Library Rejects Book Called Anti-Semitic

The Oxnard Public Library has decided not to stock copies of the little-known book “There’s a Fish in the Courthouse” nearly one month after it was praised by a City Council candidate but then blasted by critics as being anti-Semitic.

The book, written and self-published by Gary L. Wean, was considered by the librarians to be inaccurate, “lacking in credibility and badly organized with confused, rambling and incoherent” writing style, said Cathy Thomason of the library’s public services program.

“We wanted to find something good about this book because it had gotten so much attention, but it was just so bad,” said librarian Adrienne Morse, who was one of the three who read the book and recommended that the library not purchase it.

The book drew attention two months ago when then-City Council candidate Roy Lockwood hailed it at a council session as an insightful piece detailing corruption in Ventura County.

Lockwood had no comment on the library’s decision.

The 800-page volume contains several inflammatory and offensive descriptions of Jews. Wean states in the book that the Holocaust was a “scam” and that there was a Jewish conspiracy of power in the county’s judicial system.

“I’m happy that the library chose to not acquire the book,” said James Reach, an Oxnard resident who criticized the book and its author after Lockwood praised it before the council. “It’s besmirched the Jews in our community on virtually every page and has no redeeming value.”

Librarians said the controversy surrounding the book did not make a difference in their decision. Rather, they based their decision on the significant number of inaccuracies in Wean’s book.

For example, he refers to the former editor of the Ventura County Star-Free Press as Judas Gius when his name was Julius Gius, said Thomason.

Wean also states that Gius’ father was a Jew from Russia when in fact his father was an Italian Catholic, according to Thomason.

“It doesn’t have historical value because of the inaccuracies in the book,” Thomason said.

In addition, the library had only received three requests for the book since 1987. Thomason said that because the book was self-published, it also lacked credibility.

Roni Blau, spokeswoman for the Anti-Defamation League who condemned the book, said she was pleased with the library’s decision.

“We have always opposed the placement of anti-Semitic work and scholarly work in the same place in the library,” Blau said. “They clearly do not have the same value. We have encouraged libraries to mark the distinction between Holocaust revisionist literature and scholarly work.”