[Publib] Assault on Reason?/Censorship

[brad thomas]

Of course this happens! I interviewed once with a library in Arkansas that was simply a beautiful facility. After a 5 minute tour of the stacks and meeting the members of the ruling library board, I thanked them for having me come in, and made my exit. Why? The first question they asked was "what church do you attend?" - and then while browsing the stacks, I noticed that the the library's fiction collection was 75-80% christian fiction. When I inquired as to why this was so, the answer was "Well, that's all that people really need around here." Not "what they want" or "what they ask for," but just "what they need."
 
No thanks!
 
 



From: plaurita at athenslimestone.lib.al.usTo: jcasey at oaklawnlibrary.org; hthompso at chipublib.org; publib at webjunction.orgSubject: RE: [Publib] Assault on Reason?/CensorshipDate: Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:29:35 -0500CC: 




Let me toss into this mix--There are libraries in the US that do censor through selection based upon philosophy of the library staff.  
 
In the 80s, prior to library school I volunteered in a public library (not in Alabama, but a more “cosmopolitan” area).  Any and every book published that was critical of Catholicism was purchased.  When I asked that the library order The Catholic Moment: The Paradox of the Church in the Postmodern World by Richard John Neuhaus I was derided for my lack of intellect.  
 
This experience has helped to color my own selection ideals.  
 
Paula S.W. Laurita, MLISCoordinator of Public ServicesAthens-Limestone Public LibraryAthens, AL 35611plaurita at athenslimestone.lib.al.usWe have found that a library is not an end in itself, but a means to many ends.Charles E. Rush, 1939 
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