As a boy approached our circulation desk with a copy of Jerry Spinelli’s Wringer, his mother grabbed it and said, “I just checked reviews of that book on my iPhone, and I think there’s sexual content and violence.” They got into a tug-of-war, and I didn’t know what to do.
It’s tough to come between a parent and a child, but I’d ask to speak with the parent privately. I’d tell her about the book and let her know that rating systems are subjective and they may only express one reviewer’s opinion. Explain how Wringer’s words and scenes are taken out of context, and that rating systems actually devalue children’s literature, because they shift the focus away from the work’s true meaning. Suggest that the mother and son both read Wringer and talk about it afterward. My bet is that she’ll be very surprised by her child’s insights. If she refuses to do that, there isn’t much you can do other than to direct the student to another book.
If we don’t make reader guidance one of our top priorities, rating systems can potentially overshadow the good work we librarians do. It’s essential that your staff members receive proper training in reader guidance techniques and that they know they’re expected to read as many new acquisitions as possible. At your next staff meeting, take a look at some of the rating systems and discuss why these systems have become a tool for censors. All of us need to understand what we’re up against.
I’ve been reading reports that some school administrators have removed titles from summer reading lists, including Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Chris Crutcher’s Angry Management, and Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird. What were these administrators thinking? And how does that mentality affect school library collections?
These administrators were only thinking about one thing—keeping their noses clean. Most of them don’t care about books or reading, and they obviously have no regard for the teachers and librarians who created the lists. The irony is that now that the media has reported these incidents, their students are probably having a ball reading these novels.
It’s difficult to determine the effect of censorship on library collections. Some administrators wait for a formal challenge before they remove books from a collection. Others may simply say, “Gone is gone.” In the latter case, I hope there’s a materials review policy in place so that the librarians can demand that a proper procedure is followed.
Recently, two fathers came into our library with their young son and asked for some books about gay families. I was pointing out several possibilities when a woman tapped me on the shoulder and said, “I don’t think you should be helping these men.” I didn’t know how to respond, and now I’m afraid she’s going to cause trouble in our conservative community.
You simply need to say, “Excuse me, they need my help.” The public library serves everyone in the community, and that’s all that needs to be said should the woman choose to turn serving gay families into an issue.
To celebrate Banned Books Week, I’d like our middle schoolers to read some novels that’ll help them understand censorship and how it affects their lives. Can you recommend any titles?
That’s a great way to celebrate Banned Books Week (September 24–October 1, 2011). Here are a few titles that will challenge your students to think about some important issues related to censorship: Adam Canfield of the Slash (2005), Adam Canfield, Watch Your Back! (2007), and Adam Canfield: The Last Reporter (2009, all Candlewick) by Michael Winerip; After (HarperCollins, 2003) by Francine Prose; Evolution, Me and Other Freaks of Nature (Knopf, 2007) by Robin Brande; How to Get Suspended and Influence People (Delacorte, 2007) by Adam Selzer; The Last Safe Place on Earth (Delacorte, 1995) by Richard Peck; Lucky for Good (Atheneum, 2011) by Susan Patron; Ringside, 1925: Views from the Scopes Trial (Knopf, 2008) by Jen Bryant; The Truth about Truman School (Albert Whitman, 2008) by Dori Hillestad Butler; Write On, Callie Jones (Egmont, 2010) by Naomi Zucker; and The Year They Burned the Books (Farrar, 1999) by Nancy Garden.