March – May 2000

 

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 Times Group Newspapers

March 9, 2000

Books stay

Barnet Council has defended its policy of stocking books by controversial historian David Irving.

There have been complaints that Mr Irving has been found guilty of “holocaust denial” by a German court, but his books about Nazi Germany are still available in local libraries.

In reply Barnet says it has adopted the Library Association’s policy on censorship which says librarians should be guided by the law of the land:

“If the publication of an item has not incurred penalties under the law it should not be excluded from libraries under any moral, political, religious or racial ground alone, to satisfy any sectional interest.”

 The Press, Edgware & Mill Hill

April 13, 2000

Libraries ‘will not ban’ racist books

by Daniel Martin

LIBRARY chiefs have sparked outrage amongst the Jewish community by refusing to ban books by disgraced historian David Irving.

But his works, which are all currently out on loan, will no longer be placed on the shelves and will only be available on request.

Irving was branded an anti-Semite and a racist by a High Court judge on Tuesday after the failure of his libel battle with author Deborah Lipstadt, who had said he was a Holocaust denier.

Cllr Brian Coleman, Tory candidate for the London assembly, demanded the ban. He said:

“Council chiefs must act swiftly to remove any trace of this perverted interpretation of history from our libraries.”

But a council spokesman said:

“Barnet Library stock will embrace all books legally available in this country and is guided by the law of the land. The council cannot act as censor. Books already published by David Irving will remain as will Deborah Lipstadt’s book which has now been cleared of libel.”

Cllr Susette Palmer, cabinet member for libraries, said although Irving’s views were abhorrent to her, she could not support a ban. “Holocaust studies is [sic] now popular at colleges. Many people may legitimately want to read Irving’s books. Until we have Holocaust denial legislation, like in Germany, there is little we can do. I personally would support such legislation.”

Rabbi Benjamin Rabinowitz of the Edgware United Synagogue, whose grandfather was killed by the Nazis, slammed the council’s decision. “Books which portray a vicious anti-Semitic and racist view should not be included in free speech They should not be available to the general public.”

 Asian Voice

April 22, 2000

THE large local Jewish community is reportedly outraged by the failure of London borough of Barnet libraries to ban books by David Irving, who as last week branded an anti-Semite and racist by a high court judge; the libraries which note they have no power to impose a ban say the books &emdash; which are currently all out on loan &emdash; will in future only available on request.