After reading Chrstine A. Jenkins article "Censorship: Book Challenges, Challenging Books, and Young Readers" I still try to grasp the concept of why individuals feel they have the authority to get a book banned from a library. I do understand how some parents and adults don't want their children and teens to be influenced by the book's text on either religious, political, sexual, or social contexts. But isn't that your responsibility parents? Aren't you supposed to be protecting them, guiding them, and teaching them right from wrong? As librarians, we provide individuals with resources and information. It is parents responsibilities to discuss with their children and teenagers what they feel is appropriate and not appropriate behaviour and content. I completely agree with Jenkins notion that "barriers to access are likely to heighten a young person's interest in such text" (pg. 452). When you can't have it, you want it even more right? Restricting, censoring and destroying books wont get teens away from banned books. If they want it enough, they will get it in some shape or form. The internet is a valuable tool for teens. If you ban a book from your public library, most likely a teen will just get it else where, and you may have just lost a library patron because of this decision of banning a book. The "lure of the forbidden" (pg. 452) is just to powerful. As librarians, we need to always remember patrons intellectual freedom, involving free and open access to ideas and information. It is our job to provide young adults with information they require/ask for. If we do this, we are doing our job correctly. I understand that various young adult and adult materials may have some scenes that are uncomfortable and disturbing to some, but this is life. This is what happens in our world. If we do not want our sons or daughters reading this information, discuss it with them. That is parents responsibilities. Instead of trying to get the book off the shelves of a public library, discuss with your child or teen why you feel they should not read this book because of it's content. CLA UWO Student Chapter and Librarians Without Borders are partnering together on Feb. 16th and Feb. 17th 2011 for a Banned Book Challenge. From 12-1:30pm, outside of the GRC, will be a table of banned books. Individuals can come and choose from the selected books which one they think is not a banned book. Then you can write your guess down on a ballot and place it in the ballot box. Those who guessed correctly will have their name added into a draw to win a free banned book. The draw will take place on Feb. 18th 2011. I think this is a great and creative way to become more familiar with banned books and would be a great activity for any public library to hold during Freedom to Read weeks. Individuals will then have the opportunity to see titles that have been banned or challenged as well as learn more about the right to intellectual freedom.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Week 6 - Censorship: Challenging and Banning YA Materials
After reading Chrstine A. Jenkins article "Censorship: Book Challenges, Challenging Books, and Young Readers" I still try to grasp the concept of why individuals feel they have the authority to get a book banned from a library. I do understand how some parents and adults don't want their children and teens to be influenced by the book's text on either religious, political, sexual, or social contexts. But isn't that your responsibility parents? Aren't you supposed to be protecting them, guiding them, and teaching them right from wrong? As librarians, we provide individuals with resources and information. It is parents responsibilities to discuss with their children and teenagers what they feel is appropriate and not appropriate behaviour and content. I completely agree with Jenkins notion that "barriers to access are likely to heighten a young person's interest in such text" (pg. 452). When you can't have it, you want it even more right? Restricting, censoring and destroying books wont get teens away from banned books. If they want it enough, they will get it in some shape or form. The internet is a valuable tool for teens. If you ban a book from your public library, most likely a teen will just get it else where, and you may have just lost a library patron because of this decision of banning a book. The "lure of the forbidden" (pg. 452) is just to powerful. As librarians, we need to always remember patrons intellectual freedom, involving free and open access to ideas and information. It is our job to provide young adults with information they require/ask for. If we do this, we are doing our job correctly. I understand that various young adult and adult materials may have some scenes that are uncomfortable and disturbing to some, but this is life. This is what happens in our world. If we do not want our sons or daughters reading this information, discuss it with them. That is parents responsibilities. Instead of trying to get the book off the shelves of a public library, discuss with your child or teen why you feel they should not read this book because of it's content. CLA UWO Student Chapter and Librarians Without Borders are partnering together on Feb. 16th and Feb. 17th 2011 for a Banned Book Challenge. From 12-1:30pm, outside of the GRC, will be a table of banned books. Individuals can come and choose from the selected books which one they think is not a banned book. Then you can write your guess down on a ballot and place it in the ballot box. Those who guessed correctly will have their name added into a draw to win a free banned book. The draw will take place on Feb. 18th 2011. I think this is a great and creative way to become more familiar with banned books and would be a great activity for any public library to hold during Freedom to Read weeks. Individuals will then have the opportunity to see titles that have been banned or challenged as well as learn more about the right to intellectual freedom.
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