When the Librarian Crosses the Line

I wrote and published this last year on my old student library blog.  I think it’s really interesting and still relevant so I wanted to share it with you today.

Last year I came across a story about a book challenge in a public library in Kentucky.  Not so unusual, right?

Wrong.  This article was scary.  The reason it was scary?  A library staffer was the one challenging the book.

The situation is this: A library staffer in a county public library in Kentucky came across the graphic novel The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume IV: The Black Dossier in the children's/YA section of the library. She felt that it had way too many sexual situations and was not suitable for children, so she took it to her director.  Her director disagreed with her challenged and returned the book to the shelves. 

The library staffer’s next step to stop children from checking out the book was to check it out herself, and keep renewing it. This was working fine for almost a year until she went to renew it on September day and discovered that an 11 year old girl had requested the book. The library employee was so distressed that a child would want to read what she considered inappropriate material that she asked a colleague to override the hold (can we say invasion of privacy?!?!). The director found out about this and both women were fired from the library. You can read more about the story here.

I obviously find a number of things were distressing about this story. But the worst thing (to me) is that this woman took it upon herself to decide what is appropriate or inappropriate for children. Who gave her this right?

It is not up to the library, the school, the teacher, the government, or the general public to decide what is or what is not okay for children to read. The only person who can make that decision is the parent of the child in question. This is why fighting censorship and promoting things like Banned Books Week are so important.  No one has the right to take a book of the shelf without a legitimate complaint.  That’s what makes this story so striking to me and why I feel the library board did the right thing in firing the staffers; not only did they violate censorship policies, they went against the director’s wishes. 

Do you think this library worker crossed the line? She and another colleague were fired for accesses records and removing a hold request on the book. Do you agree with the library board that firing these women was the right thing to do?  I do, but I want to hear your opinion!

Photo Credit

Banned Books: A Comparison

In celebration of Banned Books Week, I want to share with you then 10 most challenged books of 2009 and the reasons they were challenged/banned.  

1. ttyl; ttfn; l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: drugs, nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
2. And Tango Makes Three, by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: homosexuality
3. The Perks of Being A Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: anti-family, drugs, homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, suicide, unsuited to age group
4. To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
Reasons: offensive language, racism, unsuited to age group
5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
6. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
7. My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult
Reasons: homosexuality, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexism, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group, violence
8. The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things, by Carolyn Mackler
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
9. The Color Purple, by Alice Walker
Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group
10. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier
Reasons: nudity, offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group 


In order to get a better idea of the comparison I'm doing below, let's take a look at the ten most challenged books from 1990-1999.  I've listed the reasons for the challenges/bans if I can find them.


1. Scary Stories (series), by Alvin Schwartz  Reasons: scary, violent, occult
2. Daddy’s Roommate, by Michael Willhoite Reasons: promotes homosexuality, age inappropriate
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, by Maya Angelou Reasons: sexually explicit, specifically graphic depictions of molestation and rape
4. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier  Reasons: offensive language, sexually explicit
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain Reasons: vulgar language; offensive to African Americans
6. Of Mice and Men, by John Steinbeck Reasons: "profanity and using God's name in vain"; vulgar and offensive; contains terminology offensive to blacks
7. Forever, by Judy Blume Reasons: sexually explicit, profanity, morality (pre-marital sex)
8. Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson Reasons: offensive language, fantasy (references to witchcraft)
9. Heather Has Two Mommies, by Leslea Newman Reasons: promotes homosexuality, age inappropriate
10. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger Reasons: "anti white" and "obscene"; language and content of the book


Looking at these two lists, the thing that stands out to me most is that most books are challenged for being "inappropriate to age group". However, the difference in the two lists is that 9 out of the 10 books in 2009 were challenged for having something to do with sexuality where only 5 books from 1990-1999 were cited for being "sexually explicit" or "promoting homosexuality".

This makes me wonder, are more books being published for young adults today that are more sexually explicit? Looking at Lauren Myracle's series and the Gossip Girl series (that was in the top ten last year) that are marketed for teenage girls, an argument can be made that yes, more sexually explicit books are being published. It's also obvious that parents have an objection to these books.


Every day books are challenged. Concerned citizens protest classrooms, school districts, and libraries to have books removed from shelves and reading lists. The American Library Association maintains that everyone, no matter age, race, religion, economic background, or sexual orientation, can be barred from reading whatever they want. This Freedom to Read is fundamental to librarians. 

However, maintaining this freedom isn't easy. Sometimes books do appear to be inappropriate; games too violent; movies too sexual. Sometimes our own morals and ideals get in the way of intellectual freedom. But as librarians, it is our job to make sure that everyone has equal access to information. That includes everything from the latest Gossip Girl book to nude photography books to rated "R" movies.

While it may be hard to stay strong against overwhelming opposition, think of it this way: if you allow one book to be removed from your shelves today, who's going to stand up for the freedom to read when all are the books are banned tomorrow?


Tomorrow I'm going to be diving into the "gray" areas of banning and challenging books.  So if you have comments about that, please wait until tomorrow where you can share your thoughts and opinions.  For today, let's ponder these questions:

• What do you think of these lists?  Do they make sense to you?
• How many of these books have you read?  Do you agree with the reasons for the challenges?
• What books were you surprised to see on the list?  What books were missing?

This Week is Banned Books Week!

September 26-October 2 is the annual Banned Books Week. Banned Books Week (BBW) is a week-long celebration of the fact that we have the freedom to read whatever we want! It also puts an emphasis on the importance of the First Amendment. "Held during the last week of September, Banned Books Week highlights the benefits of free and open access to information while drawing attention to the harms of censorship by spotlighting actual or attempted bannings of books across the United States." (ALA)

This week I will be spotlighting what librarians can do to celebrate banned books and intellectual freedom. Banned Books Week is one the biggest events a librarian (especially public and school librarians) take part in every year. Get excited for Banned Books Week and don't forget, READ BANNED BOOKS!!

For more information on Banned Books Week, check out http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/ and  http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/index.cfm.

I'm Back...Sort of

As this aptly named blog post suggests, I am back, but only a little.  Things are super crazy right now.  No real time to explain, but if you've ever moved a library then you probably have some inclination as to what I'm currently going through. 

This week is a really special week.  It's banned books week.  All this week I'm going to be posting about banned books and why this week is so important.  So stay tuned to learn more about banned books!