When I started this thread, I really did want it to be a discussion point and something to watch for those who are interested. It's about a lot more than just an election. And like I said, considering the rancor in the ranks over censorship this past week, right here on TOTV, I really did think it was well worth posting, for many, many, oh so many reasons.
Tal knows a lot about libraries. I think he may have an MLS. Not sure. But I think so.
The books in Public Libraries are selected by librarians with masters degrees. The Master of Library Science degree is now more often known as the MLIS. Master of Library and Information Science. With so much computer based info now, the curriculum has changed for those graduate programs.
And you really need to know that overall, librarians self-censor. They want to keep their jobs. They know the lay of the land for their libraries. Librarians who know what they are doing have a written selection policy in place. And librarians who know what they are doing have in place a protocol to follow if a book is demanded banned. People cannot just walk into a Public Library and demand books be removed.
The Public Library is a Bastion of Freedom.
And most of your Public Librarians have a major clue, especially if they are doing book selection. You hire them for what they know how to do. You hire good ones and you let them do their jobs.
I am waiting to see if Palin, elected under a democracy, thought she had the right, due to her position, to ban books.
I have to finish cleaning my house for company coming tonight. (I hope we don't talk about politics.) But anyway, I can't look this up right now. Really must go make a path for comapny. But I am hoping somebody will post it here. (Uh oh, sorry Tal, I just sounded like I was trying to give you homework or something.
)
You know, there is a saying, "If you absolutely have to know, ask a librarian." Does not mean they know everything. Just means they know where to find it.
I will look this up another day if nobody finds it first and posts it. I really need to go clean. But here is what I hope to have posted here:
There are lists out there somewhere. The lists of books that have actually been banned in some places. If you have never seen these lists,you might be surprised.
One I remember seeing on a list, maybe it was for a children's library, was "The American Heritage Dictionary." I think that was the one. It might have had dirty words in it. Maybe even a picture or two. You know, human body stuff maybe.
Another one that you grandmas who read to the kids will appreciate is one of Shel Siverstein's funny poetry books. It might have been "Where the Sidewalk Ends." It's the one with the poem "Who Ate the Baby" laughing about that old sibling rivalry thing when the new baby comes home. Well, those who wanted it banned said that it promoted cannibalism.
So this thing is indeed a slippery slope. A slippery, slippery slope.
Public librarians are a lot like teachers. Hire good smart ones with common sense and let them do their jobs. And Freedom will continue its reign.
I sure hope that list of books shows up here. And I sure hope you will talk about it. And enjoy the discussion. I would love to stay here with you and talk all day about books and freedom and all that good American stuff. But I can't right now. But true to my last name, I will "be back."
Boomer, sounding a little like Marian today