Sunday, June 3, 2007
End of the quarter
I just wanted to write a quick final blog and say just how much I have enjoyed this class. The discussions have been stimulating and the content of the lectures and the readings have been thought provoking. Understanding intellectual freedom is such an important and challenging aspect of being an information professional and this class highlights this importance so well. I'm not sure how you all feel but a large part of me feels that this class should be mandatory for all Ischool students.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Interesting current IF debate
I came across this article (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/orl-raunchydvd1707may17,0,6950550.story?coll=sfla-news-florida) the other day and thought that it made some very interesting points. The article discusses the borrowing of rated R movies by public library patrons who are under the age of 17. The article highlights the debate as to whether or not those under 17 should be allowed to borrow rated R movies from a library when they would be unable to see the same movies in the theater. Now I firmly believe that librarians should not police what people are checking out and that this responsibility lies squarely with the parent but you have to admit, it is an interesting point. If a child would be unable to walk into a movie theater or video rental store and watch or rent a R-rated movie, why should they be able to walk into a library and to the same thing? I don't have a good answer for this quesion but am curious to know what others think. I believe that a healthy dialog and open debate may be the only way issues like this one are resolved.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and Libraries - an update
I focused on the Swimsuit Issue scenario in this week's assignment and decided to investigate the fact that Sports Illustrated has stopped sending libraries and classrooms the swimsuit issue. I wanted to poke around a little deeper to see if they have amended that policy since the controversy.
In March of 2007, SI spokesperson Rick McCabe stated:
"Over the course of time, we've received feedback from some of those institutions saying it wouldn't be an acceptable thing for them to have or to share with their constituents, and the decision was made that this was one way to hopefully alleviate that issue."
This decision brought about quite a bit of controversy. Leslie Burger, ALA President released a statement stating "Limiting access to the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue in response to alleged, anonymous, and amorphous expressions of concern is an infringement on the First Amendment rights of library users and an unwarranted attempt to censor the materials available in our nation’s libraries.” The New York Times, The Library Journal and numerous blogs picked the story up and many members of the library community weighted in on the situation. Sports Illustrated quickly realized they had made a mistake and will not be holding the issue back next year. I think this is a wonderful example of the library community coming together to fight for Intellectual Freedom. It shows just how powerful a community we are.
As an aside, I wonder what Mr. McCabe meant by "institutions." I would be curious to know if these institutions were public libraries or school libraries or libraries affiliated with some religious organization. It seems like a library concerned with the tenants of Intellectual Freedom would not contact Sports Illustrated with this concern.
In March of 2007, SI spokesperson Rick McCabe stated:
"Over the course of time, we've received feedback from some of those institutions saying it wouldn't be an acceptable thing for them to have or to share with their constituents, and the decision was made that this was one way to hopefully alleviate that issue."
This decision brought about quite a bit of controversy. Leslie Burger, ALA President released a statement stating "Limiting access to the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue in response to alleged, anonymous, and amorphous expressions of concern is an infringement on the First Amendment rights of library users and an unwarranted attempt to censor the materials available in our nation’s libraries.” The New York Times, The Library Journal and numerous blogs picked the story up and many members of the library community weighted in on the situation. Sports Illustrated quickly realized they had made a mistake and will not be holding the issue back next year. I think this is a wonderful example of the library community coming together to fight for Intellectual Freedom. It shows just how powerful a community we are.
As an aside, I wonder what Mr. McCabe meant by "institutions." I would be curious to know if these institutions were public libraries or school libraries or libraries affiliated with some religious organization. It seems like a library concerned with the tenants of Intellectual Freedom would not contact Sports Illustrated with this concern.
Monday, May 7, 2007
IF issues abroad
I was just reading an article that made me realize just how lucky we are to live in a country where we can have an open debate regarding the content of books and other materials.
The Indian Supreme Court has just ruled that the government does have the authority to ban publications that endangers public order. The court stated “forfeiture of a newspaper, book or a document is a serious encroachment on the right of a citizen, but if the forfeiture is called for in the public interest, it must without a doubt have pre-eminence over any individual interest.”
I think this is an example of how "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." The Indian government seems to be trying to protect their people for materials that may insight violence but one has to ask oneself where it will end. It seems that "endangering the public order" could be stretched to include many varying definitions and could possible extend far beyond the notion of insighting violence. The implications of a decision like this one have the potential to be very far-reaching.
The Indian Supreme Court has just ruled that the government does have the authority to ban publications that endangers public order. The court stated “forfeiture of a newspaper, book or a document is a serious encroachment on the right of a citizen, but if the forfeiture is called for in the public interest, it must without a doubt have pre-eminence over any individual interest.”
I think this is an example of how "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." The Indian government seems to be trying to protect their people for materials that may insight violence but one has to ask oneself where it will end. It seems that "endangering the public order" could be stretched to include many varying definitions and could possible extend far beyond the notion of insighting violence. The implications of a decision like this one have the potential to be very far-reaching.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Reflections on assignment #2
Sorry about the day delay in posting this. I had some technical problems yesterday and wasn't able to get online.
So, back to the topic of Intellecutal Freedom. The assigned paper on an IF challenge within a library was extremely interesting. I choose to discuss a challenge that took place within a school district in Pennsylvania. A set of parents demanded that Sex Education be removed from the school library's shelves due to what they described as offensive language. The request was later amended to a request to label the book inappropriate for middle school students.
The Conrad Weiser Area School District did a great job handling this challenge. They took the challenge very seriously while ultimately standing by the concept of intellectual freedom. The school district had policies in place that helped ease the burden of the challenge immensly. The selection policy ensured that only books that meet certain criteria are acquired in the first place and the challenge policy was thourough and complete.
The article focused on teaching the reader a few lessons on book challenges. I found these lessons helpful so I will share them now (paraphrased):
Expect there to be publicity surrounding the challenge
The challenge does not necessarily represent public opinion
Take complaints seriously
Try a review committee and assign analytical and IF spirited people
Have a specific policy addressing challenges.
These represent very important lessons that can assist information professionals in creating an environment free from censorship and undue stress.
The URL to the article can be found here:
http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/hww/jumpstart.jhtml?recid=0bc05f7a67b1790e0e56b64ca80c855aabef419dea7fe1fe4622a36d9cef445388daf3b2eeccfcc1&fmt=H
(Keep in mind that you need to be logged in with your UW netid)
So, back to the topic of Intellecutal Freedom. The assigned paper on an IF challenge within a library was extremely interesting. I choose to discuss a challenge that took place within a school district in Pennsylvania. A set of parents demanded that Sex Education be removed from the school library's shelves due to what they described as offensive language. The request was later amended to a request to label the book inappropriate for middle school students.
The Conrad Weiser Area School District did a great job handling this challenge. They took the challenge very seriously while ultimately standing by the concept of intellectual freedom. The school district had policies in place that helped ease the burden of the challenge immensly. The selection policy ensured that only books that meet certain criteria are acquired in the first place and the challenge policy was thourough and complete.
The article focused on teaching the reader a few lessons on book challenges. I found these lessons helpful so I will share them now (paraphrased):
Expect there to be publicity surrounding the challenge
The challenge does not necessarily represent public opinion
Take complaints seriously
Try a review committee and assign analytical and IF spirited people
Have a specific policy addressing challenges.
These represent very important lessons that can assist information professionals in creating an environment free from censorship and undue stress.
The URL to the article can be found here:
http://vnweb.hwwilsonweb.com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/hww/jumpstart.jhtml?recid=0bc05f7a67b1790e0e56b64ca80c855aabef419dea7fe1fe4622a36d9cef445388daf3b2eeccfcc1&fmt=H
(Keep in mind that you need to be logged in with your UW netid)
Sunday, April 22, 2007
IF Senarios
Senario #2
Based upon the Bellingham Library collection policy, I would suggest that the library not acquire the graphic novel entitled The Pro at this time. The Bellingham Library policy states:
"Library materials will be purchased only after citation in an
authoritative review or reviews in sources generally accepted in the
library profession, or upon examination by library professional staff."
The Pro, despite the fact that it is written by a well-known author has not yet been reviewed by a generally accepted source. While blogs can provide interesting insight into materials, they are not generally considered to be authoritative reviews.
The library must also ask where this novel falls in their larger graphic novel collection. Because the library already has a significant graphic novel collection, librarians must decide whether The Pro represents duplicate content in the collection. The Bellingham Library Policy states:
" The amount of material acquired on any one subject will be governed
by consideration of the duplication of content in materials already
held and by the need to use available money and space to best serve the
very wide range of users."
The library must take a look at the budget and the whole of the collection to ensure that The Pro does not constitute a duplication of content. Both of these factors indicate that the Bellingham Library system must do a bit more research or perhaps wait until the novel is reviewed before making a decision as whether or not it should be purchased.
Senario #5
I would recommend that Mallville Public Library retain a copy of The Haunted for its collection. The Mallville collection development policy states:
"Fictional material is selected from reviews and judged on the intent of the author or producer, and the general literary, artistic, social or other value of the work."
Chuck Palahniuk is a well respected and popular author who's previous works have been considered to contain literary, artistic and social value. While the posted reviews for The Haunted may not be the most flattering (especially in comparison to a novel such as Fight Club), the timeliness of this author and the popularity of his work should be reason to acquire this title.
This title does seem to contain some content that could possibly be construed as controversial or offensive, but the author's message is not obscene. The Booklist review states that "there's a point to the madness--Palahniuk is exploring our yearning for suffering and our newfound desire to make our misery marketable. The allegory is sometimes very clever and pitch-black funny." The Mallville Collection development policy states that "Each work is judged as a whole, not by certain
passages taken out of context that might prove offensive to some readers or viewers." Some passages in this novel will surely offend some people but the message contains societal meaning and so the title should be acquired by the library.
Based upon the Bellingham Library collection policy, I would suggest that the library not acquire the graphic novel entitled The Pro at this time. The Bellingham Library policy states:
"Library materials will be purchased only after citation in an
authoritative review or reviews in sources generally accepted in the
library profession, or upon examination by library professional staff."
The Pro, despite the fact that it is written by a well-known author has not yet been reviewed by a generally accepted source. While blogs can provide interesting insight into materials, they are not generally considered to be authoritative reviews.
The library must also ask where this novel falls in their larger graphic novel collection. Because the library already has a significant graphic novel collection, librarians must decide whether The Pro represents duplicate content in the collection. The Bellingham Library Policy states:
" The amount of material acquired on any one subject will be governed
by consideration of the duplication of content in materials already
held and by the need to use available money and space to best serve the
very wide range of users."
The library must take a look at the budget and the whole of the collection to ensure that The Pro does not constitute a duplication of content. Both of these factors indicate that the Bellingham Library system must do a bit more research or perhaps wait until the novel is reviewed before making a decision as whether or not it should be purchased.
Senario #5
I would recommend that Mallville Public Library retain a copy of The Haunted for its collection. The Mallville collection development policy states:
"Fictional material is selected from reviews and judged on the intent of the author or producer, and the general literary, artistic, social or other value of the work."
Chuck Palahniuk is a well respected and popular author who's previous works have been considered to contain literary, artistic and social value. While the posted reviews for The Haunted may not be the most flattering (especially in comparison to a novel such as Fight Club), the timeliness of this author and the popularity of his work should be reason to acquire this title.
This title does seem to contain some content that could possibly be construed as controversial or offensive, but the author's message is not obscene. The Booklist review states that "there's a point to the madness--Palahniuk is exploring our yearning for suffering and our newfound desire to make our misery marketable. The allegory is sometimes very clever and pitch-black funny." The Mallville Collection development policy states that "Each work is judged as a whole, not by certain
passages taken out of context that might prove offensive to some readers or viewers." Some passages in this novel will surely offend some people but the message contains societal meaning and so the title should be acquired by the library.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Kaffir Boy: Inappropriate for Children?
Article referenced found here: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/04/12/MNGKFP7A9K1.DTL
Burlingame schools Superintendent Sonny Da Marto has banned this title from being taught in the school system. Eighth grade teacher, Amelia Ramos had been teaching her students the book for a year but received an email from a concerned parent during this term's coursework. The complaint made its way to Da Marto who decided that, while the book is "outstanding," the material (specificially a few paragraphs that describe a man preparing to engage in sex with young boys) was inappropriate for the 13 and 14 year old students.
I found it so interesting and inspiring that the students themselves became upset at this decision. One eight grade boy confronted the board and asked, how "shielding us from the scene in the book will benefit us." Many other students have told parents and administrators that they will be reading the book anyway...outside of school. The idea that the children are challenging the decision and the adults that made it makes me realize exactly why intellectual freedom is such an important issue to discuss. These children want to read this book and they want to learn about issues and stories far removed from their community. This story really puts into perspective exactly how the banning of books effects the children and their intellectual growth.
Burlingame schools Superintendent Sonny Da Marto has banned this title from being taught in the school system. Eighth grade teacher, Amelia Ramos had been teaching her students the book for a year but received an email from a concerned parent during this term's coursework. The complaint made its way to Da Marto who decided that, while the book is "outstanding," the material (specificially a few paragraphs that describe a man preparing to engage in sex with young boys) was inappropriate for the 13 and 14 year old students.
I found it so interesting and inspiring that the students themselves became upset at this decision. One eight grade boy confronted the board and asked, how "shielding us from the scene in the book will benefit us." Many other students have told parents and administrators that they will be reading the book anyway...outside of school. The idea that the children are challenging the decision and the adults that made it makes me realize exactly why intellectual freedom is such an important issue to discuss. These children want to read this book and they want to learn about issues and stories far removed from their community. This story really puts into perspective exactly how the banning of books effects the children and their intellectual growth.
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