mdoneil writes “Planning on trying to get a book you consider tasteless banned from
the Kelso, WA Public Library? It just officially got tougher — not
that it’s ever been easy to convince librarians to stifle the
free-flow of ideas. Now, if patrons want certain books, magazines or
videos removed from the collection, library staff members can hand
them a copy of the library materials selection policy, which the City
Council approved this month. The policy contains a questionnaire
asking patrons which specific pages or sections of the material
they’re concerned about. It also asks whether the patron has read,
seen or heard the entire content of the material in question.
Making people actually read the material before they try to get it banned is a good start.
For the full scoop go aqui“
disagree
The idea of reading a whole book to judge its merit is a red herring. I don’t need to read “Natural Cures They Don’t Want You To Know About” to know that Kevin Trudeau is a con artist. I don’t need to read “Rainbow Party” to know that a book about oral sex orgies is not appropriate for teens. I don’t need to read “Arming America” to know that Michael Bellesiles faked his research and had to return the award he got for writing the book.
This is just an effort by a library to not have to deal with its patrons.
Re:disagree
I think that reading at least some of a book that I want banned is not too much to ask. I may just pick out the offending passages, but I think reading a few pages before and after would give context to the passages, and support my argument for removing the book.
Oh and I agree that both of the books you mentioned are crap.
Re:disagree
Actually, I read Rainbow Party and while it’s not very well-written, the “orgy” never actually happens. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone but it’s not the most horrible thing a teen could read.
Re:disagree
Is it the most horrible? Absolutely not. But I would hope we set the bar a little higher than that.
Re:disagree
Your definitely right, we can do much better. It’s actually not on the shelf in my system and I wouldn’t buy it for my library. There are two copies in the catalog at headquarters (which is how I got to read it) and one of those was checked out and never returned.
These subject headings are priceless though:
650; 0; a Entertaining $ v Fiction. $
650; 0; a Lipstick $ v Fiction. $
Re:disagree
Priceless!