Re: [LM_NET] TARGET: challenged books? Marc Brown

[Robert Eiffert <beiffert@COMCAST.NET>]

First step should be in your district reconsideration policy. Usually it 
would be to contact parent or person with concern. Mostly to listen to 
their concerns and to explain some of the precepts of librarianship. 
Like 'every reader a book, and every book a reader' and what tools you 
can provide the parent in helping student make choices. Maybe some 
reading lists, or offer additional help/advisory to student.

Most reconsideration policies include a form that parent needs to fill 
out to start the official process. Usually, until the process is 
complete, the books stays available for checkout by patrons.  
Personally, I will go buy a replacement copy if the parent hangs on to 
book before filing reconsideration.

And we don't have to like the book, or agree with the book, to include 
it in a collection or to defend its inclusion in the collection.

Robert Eiffert
Librarian, Pacific MS  Vancouver WA
pac.egreen.wednet.edu/library beiffert@egreen.wednet.edu
Librarian in the Middle Blog: beiffert.net  robert@beiffert.net



Maureen Mooney wrote:

>I just had a first grader return the book "Arthur's First Kiss" by Marc
>Brown.  Her mother wrote a long note discribing how inappropriate the book
>was to be in the library since it enourages all the behaviors parents do
>not like as in cruel teasing, cheating, lying and disrespect.  It also
>mentions "Spin the bottle"... now mind you I don't necessarily like this
>book, or feel that it is a great read, but should it return to the shelf
>as the mother does not want it to do?  How might you respond to this
>parent?
>
>  
>

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