Summary
A man checked out 100 books from Beachwood Library in Beachwood, Ohio, covering Jewish history, African-American history, and LGBTQ topics, and later posted social media videos showing the books with captions referencing “cleansing” libraries before burning them.
Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative alerted the library about the posts.
The books were worth about $1,700. Since they are not overdue, the library will bill the man later.
Police say the matter is civil unless he fails to pay. He is now banned from returning to the library.
Ohio let’s you check out 100 books at a time?
He doesn’t want us to read those book, by the same logic, would it be OK to cut off that mans genitalia because we don’t want him to reproduce?
The books were worth about $1,700. Since they are not overdue, the library will bill the man later.
Police informed CCPL that, because a contract was entered when the books were borrowed, failure to return or pay for the books would become a civil matter turned over to the city prosecutor.
Should the man return to the Beachwood Library, he will be banned from the property.
Shoutout to libraries. Absolute diamonds in the rough. Burn books? Whatever, people don’t return books all the time. When they’re overdue, here’s the bill, next!
We don’t live in the age of books anymore. Shit like this is ignorant and fascist but also just symbolic. Libraries are cornerstones of a free society, but the physical paper itself isn’t nearly as important anymore. It’s hilariously replaceable.
I want the list of books. “Banned” and “burned” books go hard as hell. Maybe even files for the m@tes to get 'em all at once. The modern age can undo all this idiot’s work with a single link.
We don’t live in the age of books anymore.
We don’t, but there’s problems with only relying on electronic information that can be swapped out at any time. Don’t have to burn the information when you can make it say whatever you want.
The books were worth about $1,700. Since they are not overdue, the library will bill the man later.
honestly that’s hilarious as fuck 😂
Librarians are pretty chill, unless you’re a loud talker hehe
“Banned” and “burned” books go hard as hell
Every library I’ve been to in the last 5 years has had a poster of “banned books” specifically to advertise them because people (especially teenagers) love that shit.
I worked at an elementary school (public) in a very red state.
I had been overhauling the library computers (I was IT) all day and had been chatting with the librarian. Cool chick, probably 10 years older than me, so late 30s. I was dating my wife at the time, so I wasn’t looking to date, but got invited out for drinks with other librarians from the district.
After a few rounds, the topic turned to censorship, book bans, etc.
Every single one of them, from the churchy prim and proper lady, to the more alternative types, we against banning books and discussed how to get the kids access and and encourage them to read them, without losing their jobs.
I had to shutdown their plan to distribute cheap flash drives with banned material on them a la guerilla distribution - ie, leave it where kids would find them.
And that is why next week Mr. Case’s cyber security BS thing was about how we don’t plug random shit we find in to computers.
They got the spirit! Libraries and librarians are some of the most fundamental “good” in society. They’re basically the canary in the coal mine - when they start to go, we all know there’s nothing but toxic gas in the room, and need to do something about it.
It is a shame that there’s very few ways of going “rogue” with access to digital information that doesn’t involve tremendous security risks to the uninitiated.
“We want to secretly give kids the ability to get whatever information they want!”
“Great… let’s start with ‘don’t ever accept packets of digital information from unidentifiable sources’”
This is the mentality of MAGA. SMH
In Ohio felony theft is over $1000.
“Dort wo man Bücher verbrennt, verbrennt man auch am Ende Menschen.” - Heinrich Heine
Book burners have never once been on the right side of history.
If I were dictator I would announce a new LGBTQ and African American wing of the library and dedicate it to him, with a placard showing his payment to the library for the books he has to pay back, but he doesn’t deserve to have his name anywhere…
I think having his name represented on something in which he hates is absolutely deserved and hilarious.
Just remind yourself that if that were the case you absolutely would be a dictator.
I don’t want it
Same as it ever was.
republicans are swine.
How is that not criminal destruction of property? Some of those books may not even be replaceable. 😠 You could also say criminal intimidation of protected minority groups by an obviously targeted political act.
Because the man was legally in possession of them at the time. It’s the same reason that you have to go through a tedious process to have your car reported stolen if you let someone borrow it and don’t bring it back.
Generally don’t sign a TOS when tossing your buddy the keys.
Project Gutenberg is ensuring that all books are 100% replaceable. Don’t worry, this ignorance cock hasn’t done anything that can actually interfere with people being able to obtain and read any of the material he’s taken.
“this ignorant cock hasn’t done anything that can actually interfere…”
He absolutely has. Stop being a pushover. In the coming weeks this will be normalised American behavior. Push back.
Hear this well, your reaction of outrage is why he’s doing it. Should he be charged for his destruction of public property? Absolutely. But should we really be putting him on a right wing soap box by making tons of posts raging about his bullshit acts of ignorance? Definitely not.
I think we may have different definitions for “replaceable”.
Digital copies are serviceable, they are by no means a replacement.
Anything digital can be made into a physical copy with almost comical ease. I don’t want this mouth breathing red hat to have the satisfaction of doing more than simply creating a minor inconvenience because everything he has done can be replaced in a few days. At his expense no less.
He’s aware that the whole book burning thing was something that the German Nazis, the one various nations had a war with, did, yeah?
These people think the only bad thing that the Nazis did was lose. They think the Nazis were too soft, and they intend to me much stronger this time around.
Yes. These people know exactly what they’re doing.
The thing that actually genuinely confuses me is the fact that most of these people are proud that we beat the German Nazis.
I don’t how long Hitler’s reign lasted, but for how short the Confederacy was, these losers began looking at other losers to try and become one giant loser. How our most “patriotic” nationalistic MAGA losers went to Nazism still baffles me, since the propaganda I was taught was that Naxi Germans were bad and evil.
In fact, I was taught alot of propaganda that Russia and China and Nazis are all evil monsters. Now these losers think Russia taking over Ukraine is a win, we’ve shot ourselves in the foot dealing with China and the world, and Nazis are mainstream.
Sometimes I wanna save our nation, but then I look at MAGA and how loud this “minority” is. Then you dig deeper into history and this isn’t even the first occurance this has happened in the US (concentration camps, slavery, war, citizen manipulation, etc etc)
Nuance about the police, government, and politics are gone. I used to have hope our system was initially working, and that it could be fixed. But now: I wanna burn it all down and start again like it’s 1774, or leave to someplace more empathetic where people can understand the basic concept of “don’t hurt others, hurting people is bad”
Cognitive dissonance is their standard mode of operation.
I don’t think this is a particularly bright segment of the population we’re talking about here.
Neither were the original Nazis, to be fair. Stupid people tend to admire stupid people who unapologetically flaunt their stupidity.
Stare into the abyss for long enough, and the abyss will start staring into you.
Or whatever that means.Pretty sure it’s a reference to goatse
They are well aware. They are following the same playbook.
I’m not German. So obviously I can’t be a Nazi.
“ThE NaZiS wErE sOCiALiSt aNd iM nOt SoCiaLiSt”
Wait…is this for real?..Typically there is a limit to how many books you can check out…
At my library, that limit IS 100 books.
My kid regularly has ~60 books checked out. It’s kind of a problem lol
But what an awesome problem to have!
Have they learned about the wonders of interlibrary loans yet? (And Anna’s Archive, if they don’t mind digital…)
Kinda? We have a couple library groups and they get books held from them and delivered to the local member library. No digital since they’re young and we’re trying to minimize screen time.
Feels counter productive to limit screen time for an actual good habit… Screen time isn’t a real problem. What you do IS.
It would be like limiting book time just cause you don’t like paper.
No, screen time is the problem at the moment (also not able to read as of yet). We can see a measurable decrease in good behavior/increase is bad behavior after screen time, even when it’s educational stuff.
I appreciate your concern, but I’m the one who has to deal with 20 minutes of screaming about not wanting to go to the bathroom and trying to defend myself without hurting them on days after they get screentime. My life is hard enough without actively making my kid’s behavior worse than it is already. And I’d love for there to be an easy fix, but every professional we’ve talked to so far tells us we’re already doing most/all they recommend…
According to chatgpt:
Yes, in addition to eye strain and sleep disruption from blue light, there are several other significant downsides to extended screen time—even when the activity is productive, like reading or learning:
- Physical Health Effects
Neck and back pain: Poor posture during screen use (like slouching or craning your neck) can lead to musculoskeletal issues, especially “tech neck.”
Repetitive strain injuries (RSI): Extended typing or mouse use can contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome or tendonitis.
- Mental Fatigue & Decreased Focus
Cognitive overload: Constant digital input and task-switching (e.g. checking tabs, alerts) can reduce focus and increase mental fatigue.
Reduced comprehension: Studies show that reading on screens may impair deep reading and comprehension compared to reading on paper.
- Dry Eyes / Reduced Blink Rate
People blink less frequently when staring at screens, leading to dry, irritated eyes.
- Headaches and Migraine Triggers
Prolonged exposure, especially in flickering or poorly lit environments, can lead to headaches or trigger migraines in sensitive individuals.
- Reduced Physical Activity
Long sedentary periods contribute to health risks like obesity, cardiovascular disease, and even reduced life expectancy.
- Mood and Mental Health Impacts
Excessive screen time is correlated with increased rates of anxiety, depression, and reduced sleep quality—even when content is educational.
After “fuck this maniac,” this was my second thought.
“A man”
This person has destroyed public property. Whether or not he pays, his name should be made public. People who know him should know what kind of person he is. His employer should know who they have hired. His employer’s customers should know who they are dealing with.
This is not normal behavior. This person is a sociopath and society needs to know who he is.
This is not normal behavior. This person is a sociopath and society needs to know who he is.
I wish people would stop throwing clinical terms around like this. Socio/psychopathy is a complicated psychiatric disorder with distinct behavioral and psychological markers, not a synonym for “evil.”
Sadly, you don’t need a psychiatric disorder to engage in despicable behavior. “Normal” people are quite capable of being racist, sexist douchebags, and most racist, sexist douchebags are not mentally ill. Bigotry is a product of culture, not abnormal psychology.
I think the correct clinical diagnosis in his case is “flaming asshole”
Agreed. He didn’t have any problems posting it to social media. There’s no reason not to include his identity in the article. Even if he posted under a pseudonym, that should still be included.
If you do that kind is stuff publicly on social media, you’re pretty much begging for people to make the connection between your name and those actions.
from the library’s perspective this couldn’t be simpler. they have an exact list of which books to replace and who to charge for the balance.
Yeah but in the current climate I’m worried he’s going to encourage other bigots to be similarly destructive, and that shithead nazis will come to his defense and try to normalize it.
well of course, I agree. but the library can’t control that; they’re just trying to hold on and survive.
Sadly. More power to the librarians! Those folks are truly knowledgeable and capable. I wish we would empower them to do so much more then just “survive”.
In my state the librarian can have a warrant issued for your arrest if you fail to return or pay for books worth over a certain amount after giving proper notice. It’s either $50 or $100 iirc.
yeah on the one hand it limits the availability while they are rebought but I guess on the plus side their authors make more money.
And hopefully minority authors make more sales because of it, get more publicity because of it and the bigots pay the bill.
Sending a bill is one thing; collecting on it is another. As it stands now, the library is out $1700 and those books aren’t necessarily getting replaced soon (or if they are, something else is not getting done instead).
An example needs to be made so that this tactic doesn’t spread.
The library may need to review its policies if a person can borrow 100 books at once, though.
Also, open a fund that people can donate to. With a damage like $1700, they can probably get back multiple times that in a week.
Police say the matter is civil unless he fails to pay. He is now banned from returning to the library.
Pretty sure Destruction of Public Property is a crime in most jurisdictions.
Shows which way the police lean, doesn’t it?
