Restricting Minors' Library Access

These articles actually date back to earlier this year, but they tell a story that seems to be one of the more common intellectual freedom challenges American libraries face. In February, a Kansas public library board voted to restrict access to four books about sex in order to prevent minors from viewing them. A group called Kansans for Common Sense and a local pastor spoke in favor of the new restrictions, while other citizens and the library director argued vehemently against the proposal. In April, the board modified its opinion, possibly fearing lawsuits. The board voted to retain the four books on the shelves with the non-fiction health books but to post public service statements acknowledging sex-related materials in the collection.

Materials dealing with sex appear to be among the most frequently challenged items in libraries, and minors' access is often the key point of the argument. I agree completely with the library director that the initial decision was ludicrous and may have opened the library up to potential lawsuits. Besides the obvious issue of violating patrons' intellectual freedom rights, this story exemplifies the concept of fruitless endeavors on the part of the pro-restrictions group. The library director indicated that there are more than 600 books dealing with sex, but these restrictions only accounted for 4! I certainly would not want the group to advocate the restriction or removal of all of these books, and it would seem completely impractical. However, if their mission is to "protect" minors, I do not think that these four titles are the only books that they would find objectionable.

Whatever their motivations, I am pleased that the board members revisited this issue. Libraries should allow patrons and parents to make their own individual decisions regarding materials rather than forcing their entire patron base to encounter difficulty accessing certain materials. This story also highlights the importance of public library boards and the need for responsible, informed people to hold those seats.

Link to original article from February: http://cjonline.com/stories/022009/loc_395979087.shtml

Link to follow-up article from April: http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6652322.html

Good News for Blind and Low-Vision Patrons

Since my discussion topic this week was access, I decided to look for a news story that would relate to that theme from a different aspect. After decades of stagnation, the National Library Service, which provides library materials for blind and low-vision patrons, has finally updated. Apparently, the NLS has used cassette tapes and players to provide audio versions of books since the 1970s, when the service last upgraded from records! I have seen the clunky old cassette players and tapes come through the public library where I work, and they seem terribly outdated. Luckily, the NLS will begin transitioning to flash drives and digital media players this summer. At a cost of $75 million to cover the nation, the changeover will take a projected six years to complete. Even more impressive, the new digital machines cost $100 less than the old cassette players, and the flash drives will be able to store more books.

Due to the nature of access inequity, much of the reading and discussion tended to focus on the negative. Therefore, I was relieved to find an article that offered some happier news. Blind and low-vision patrons deserve access to library materials, but they can be a neglected patron group, and fulfilling their needs can be challenging. Clearly, it was way past time for the NLS to update their materials method. At a time when so much funding is cut, I was pleased to see that an under-served patron group will be receiving a positive upgrade. During a summer vacation, I once worked for a company that produced quick turnaround Braille materials, so I understand the difficulty and expense involved in satisfying the ADA requirements. Still, that does not excuse the lack of progress made over the last thirty to forty years. The NLS has not updated since well before I was even born. Even though that may be typical of government programs, I was still surprised, especially since this transition may ultimately save money. Despite the bad history, this news story is a positive, as technological progress finally reaches the NLS. It will likely be several years before many patrons experience the new technology, as military veterans get first priority. I am looking forward to seeing the new digital players and flash drives someday, and hopefully, the NLS will successfully communicate this good news to their patrons.

Link to news story with a neat video showing the new digital machines: http://hamptonroads.com/2009/06/bayside-library-disabled-gets-needed-upgrade

Latest Chapter in West Bend Saga

For the last several weeks, the West Bend Community Memorial Library in Wisconsin has generated headlines regarding young adult book reconsideration requests. Two community residents requested that YA books involving sexual situations or homosexuality be removed, relocated, or restricted from the rest of the YA collection. The drama has enveloped the library board, city council, and numerous citizens. Finally, this past Tuesday, the library board unanimously voted against any restrictions on the current YA collection. Naturally, the complainants remain dissatisfied with this decision, threatening to spread the word that the library is an unsafe place.

Unfortunately, West Bend faces yet another obstacle to intellectual freedom: a lawsuit over the book, Baby Be-Bop. Brought forth by the Christian Civil Liberties Union, the complainants wish to burn the library copy, seek the mayor's resignation, and request $120,000 in compensation for psychological damages suffered for having seen the library book! The same city encountering these two challenges within months is unfortunate and ridiculous. In the first situation, the citizens had every right to request reconsideration of materials, but the case seemed to avalanche out of proportion. Thankfully, the library board made the correct ruling, declining to violate intellectual freedom principles in favor of certain individuals' extreme definitions of "safety."

However, this second situation epitomizes the phenomenon of absurd American lawsuits. I do not imagine West Bend will lose the lawsuit, but the city will have to pay legal costs and deal with the issue. Intellectual freedom would be in danger if this lawsuit's basis gains actual legal approval. The very idea of such library book-induced emotional damages galls me, and I hope the case will be dismissed quickly. I am glad that I do not work for West Bend, but these cases demonstrate the potential challenges to intellectual freedom that all librarians might face someday.

Link to Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article about the board's YA vote:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/ozwash/46772872.html

Link to ALA article about the lawsuit:
http://www.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2009/june2009/westbendbabybebop060309.cfm