Taking a break from the normal links and events to talk politics a moment. I know, I know. Libraries, art and politics? Together? Unfathomable, but. Bear with me here.
You might have heard that it’s Banned Book Week. Making my weekly visit to my local library, the YA/Teen room had a large display just for this week: on their “highlights” shelf, was yellow police tape, with warning labels on the book.
“This book contains magic” and “this book contains swearing” or “this book has underage sexual content” (not even sex, we’re talking kissing, holding hands.)
Want a list of books banned?
Harry Potter; Twilight; And Tango Makes Three; The Perks of Being a Wallflower; Angus, Thongs and Full Frontal Snogging…
… the list goes on.
Why? Because they dare to be different. With the exception of the Twilight series, I’ve read all those books listed, and nothing in them deserves to be banned, to be pulled from the shelves, to be told they can’t be read.
So, what do you think? There were two articles, the Wall Street Journal against, and Joan E. Bertrin of Huffington Post for.
But I want to know what you think? Given recent events such as Cushing Academy, of living in a world where we might not be able to read that one particular book because (good heavens!) it might have a boy kissing a boy, where does that leave us? As future librarians?
Are we living a world where one day our job will be to catalog the Banned Book Week’s art posters as relics?
What is your opinion? Which side are you on?
//steps off her soapbox.
(Regular scheduled program will return next week. Meantime, have video.