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ORIGINAL: slaveluci

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ORIGINAL: bipolarber
Now, let's not overstate the case. She never advocated BURNING books... only taking them off the shelves for public access... (The thing that bothers me about this, is that most libraries have a "restricted" section, where books of a more adult nature are kept away from the kiddies. She apparently didn't feel that was good enough. She didn't ask for the books to be moved to a restricted state, as a concerned mother. No, she wanted to make sure whatever books she [and her church group] didn't like, weren't available to ANYONE.)

If you're going to remove books from the shelves and "restrict" or hide them, you might as well go ahead and toss 'em on the bonfire.  I am a librarian.  In WV, I was a county library director for nearly 5 years and now, here in AR, I am an assistant manager within a large library system.  At no point have I worked in or been involved with any library that has a "restricted" section.  Personally, I find that idea revolting.  In my opinion, who gives someone the right to decide just what books should be "restricted" to what people?  Nonsense. 

As librarians, we are supposed to be the gatekeepers to knowledge, in essence.  A library is a place people should be able to get any and all information and reading material without judgment or censorship.  Now there have to be limits, of course, because we operate on public money.  A subscription to "Hustler" ain't gonna fly.  But taking books and putting them "behind the counter" because there's something sexual in it you think a 12 yr. old shouldn't see is BS.  Buy the books, shelve them and let the patrons choose what they'll check out, regardless of age.  If their parents can't cope with what the kiddies are reading, perhaps they should accompany them to the library and hold their hand while they choose their selections.  Don't whine because your child came in alone, chose something you don't like and then try to "ban" it from everyone's eyes.  I get furious at that line of thinking.

Whether Palin actually demanded that certain titles be banned or not, it says a whole lot to me about a person who even begins to think he/she has the right to decide what others can/should read.  Make your own choices and keep your judgment out of what the rest of us want to read........................luci

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ORIGINAL: Sanity


Every public library in America 'bans books', meatcleaver.

Not every library in the United States carries every book ever published, and so some 'purchasing guidelines' have to be worked out. Also, since the general public pays for the books and helps support the libraries through taxes, the general public gets a say in which books cannot be purchased.

In other words, there is no scandal here.

Just so you know.

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ORIGINAL: meatcleaver
Surely the very fact a politician that supposedly believes in democracy is asking about the procedure to ban books should set alarm bells off for anyone who believes in free speach. Banning is not the same as keeping inappropriate books out of children's hands.