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I saw a weird thing at the old library in Springfield last Tuesday

I was looking for a book on local history and noticed a whole section had been cleared out. The shelf tags were still there, but the books were gone. I asked the librarian about it and she got real quiet, then said they were 'reviewing the collection.' She wouldn't say which books. I went home and looked up the library board meeting notes online. Buried in the minutes from three months ago was a line about removing materials with 'unverified historical claims.' No list of titles, just that phrase. It got me thinking about who decides what's 'verified' and what just gets to disappear. Has anyone else seen something like this in their town?
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3 Comments
ray189
ray1891mo ago
Noticed the same thing at my local hardware store. They stopped carrying a certain brand of paint after someone complained the color names were "problematic." Now it's just the basic stuff, no more of those interesting historical colors. Feels like someone's always quietly editing what's available, from books to paint chips.
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webb.dakota
It's a real shame when that happens. Those historical colors had stories behind them, a link to the past in something as simple as paint. Losing them for generic names just flattens everything out. You're right about that quiet editing, it happens bit by bit until you look up and the interesting choices are gone. It makes the world feel less rich, like we're all supposed to want the same bland stuff.
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hollyg59
hollyg591mo ago
Ugh, that quiet removal stuff gives me the creeps.
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