Controversy over banned books
Simply put, “we don’t ban books,” said Betty Rozum, associate dean for Technical Services, about National Banned Books Week, Sept. 25 through Oct. 2.
Essentially when the library at Utah State buys a book, the library says, “here it is,” Rozum said.
The library does take steps to warn people that may be offended by a title, though, said Vicki Read, head of patron services. For example, the library will put a sign saying the material is intended for mature audiences. This way parents know the material may not be appropriate for their children, Read said.
Banned Books Week focuses on the censorship of books over the course of human history and includes an exhibit in the foyer of the Merill-Cazier Library. The exhibit includes copies of books banned in the past, with reasons for the banning.
For example, the Harry Potter books have been banned, the exhibit says, because people have thought the series taught children how to be witches.
The role of librarians is to protect access to ideas and peoples’ First Amendment rights as established by the Constitution of the United States. However, librarians have a limited budget to buy books, said Kathy Schockmel, the art, design, & beat collections manager.
Read said controversy surrounding some books drives the library to move books sometimes, otherwise the books may be stolen or defaced. For example, some people will tear a page out of a book to take it home, instead of checking the book out.
People fear checking a book out with a person at the circulation desk, so they tear a page out, Read said. She said the auto-checkout system in the library seems to be reducing that.
“We get tired of replacing books.”
All three women said they thought students’ exposure to ideas contrary to how they were raised is a good thing.
“It can help you defend your viewpoint,” Schockmel said.
Read said there is great irony surrounding the Harry Potter books. The books are the most banned books of all time, yet the books get credit for motivating kids to read more than any other books.
“Sometimes people have the best of intentions,” Schockmel said. In other words, people support banning a book because they want to protect others.
“People have a knee-jerk reaction sometimes,” Rozum said.
Rozum said she buys books even if she doesn’t agree with the book’s message.
“I’ve chosen to buy things I personally disagree with,” Rozum said.
At a university, protecting free access and First Amendment rights are easier, Rozum said, because a university is about discovering new ideas.
Vaughn Larson, library director at Edith Bowen Lab School, the elementary school on campus, said right now the library respects the rights of parents to disallow their children from checking out a book. Otherwise, the library tries to broaden children’s horizons as much as possible and provide the best in educational literature.
–keith.burbank@aggiemail.usu.edu