(From left to right: Marcie Cohen Ferris, Jaki Shelton Green, and Steven Petrow)

Breaking news: “Durham County Main Library was evacuated as a precaution Saturday morning because of a bomb threat. It happened just before a story hour hosted by an LGBTQ organization began.”

A scant day before I’d been overjoyed to share the stage at the Durham County Public Library at its fourth annual Library Fest. With me were Jaki Shelton Green, North Carolina’s Poet Laureate, and Marcie Cohen Ferris, one of our most important food writers. Together, we talked about the role of writers and social change, and the importance of libraries as safe spaces. 

For those who don’t know, Library Fest is in celebration of National Library Week, and all the good work that libraries do. Early on in the conversation the three of us talked about the role of libraries in our upbringing. I spoke about my grandmother, “Marian the Librarian,” who ruled the roost at my local library in Forest Hills, N.Y. I recalled that as a teen I went to the card catalogue (obviously, this was long before everything had been digitized) to seek information about “homosexuality” (obviously, this was long before I came out). I was terrified that Grandma Marian might stop by at the wrong moment—and discover my truth—so I came up with a clever excuse for being at that particular drawer. If questioned, I’d reply, “I’m actually looking up ‘homo sapiens,’ Grandma.” Nothing of the kind happened, and I came away secure with the notion that libraries are safe spaces for all. 

Jaki and Marcie concurred, with Jaki telling us how, as a child, she became the first Black girl to integrate her segregated library. We talked about a good deal more, including those who had influenced us to become writers and agents of change (a lot of credit went to family), various role models, how we found our voices, and the challenges we’ve encountered in speaking our truths. I could not have asked for a more engaged panel—or audience.

Before the evening ended, a bit overtime, each of us had thanked library staff for all they do, praising the library building itself, which is open, inviting, full of light, a true community center.

I wish I could end my story right here. 

_____

On tap the next morning was a program called “Rainbow Story Time” hosted by  Rainbow Collective for Chance. According to news reports, about half an hour before the program was to begin, the library was informed of a bomb threat, specifically mentioning Maya Christina Gonzalez, whose book was to be read during the story hour.

In its statement, Rainbow Collective for Change said:

“RCC has been hosting monthly Rainbow Story Times and other events for 2 years now and this is our first experience with a serious threat…We will continue to advocate for LGBTQIA+ and gender-affirming schools and build community spaces where our children can be who they are and celebrate that love makes a family. We – together with RCC families and partner organizations — will not let hate win and will continue advocating for a safe and affirming community that all our children deserve.”

As for the library, it closed for the rest of the weekend. By Monday morning, its doors re-opened—to everyone.

As one staffer told me, “We will not be deterred or intimidated.”

No, we won’t.