With support from the University of Richmond

History News Network

History News Network puts current events into historical perspective. Subscribe to our newsletter for new perspectives on the ways history continues to resonate in the present. Explore our archive of thousands of original op-eds and curated stories from around the web. Join us to learn more about the past, now.

Library Reverses Rejection of ‘Potentially Incendiary' Book

The Brooklyn Public Library has agreed to stock a book that refers to London as a hotbed of terrorism, as an acquisitions librarian who initially rejected a patron's suggestion to buy the book, calling it "potentially incendiary," reversed his decision.

The librarian, Wayne Roylance, changed his mind days after the patron, disappointed with the decision, emailed him prominent critics' appraisals of the book, "Londonistan" by Melanie Phillips, a library spokeswoman said.

The 2006 book blames extreme multiculturalism for making the city what it calls a jihad Petri dish that produces attacks such as a transit bombing last July that killed 52 commuters. The library's spokeswoman, Stefanie Arch, defended the decisions leading to the "Londonistan" acquisition, noting that the library's procedures eventually worked, as the book was ordered.

"He misspoke when he used that term," Ms. Arch said, referring to the "potentially incendiary" characterization, "and he apologized."
Read entire article at NY Sun