NLB’s decision ‘guided by community norms’

SINGAPORE — The National Library Board’s (NLB) decision to withdraw three children’s book titles deemed to contravene pro-family values was carefully considered and guided by community norms, said Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim as he weighed in on a controversy that has seen the statutory board bear the brunt of an increasing backlash from the writing fraternity.

Prominent authors yesterday dissociated themselves from the statutory board and some declared that they will boycott its events.

Playwright and novelist Ovidia Yu resigned from the steering committee of the Singapore Writers Festival — of which the NLB was a programme partner — while four other writers, Dr Gwee Li Sui, Mr Adrian Tan, Mr Prem Anand and Mr Felix Cheong, pulled out of an NLB panel discussion on Sunday, leading to the cancellation of the event.

Malaysian author Tan Twan Eng, a Man Booker Prize nominee and Man Asian Literary Prize winner, also said on Facebook he has informed the NLB that he found it very difficult to support its literary projects or to be associated with them. He added that he will be donating a cheque from the NLB — for the use of excerpts from his book The Gift of Rain for an anthology — to a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender charity.

Explaining the Government’s approach, Dr Yaacob noted that this is “not the first, nor will it be the last time that public institutions like the NLB find themselves facing such a controversy”. He said the withdrawal of the titles was not based on a single complaint, without an attempt to assess the merits of the complaint. “The NLB has a process where its officers carefully consider such feedback before making a decision,” he added.

Noting that the decision was “only with respect to the children’s section in the public libraries”, Dr Yaacob said the NLB is not deciding what books children can or cannot read. “That decision remains with the parents, as it always has been. People can buy these titles for their children if they wish. Rather, the NLB has to decide what books should be made readily available to children, who are sometimes unsupervised, in the children’s section of our public libraries,” he said.

He added that the decision was guided by community norms, which public libraries ought to consider since they serve the community. “The prevailing norms, which the overwhelming majority of Singaporeans accept, support teaching children about conventional families but not about alternative, non-traditional families, which is what the books in question are about,” he said.

“This approach is shared (by) all public agencies dealing with the education and care of young Singaporeans.”

Dr Yaacob noted that, like in other societies, there is “considerable effort” by some here to shift these norms, as well as an “equally strong pushback by those who don’t wish to see change”. “Societies are never static and will change over time. But the NLB’s approach is to reflect existing social norms, and not to challenge or seek to change them,” he said.

NLB ‘SADDENED’ BY BOYCOTT

The Singapore Writers Festival (SWF) will be held from Oct 31 to Nov 9. When contacted, Ms Yu declined to elaborate on her resignation from the festival’s steering committee, which comprises members such as journalists, writers and academics.

Festival director Paul Tan said: “We are sad that Ovidia has decided to resign ... but I do understand her feelings as a creative writer.”

Adding that he has asked Ms Yu to reconsider, the National Arts Council deputy chief executive said: “But we will respect her final decision. If she cannot stay on, the SWF team would like to thank her for her ideas and positive contributions during our meetings.”

The NLB confirmed that Sunday’s panel discussion, titled Humour Is Serious Business, will be cancelled following the pullout of the four writers.

It said it was saddened by their decisions and that the 77 participants who had signed up for the event — which is part of the NLB’s Read Singapore campaign — would be disappointed. “Moving forward, we still welcome these authors to work with us,” the NLB said.

Dr Gwee said the decision to boycott the event was collectively taken by the four writers.

He said: “We are completely ill at ease with the NLB’s decision and feel that we cannot — in good conscience — fiddle while Rome burns.”

Mr Cheong said what angered him the most was the NLB saying it would pulp the books. “This is akin to book-burning,” he added.

Other members of the writing fraternity, including Mr Alfian Sa’at and Mr Ng Yi-Sheng, urged the community to boycott NLB events or draw attention to the issue.

“There is enough conflict on this issue, but not enough understanding ... I am happy to work with the NLB to motivate Singaporeans to read widely. But only if the NLB has the same conviction,” said Mr Adrian Tan.

Meanwhile, hundreds have signed up on Facebook for a planned gathering at the atrium of the Central Public Library on Sunday. Participants are encouraged to take along their children and their favourite books to “make a peaceful statement about how much we — and our kids — love to read”. Copies of And Tango Makes Three and Who’s In My Family? — which, together with The White Swan Express, have been withdrawn from the NLB’s collection — will be distributed.

Speaking to TODAY, co-organiser Jolene Tan stressed that the event is not a protest but a social gathering and hence she did not see the need to apply for a permit. She also said the children’s safety will be the priority.

Responding to queries, the police said that under the Public Order Act, a permit is generally required to hold a protest in a public place, regardless of the number of participants, if the purpose is to, among other things, “demonstrate support for or opposition to the views or actions of any person, group of persons or any government”.