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Spotlight on banning books
Last week, the American Library Association (ALA) celebrated banned book week. It is an annual tradition designed to put a spotlight on attempts to censor or restrict reading material in the United States. Every year the ALA tracks book challenges initiated in the county. Challenges are formal requests from individuals or groups to remove a book from a library or school curriculum. According to the ALA, few of last year's challenges came from individuals but rather came from pressure groups and even government officials. Challenges among pressure groups and government officials were up by 72% from last year. Fortunately, these challenges have not reached New Ulm. The last formal challenge submitted in New Ulm was 2018. Nearly all of the books on the most challenged list are available at one or more libraries in the area, this includes the New Ulm Public Library and Martin Luther College Library. The books that are not available can be easily obtained through an inner library loan. It is great to see reading remains unrestricted in the community
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Library refrigerator combats food insecurity
Visitors to the New Ulm Public Library may notice the addition to a new refrigerator and freezer in the building. The fridge was placed in the library earlier this week to provide access to nutritious food for those in need. The fridge was brought to the library through a partnership with Region 9, Heart of New Ulm (HONU), Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) and Southern Minnesota Food Recovery. The fridge will go a long way to help food insecure families. In a way it is similar to a miniature food shelf. Its location at the library makes it easier to access. With the cost of food products on the rise it is great to see the community finding new ways to help those in need.
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Domestic violence is too common
This week, Randy Zimmerman was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences for a double murder he committed in Hanksa last year. He will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for his crimes. This is the best possible outcome for this case. In the wake of this sentencing, there have been additional calls for harsher punishments for criminals with a pattern of domestic violence. Zimmerman had multiple convictions related to domestic violence going back over a decade. If he had received harsher punishment for his early offenses, maybe this tragedy could have been prevented. The case has highlighted the need for stricter action on domestic violence. However, the case has also highlighted the prevalence of domestic violence. A person does not need to look much further than The Journal's police logs or court records to find a case of domestic violence. It is an incredibly common crime. Why is that? Why are there so many men who choose to physically abuse women they supposedly love? Harsher punishments might prevent abusers re-offending, but it doesn't stop new abusers. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Now would be a good time to look at not just how we respond to domestic violence, but how we can prevent it entirely.