Fort Leavenworth dumps books at Kansas library. Was DEI to blame? I decided to investigate.
Books donated from the Fort Leavenworth military base sit on carts at the Leavenworth Public Library. They're being sold for 25 cents apiece. (Clay Wirestone/Kansas Reflector)
The query came in from a reader: Did we know that the Leavenworth Public Library had put out numerous books for sale that had been culled from the town’s military installation?
The suggestion was that Fort Leavenworth had rid itself of books that skated too close to the line covering diversity, equity and inclusion. The reality? It’s probably not that, although the entire incident demonstrates how little anyone gives our government institutions the benefit of the doubt these days.
Let me explain how I came to that conclusion.
I first wanted to drop by the library and see the scene for myself. So last week, I drove out to the lovely Leavenworth library.
The books from the fort were difficult to miss. They were arranged in multiple roller carts and being sold for a quarter apiece. By my rough estimate, there were several hundred books on the carts, mostly paperback volumes in good condition. Many had a stamp on the inside cover marking them as the military library’s property.
So the reader’s tip was correct on two substantial points. The books were there, and they came from the fort. But as I examined the titles, I came to feel that something was up other than the expulsion of DEI-connected titles. Sure, there were many books with the word “culture” in the title. But there were also volumes about Iran and North Korea, which seem worthy of continued study. There were also books included like Michael Lewis’ “Moneyball,” which seemed entirely off topic.
Most importantly, many of the books were available in multiple copies. For those familiar with the old days of university book stores, they looked like the stacks where students once had to buy their texts for the semester.
I purchased seven of the books — a shockingly affordable $1.75 — and headed home.
Some of the titles from Fort Leavenworth:
- “Culture Matters: How Values Shape Human Progress,” by Lawrence E Harrison and Samuel P Huntington
- “Fidel: A Critical Portrait,” by Tad Szulc
- “The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently … and Why,” by Richard Nisbett
- “Hidden Iran: Paradox and Power in the Islamic Republic,” by Ray Takeyh
- “Imperial Life in the Emerald City: Inside Iraq’s Green Zone,” by Rajiv Chandrasekaran
- “Kluge: The Haphazard Construction of the Human Mind,” by Gary Marcus
- “Language Shock: Understanding The Culture Of Conversation,” by Michael H. Agar
- “Motel of the Mysteries,” by David Macaulay
- “A Splendid Exchange: How Trade Shaped the World,” by William J. Bernstein
- “Turkey Unveiled: A History of Modern Turkey,” by Nicole Pope and Hugh Pope
- “The World is Flat,” by Thomas Friedman
- “The World’s Religions,” by Huston Smith”
Once back, I sent an email to library director Matthew Nojonen and asked two questions. First, did he know why the books had been donated? Second, had he ever received such a large donation from the fort before?
This week, he responded.
“The books were donated because the CGSC no longer teaches the classes that used them,” he wrote. “I cannot recall receiving donations from the Post before but individual CGSC students have donated their used textbooks once they completed their coursework.”
There you have it. The Command and General Staff College at the base had changed courses and the library there no longer needed the books.
But there’s more.
You can access the library’s catalog online. I did spot checks for several of the volumes donated and found that copies remain at the fort. Yes, even those books with “culture” in the title can still be located and, presumably, checked out.
Inside one of the books for sale, readers can see the address and contact information for the Fort Leavenworth library. (Clay Wirestone/Kansas Reflector)
Unfortunately, we’re going through a government shutdown right now and the library has closed until Democrats and Republicans reach an agreement on reopening the government. So I’m not able to ask folks there about the books discarded and why so many came to the Leavenworth Public Library at once.
After all, military education decisions carry political weight as well. Why are some topics taught and others not? Were courses dealing with other countries and cultures pared back? Was this effort part of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s overall approach to a more manly, aggressive military?
Maybe. Again, I can’t say for sure.
This brings us to the whole crux of the matter. We live at a time when someone visiting a public library and seeing these books put out for sale can make reasonable assumptions. What has Hegseth or his boss, President Donald Trump, done to earn the benefit of the doubt?
As I write this, the Trump administration has been working mightily to deploy military forces to U.S. cities over the objections of mayors and governors. Anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear will wonder whether those in Washington, D.C., seek to cement authoritarian control over our nation.
As Fort Leavenworth casts off books and our nation waits to see what happens next, I sympathize with that jolt of fear.
On the other hand, you can pick up some great books for cheap.
Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.