National Library apologises after anti-woke gender-critical book ban

The book chronicles the grassroots feminist movement that opposed Nicola Sturgeon's gender self-identification legislation and features contributions from prominent figures including JK Rowling.

Sir Drummond wrote to the editors apologising on behalf of the board "for our initial decision not to exhibit the book … and for our reaction to the Times article on this decision".

The apology also addressed the library's response when news of the ban first emerged publicly.

The book had secured more than double the public nominations required for inclusion in the Dear Library exhibition, which launched in June.

Despite this strong public support, Amina Shah, Scotland's chief librarian, yielded to objections from the institution's internal LGBT staff network.

The network argued that displaying the publication publicly could cause "severe harm" and indicated they would escalate the matter if management failed to act.

Ms Shah later justified the exclusion on a BBC podcast by claiming the book "detailed violence, aggression and anger online or in real life."

However, the publication actually contains personal accounts from women involved in a successful political campaign rather than descriptions of violence.

Documents obtained through freedom of information requests revealed that library communications staff had been "briefing everyone" that media coverage was "highly misleading" — though reporting on the ban proved accurate.

An independent review subsequently vindicated Ms Hunter Blackburn and Ms Dalgety, concluding that the original decision had rested on "inadequate evidence and consultation."

The book was restored to the exhibition in September following the library's admission that it had erred.

Ms Shah has been instructed to write separately to the authors to "explain the context … and apologise for any misunderstandings" regarding her podcast remarks.

The editors said they were "pleased to accept this straightforward apology from the Board of the National Library of Scotland, both for the initial treatment of our book and the library's initial response when this came to light."

They described the affair as "an unwelcome, heavy call on our time" and said they had been subjected to "a defamatory campaign originating within the library."

The authors expressed hope that this formal acknowledgement would be recognised as "a low point" in the institution's history.

Despite the library's efforts to move past the controversy, criticism has continued from multiple directions.

Dozens of academics, writers and cultural figures have signed an open letter expressing "outrage" at the reversal and claiming the book's display makes the institution "materially less safe" for both visitors and staff.

The letter argues that the publication "advocates against the civil and human rights of trans people, a small and vulnerable minority who experience systemic disadvantage" and has created "a hostile environment for queer and trans people working at and visiting the library."

Pam Gosal, a Conservative MSP who contributed to the book, offered a contrasting view: "This apology is welcome but the book should never have been banned from the National Library of Scotland in the first place."

She characterised the original exclusion as "a desperate attempt to silence brave women's rights campaigners who have fought tirelessly to defend their rights."