Summary

A man checked out 100 books from Beachwood Library in Beachwood, Ohio, covering Jewish history, African-American history, and LGBTQ topics, and later posted social media videos showing the books with captions referencing “cleansing” libraries before burning them.

Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative alerted the library about the posts.

The books were worth about $1,700. Since they are not overdue, the library will bill the man later.

Police say the matter is civil unless he fails to pay. He is now banned from returning to the library.

  • Initiateofthevoid@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    75
    ·
    edit-2
    3 days ago

    The books were worth about $1,700. Since they are not overdue, the library will bill the man later.

    Police informed CCPL that, because a contract was entered when the books were borrowed, failure to return or pay for the books would become a civil matter turned over to the city prosecutor.

    Should the man return to the Beachwood Library, he will be banned from the property.

    Shoutout to libraries. Absolute diamonds in the rough. Burn books? Whatever, people don’t return books all the time. When they’re overdue, here’s the bill, next!

    We don’t live in the age of books anymore. Shit like this is ignorant and fascist but also just symbolic. Libraries are cornerstones of a free society, but the physical paper itself isn’t nearly as important anymore. It’s hilariously replaceable.

    I want the list of books. “Banned” and “burned” books go hard as hell. Maybe even files for the m@tes to get 'em all at once. The modern age can undo all this idiot’s work with a single link.

    • TriflingToad@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      32
      ·
      edit-2
      3 days ago

      The books were worth about $1,700. Since they are not overdue, the library will bill the man later.

      honestly that’s hilarious as fuck 😂

    • Bassman1805@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      13
      ·
      3 days ago

      “Banned” and “burned” books go hard as hell

      Every library I’ve been to in the last 5 years has had a poster of “banned books” specifically to advertise them because people (especially teenagers) love that shit.