I was rather shocked to read of the high school librarian locking
books behind doors.
The ALA has a position statement on Labels and Rating systems:
http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=Interpretations&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=8657
It includes the statement: "The adoption, enforcement, or endorsement
of any of these rating systems by the library violates the Library
Bill of Rights. Adopting such systems into law may be
unconstitutional. If such legislation is passed, the library should
seek legal advice regarding the law's applicability to library
operations."
Locking a book away and making it accessible by parent permission only
goes beyond merely rating and labeling, and I believe to do so would
violate a student's first amendment rights. In fact, there is legal
precedent against requiring permission to access certain books. In
Counts v. Cedarville School District, the District Court ruled that
the books (Harry Potter in this case) needed to be unrestricted
circulation. The school board did not have the right to restrict
students first amendment rights and has a "stigmatizing effect."
Philosophically, I am curious about what qualifies as "questionable"
content. Sex? Drugs? Abuse? It is these very topics that students may
be afraid to talk about with their parents for whatever reason, and
that is why they are coming to the library for information.
I do hope that whatever library this is will reconsider this policy.
Sincerely,
Megan Frazer Blakemore
Westbrook High School Library
Westbrook, ME 04092
blakemorem@westbrookschools.org
On Jan 6, 2010, at 8:25 AM, LM_NET automatic digest system wrote:
> Date: Wed, 6 Jan 2010 08:14:54 -0500
> From: Lindy Pals <lpals@JEFFCITYSCHOOLS.ORG>
> Subject: Hit: MIDDLE: Mature content collection
>
> Thanks to everyone for your feedback on having a "mature content" =
> section/designation in your middle school. Here are the responses I =
> received:
>
> At my high school I have a "restricted access" section for books
> with =
> "questionable" content. The books are shelved in my production room =
> behind a locked door. Students must have written consent from a
> parent =
> in order to check out books in this area. I did this in my former =
> middle school library at the suggestion of the principal and it
> worked =
> very well.
>
> I don't have parent permission, but I do have an 8th grade shelf.
> This =
> shelf is kept separate from regular circulation. The 8th graders
> are =
> told ahead of time what the books on that shelf might contain (sex, =
> drugs, violence, etc.). Students are told that if they will be
> offended, =
> or if their parents would rather them not read these books, don't
> check =
> them out. This is our 1st year for it and we haven't had any
> problems. =
> In fact, I can't keep the books on the shelves. Our 8th graders are =
> reading more.
> =A0
> I have this very situation in my middle school library. Several
> years =
> ago, we had a rash of parental complaints. My principal at the time
> was =
> ultra-conservative. His reaction was to ban every book with any word
> or =
> situation he deemed inappropriate. Because we had a reconsideration =
> policy already in place, he had to abide by the decision of the =
> reconsideration committee. To appease him (and at his demand,) we =
> started a restricted shelf. The shelf is in my office. The books on
> the =
> shelf cannot be checked out without parental permission. I keep the =
> permission letters in a notebook on the shelf with the books. On the =
> back of the permission letter, the student must fill in the title of
> the =
> book and date checked out each time they check out. Any student,
> sixth, =
> seventh or eighth grade, may ask for permission to read these
> books. I =
> will attach a copy of the letter to this email. It is not a perfect =
> system, but it seems to work for us. An interesting side note to
> this =
> story: we have not had ANY parental complaints since we began the =
> restricted shelf. =20
>
> I have a 6th-12th library.=A0 I do have an "Advanced" section (based
> on =
> subject matter, lexile level, etc.) where I mark spines with yellow =
> dots, but I don't restrict who checks out from that section.=A0 I
> always =
> tell students that if a book doesn't fit them, to return it and
> check =
> out a different one.=A0 Books are like clothes---one size does not
> fit =
> all! :)
>
> I don't have parent permission, but I do have an 8th grade shelf.
> This =
> shelf is kept separate from regular circulation. The 8th graders
> are =
> told ahead of time what the books on that shelf might contain (sex, =
> drugs, violence, etc.). Students are told that if they will be
> offended, =
> or if their parents would rather them not read these books, don't
> check =
> them out. This is our 1st year for it and we haven't had any
> problems. =
> In fact, I can't keep the books on the shelves. Our 8th graders are =
> reading more.
>
> Please do! There are so many awesome books out there great for 8th =
> graders but questionable for 6th. I hate for kids to miss out on
> these =
> reading experiences. Not sure about the parental consent thing
> though? =
> I'm afraid I personally have a 8th grader whose been far too
> educated by =
> books his mom has recommended! In my mind, better learned in a book
> that =
> discusses feelings and promotes discussion rather than being
> confused. =
> Right?
>
> I don't have experience with this, but I was just thinking...might
> it be =
> easier to collect opt-out slips rather than permission slips for
> this =
> more mature content in your media center?=A0 That seems to allow
> access =
> to all rather than denying access to all.=A0 Are you able to make a
> note =
> on patrons' accounts that they are/are not allowed to check out
> these =
> items?=A0 Destiny provides a patron note feature, but I'm not sure
> that =
> the notes show up each time a patron's record is accessed for
> checkout.
>
> Lindy Pals, Library Media Specialist
> Jefferson Middle School, Jefferson GA
> lpals@jeffcityschools.org=20
Megan Frazer Blakemore
Westbrook High School Librarian
125 Stroudwater Street
Westbrook, ME 04092
207-854-0810 x474
blakemorem@westbrookschools.org
I'm reading My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter.
What about you?
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