2009.11.12
She knows best what shouldn't be on library shelf
This is an interesting story out of Kentucky about a library employee who objected to an adult comic book (i.e. "graphic novel") on the shelves of her employer.
When the library board declined her entreaties to remove it because of certain explicit bits, she checked it out -- for forever. She still has the book, but not her job.
The book is The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Volume IV: The Black Dossier.
It all started in the fall of 2008, and she is still doing it. The proof is in her knapsack, in a bright yellow flexible file folder, hidden from prying eyes. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume IV: The Black Dossier. It has pink and yellow highlighter tags sticking out, marking the pages that contain explicit sexual content.
It is the Jessamine County Public Library's copy, which she has checked out and not returned. She is being fined 10 cents a day for her breach of library contract — and for her moral stand.
She was, she says, simply appalled that a child could find a book that contained so many outright visually obscene graphics in the Jessamine library where she worked.
The story's a good one, and worth a read. No word yet as to whether WorldNetDaily is frothing about it.
What do you think, folks?
I tell ya.I have a real problem with censorship..
This "Graphic Novel" in the column reminds me of something their pushing in Roanoke Libraries called 'Urban Fiction" with titles like "Thong on Fire" and "Cherry Licker" theyre like soft porn Romance novels.As distasteful as this is to me..I just dont think we should make decisions for what others read...and in the case of children ..they already know a heckuvalot more than we think they do..When the censorship wagon gets rolling..where will it stop?
Comment by Tony — November 13, 2009 @ 8:53 am
While I am always against censorship of this sort, I would agree that (depending on the images) I might not want my children to have that book. Although I doubt that I would be terribly offended by that one and am fairly certain that she is blowing it out of proportion (yes I am showing my prejudice against her.)
I also would say that I go to the public library with my kids. I know that is really wild and out there, but in order to protect my kids in what should be an almost completely free speech zone, I go with them. I supervise my own children. What a novel (pun intended) idea.
Comment by VVarlock — November 13, 2009 @ 10:04 am
I agree that there are plenty of things that people might not want their children getting their hands on, but that's a big difference from deciding that no one else should get to see it either.
Having library employees independently reviewing and passing judgement on the material available is obviously not a direction any library would want to go. I'm not surprised she was fired. On the other hand, in the event that some prurient young minds should fall on her edition of this graphic novel - she's already done all the hard work for them and marked the good parts!
Comment by Kristen — November 13, 2009 @ 10:24 am
Precisely. A library is a depository of ideas and thought, not a daycare center. Parent your children.
Comment by Jason — November 13, 2009 @ 10:34 am
Jason hit the nail on the head when he said, "Parent your children." The problem in this society is that many parents don't want to take on the responsibility of parenting. They want to leave that job up to the schools, the libraries, the courts, the internet.
Of course, there are books and movies and television shows that are not appropriate for kids. It's the paren't responsibility to monitor those things and decide, what is best for their own child.
I'm bewildered by this story and wonder if the librarian ever considered what is viewed over the library's free internet access stations? I'm surprised she didn't take a sledge hammer to those.
One can go into any library and type in any obscene word or phrase and chances are, you'll be treated to a plethera of inappropriate delights.
Smut is everywhere. You can teach your children well, but in the end you can't completely block out everything.
One thing that I find interesting is that, in this country, we view sex and the naked human body as something to be hidden away. God forbid that a female breast should be exposed while nursing a child in a public place. We have no problem; however, with stories about or images of the violence of war and murder, and decomposing body parts. Turn on the television any day and what are 90% of the selections? They are cop shows and war stories and death and violence.
Travel to Europe and the situation is completely differenet. A trip around the television dial there will offer you plenty of nudity but very little violence and bloodshed.
That speaks volumes to me about the way we feel in this country about our guns and our porn. Maybe we DON'T have all the right answers. Maybe a bit more sex and a lot less violence would make for a less stressful society!
I would much rather my child see a woman walking half-clothed across a television screen than have them watch someone's life blood oozing out all over a city street. Does that make me unamerican?
Comment by Lynda K — November 13, 2009 @ 1:01 pm
Lynda, I remember when Janet Jackson had her "wardrobe malfunction", the people I knew who screamed the loudest about it were also the ones more than happy to watch - and have their kids watch - people jumping from the WTC on 9/11. As if the sight of a naked human breast - probably one of the first things a baby gets an up-close look at - is more damaging than seeing people jump to their deaths.
Comment by Kristen — November 13, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
I agree with that Linda K..why are we so hung up on our own bodies like they are dirty or something..Yet carnage reins..hey maybe we werent so wrong in the 60s when we said"make love not war"
Comment by Tony — November 13, 2009 @ 2:37 pm
Lynda, I can certainly agree with you on that, and have said that for some time. Lots of focus on violence on TV/movies, and some people seem to eat it up.
I never understood why people will camp out for days for a movie ticket or a new toy (iphone, or what have you). Those are things that will be there for months. But come voting day, the only day you get to vote, people can't be bothered to take a 5 minute detour to their polling place on the way to/from work. I know that's not exactly on-topic, but just a general observation on how lame "general admission" is.
Comment by Ed S. — November 15, 2009 @ 11:08 am
Tony-
"I agree with that Linda K..why are we so hung up on our own bodies like they are dirty or something..Yet carnage reins..hey maybe we werent so wrong in the 60s when we said'make love not war'."
Though I am not against depictions of violence in principle, I am completely on board for more nudity. Is there a petition we can sign?
Comment by Jason — November 15, 2009 @ 2:31 pm