New “Librarian Story Hour” Stirs Controversy

By Heather O. Docks

“But he was still hungry!” 

Gathered in a semicircle, their eyes wide with wonder, the children smile at the librarian at the front of the room, joining in occasionally with laughter as she reads aloud to them from the classic board book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Outside the program room at this quiet suburban library branch, the parents of these children are browsing, reading and relaxing, knowing that they can enjoy quiet time to themselves while their toddlers are being educated and entertained.  

This scene is being repeated in neighborhoods across America, as more and more public libraries are embracing the innovative new program, “Librarian Story Hour,” in which trained, professional and paid librarians (or library assistants) read from high-quality children’s books, teach rhymes, sing songs and engage in other fun and educational activities as a part of their employment, and all without any broader ideological objective.   

“I love it!” says Rebecca Stephenson, 34, whose two toddlers are in the program room. “My kids love it too—and now they want me to read to them at bedtime every night!” Such is the esteem in which the library staff members involved in the program are held that they are being dubbed “Read Queens” and “Read Kings” by the families.   

But not everyone sees it that way. These programs are being increasingly subject to vocal protests, with men—most of them wearing women’s clothes—gathering outside, chanting slogans and bearing placards declaring “Read Queens out of our libraries!” The group, calling itself “Unqualified Men in Wigs and Dresses” (or UMWAD) believes that these programs shouldn’t be led by trained library employees at all, but that public libraries should instead bring in local men with no particular credentials or subject expertise whatsoever, but who routinely don women’s attire.  

“Sure they have library science degrees,” shouts one protester. “But where’s the garish makeup? The inappropriate sexual innuendo? The total lack of employee accountability through normal processes of assessment and review?” His shouts are met with general cheers from the mostly male crowd. 

According to the organization’s website, UMWAD activists accuse public libraries of “grooming” children into such mainstream milestones as literacy, cooperative behavior and social norms. Children’s Librarian Heather Ramsey willingly concedes the charge, adding, “Well, that’s kind of the point.”   

Another major criticism levelled at “Librarian Story Hour” is that, by excluding readings by cross-dressing local men with no actual education or skills related to children’s literature, reading aloud or pre-K education in general, toddlers won’t learn about homosexuality.  

“Is that what this is about?” asks Ramsey. “Um…I’ve been married to my wife for 12 years. And another one of the library assistants who participates in the storytimes is also gay. So the kids are definitely getting to know gay people at these events. But, you know, we don’t actually talk to the kids about our sex lives. None of the straight library workers do either. I mean, why would we?” 

Ramsey adds, “We’re just here to read stories and encourage a love of reading.” 

Rupert Davi, a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Public Education and Literacy (IPEL) concurs. “We’ve been following the story about this initiative closely and it’s just so exciting on so many levels—that highly educated library professionals who have a deep knowledge of literature for young people will meet with children once or twice a week to read a diverse range of stories out loud. Who better to do that than librarians?”  

When told about UMWAD activism he replies, “Wait, what?”  

Yet, despite such positive endorsements from families and experts alike, the outrage has been spreading across the country as UMWAD chapters continue to show up at these events, throwing fistfuls of glitter and paper airplanes printed with excerpts from Judith Butler’s 1999 book Gender Trouble at families as they bravely try to make their way into library entrances. Many libraries have beefed up security as a result.  

Still, the controversy has done little to dampen the enthusiasm of children and their parents, who continue to attend the events in ever greater numbers. And because the same librarians are reading each week, the children have gotten to know the staff personally. “I like Mrs. Ramsey,” says one little girl, holding her own copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. “I think she’s pretty and smart. And she reads super well, ‘cuz she’s gone to university and she’s educated and trained and knows what she’s doing.”  

Looking out the window at the placard-waving men outside the library, she adds with a smile, “You can’t just put on a wig and do this stuff, you know.” ¹

1. This piece is satire and any perceived similarity to individuals living or dead is purely coincidental.

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