Over 1,200 Signatures Collected in Community Petition

The Issue

The Kew Gardens Hills (KGH) community is rallying to protect the sanctity of its public library’s children’s section. Sigalit Davidov, a concerned community member, has spearheaded a petition urging the Kew Gardens Hills Public Library management and the New York Public Library System Administration to take immediate action. The petition demands the removal of inappropriate, sexualized materials currently available in children’s areas, and calls for a halt to their advertisement.

This petition represents a growing concern among local families who view the library as a cornerstone of education, development, and creativity. As a publicly funded space serving a diverse population, it bears a responsibility to ensure that its offerings, especially those aimed at children, are safe, age-appropriate, and conducive to positive growth.

 

The Background

Libraries are sanctuaries of learning, imagination, and exploration, especially for children. In communities like KGH, where young families are the heart of the neighborhood, libraries hold a special place as havens for development and discovery.

The vibrant Orthodox Jewish community of KGH has long celebrated the library as a resource for fostering family values and education. However, concerns have arisen about certain materials in the children’s section that many parents and guardians deem lecherous and inappropriate for young minds. These materials undermine the library’s role as a safe space, leaving families questioning the suitability of the content their children are exposed to.

 

The Concern

Exposing young children to libidinous and age-inappropriate content can have detrimental effects on their emotional and cognitive development. It may lead to confusion about relationships, personal boundaries, and acceptable behavior.

Local families emphasize the importance of a library environment that aligns with their values and supports wholesome, age-appropriate learning. They argue that the inclusion of such material in the children’s section erodes trust in a beloved institution and places undue responsibility on parents to constantly vet content meant for young readers.

 

The Demand

The petition highlights three core demands aimed at addressing these concerns and safeguarding the library’s role as a trusted community institution:

Immediate Content Review and Removal
All materials in the children’s section must be reviewed, and inappropriate content must be removed to align with age-appropriate standards.

Implementation of Clear Content Guidelines
The library is urged to establish explicit, transparent guidelines that ensure all materials in the children’s section are appropriate for young readers’ developmental, cognitive, and emotional needs.

Increased Parental Transparency and Input
The community calls for greater parental involvement, including access to content lists in the children’s section and opportunities to provide feedback or request reviews of concerning materials.

The Kew Gardens Hills Public Library has always been a cherished resource for the community, offering a space for growth, learning, and imagination. To maintain its integrity and relevance, it must address the concerns of its patrons and take steps to ensure a nurturing and safe environment for children.

If you share these concerns and want to see libraries remain spaces of wholesome, age-appropriate learning, join over 1,200 petitioners at chng.it/YhbrYQTSVs in supporting this movement. Together, we can advocate for a library that truly reflects the values and needs of its community.

Sign the petition today and stand up for a safe, family-friendly library experience!