs:
    • "You Can’t Read That!," by Paul Woodford, Paul's Thing, 10 December 2012.
    • "Standing For Something — Update," by mormonwomen, Mormon Women, 3 October 2012.
    • "Victory," by Sister Adamson (Tiffani Adamson), A Small Moment of..., 19 September 2012, hyperlinks omitted:
      Big supporters like Dan Klineman [sic] the watchdog of safelibraries.org and Dawn Hawkins from Pornharms.com have been contributing valuable information and news articles to our page in order to inform the public of similar library incidents that are happening all over our nation.
      ....
      Nancy explained the revision to the policy which basically is that the computers will have filters on at all times and if a patron wants to have access to a site that they need unblocked for research purposes they will have to fill out a request form, including the website they want to view.  The library will have 72 hours to respond.  The librarians have every right to say no if someone want to access sexually explicit material.  Patrons may also ask for certain sites to be blocked if they deem them inappropriate.
    • "Friday 4: A Crazy Week in Review," by Kelle Pressley, qcsupermom, 24 August 2012.
    • "NCAC Pushes Porn on Libraries; Fifty Shades of Grey Propaganda: Brevard Buckles, Harford Holds," by EducationViews.org, Education News, 13 June 2012.
    Kelle Pressley, victim of selective
    library policy enforcement    .

           

    Satire: 
    • "^ This is Edited for Safelibraries.org," by Jon Rothenberg, 8bitlibrary.com, 19 August 2011:

    • "Supreme Court: Appeals To Children Unlawful; Politicians, Drug War Jeopardized," by Travis Cobb, Spooftimes.com, 4 July 2011.
      WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court, by a vote of 5-4, it is unlawful to make public appeals to children’s interest or child safety without evidence.

      The ruling was the result of the National Youth Cooperative v. U.S. case.  Minors of varying ages were outraged by the numerous appeals to their welfare made by politicians and parent groups without first consulting them, leading children to seek legal counsel and file numerous lawsuits.

      .... 
      The courts ruling has also affected many parent groups and censorship organizations as well.  SafeLibraries.org says that “without the ability to use children to ban books and achieve our agenda, we feel like our freedom of speech is being taken from us.”


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