David Walliams books remain on Calderdale's library shelves
Calderdale’s libraries have kept books by David Walliams on the shelves after the publication of allegations against him.
The best-selling children’s author and comedian has denied the claims of sexual misconduct and abuses of power published in an investigation by The Guardian and ITV News this week.
The Little Britain star sold more than 50 million copies of books, including Gangsta Granny and Billionaire Boy, before his publisher Harper Collins cut ties with him in September for alleged “inappropriate behaviour”.
Retailers including Waterstones, TG Jones, and The Works, have already said they will stop selling books by the former Britain’s Got Talent judge, according to BBC News.
Though public libraries are also facing calls to remove his books, Calderdale Council has said stock reviews consider “condition, usage, relevance and demand” separately from “any concerns that may be raised about an author”.
This week sources across Calderdale’s public library service said there had been no instructions to take Walliams’ books off the shelves.
“There’s been no circulation going around,” said one source.
Another said: “We have not been informed of anything.”
When we visited Halifax library on today, two books by Walliams were available to borrow – The Blunders and Slime.
A Calderdale Council spokesperson said: “All books available in Calderdale libraries are guided by the council’s stock management policy.
“As a public library service, we aim to provide access to a wide range of lawful materials and to make decisions about stock in a fair, consistent and evidence-based way.
“As with all library stock, titles are regularly reviewed and may leave the collection over time because of factors such as condition, usage, relevance and demand.
“This is separate from any concerns that may be raised about an author.”
Elsewhere in England, councils in Medway, Kent, Surrey, and Sussex have said they will not be removing the books from library shelves as the books do not contain unlawful material.
But Camden Council has said it would be the putting books in storage.
This week, reporting alleged Walliams has been accused of sexual misconduct by several women, including some who accused him of “grooming” them when they were teenagers.
In a letter to journalists, Walliams said he was “not a sexual predator” and had not “broken the law”.