Actor and devoted Christian Kirk Cameron will be presenting a discussion of his new children’s book As You Grow at the Scarsdale Library on Dec. 30. Cameron’s appearance comes after a lengthy back and forth between the library, Cameron and the books publisher Brave Books.
The Scarsdale Public Library explained in a few messages to the community that Brave Books had rented out a meeting room at the library and the event was not sponsored or sanctioned by the library.
On Friday, December 2, the Scarsdale Public Library received a message from a book publisher via the Library’s website requesting to schedule a story hour at the Scarsdale Public Library for a book by actor Kirk Cameron, “where we read As You Grow and speak to families about following the wisdom of the Bible, as well as discussing the harmful effects of woke ideologies.” As with any request to present a Library-sponsored program, we sent a link to our online application for presenting a library program. The publisher did not submit an application.
On Tuesday, December 6, the Library’s Assistant Director received an email from the public relations company, Amplifi Agency, which stated, “We would love to schedule a story hour for Mr. Cameron’s book where we read As You Grow and speak to families about following the wisdom of the Bible, as well as discussing the harmful effects of woke ideologies, specifically CRT and the transgender agenda.” The Library replied, “Thank you for thinking of us, but we are not interested in this program.”
One week later, on Tuesday, December 13, Library Director Elizabeth Bermel received a letter via USPS from Mr. Cameron requesting to rent the Scott Room.
Cameron wrote in his letter, “I believe the children in your community would benefit from hearing a message teaching Biblical wisdom as I explain in my new book. One of the aspects that has always made this country great is the sharing of knowledge and ideas. Please accept this letter as my formal request to use the Scott Room of the Scarsdale Public Library on December 30 at 3pm. I know that rooms like the Scott Room are made available to the community “equitably regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of those who seek to use them.”
The Library issued another statement, “It is the policy of the Library Board of Trustees to provide all members of the community with equal access to Library resources and facilities. Such resources and facilities are available equitably regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of those who seek to use them. Granting permission to use these rooms does not constitute an approval or endorsement of any individual or group by the Library, the Library Board of Trustees, or the Village of Scarsdale.
“The Scarsdale Public Library would like to address comments received about an upcoming event booked by Brave Publishing. The event is not a library-sponsored program, but rather a meeting room rental, that cannot be rejected based upon political or religious content under the First Amendment.
“The Scarsdale Public Library is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion for all community members. Granting permission to use a room does not constitute an approval or endorsement of any program.
On Friday, December 16, 2022, Brave Publishing submitted a request for a meeting room rental. Because libraries’ meeting rooms are legally designated as “designated public forums” under the First Amendment, libraries may not exclude any group based on the subject matter to be discussed or the ideas for which the group advocates. If the Scarsdale Public Library restricts potentially controversial groups’ access to meeting rooms, it may face legal and financial consequences.
Libraries may not deny meeting room access even to individuals or groups that are considered offensive or controversial. Libraries have been successfully sued by groups that have been denied access to library meeting rooms based on the group’s beliefs, the content of their speech, or the fear that the group’s meeting will cause controversy. The Scarsdale Public Library is likewise not permitted to regulate the message of any parties who rent a room.
