On Wed, Sep 21, 2011 at 6:31 AM, Jussi-Ville Heiskanen <cimonav...@gmail.com> wrote: > On Thu, Aug 25, 2011 at 10:10 PM, phoebe ayers <phoebe.w...@gmail.com> wrote:> >> >> This seems like an over-hasty statement. There are many possible >> categorization schemes that are neutral; the ALA in fact makes that >> distinction itself, since libraries (obviously) use all kinds of labeling >> and categorization schemes all the time. The ALA and other library >> organizations have taken a stand against censorious and non-neutral >> labeling, not all labeling. If you keep reading the ALA page you linked, it >> says that the kind of labels that are not appropriate are when "the >> prejudicial label is used to warn, discourage or prohibit users or certain >> groups of users from accessing the material" -- e.g. a label that reads "not >> appropriate for children". That does not mean that picture books for kids, >> or mystery novels, or large-print books, aren't labeled as such in every >> public library in the country -- and that is the difference between >> informative and prejudicial labeling. > > Would I be incorrect in pointing out that American public librarys routinely > exclude world famous childrens book author Astrid Lindgrens childrens > books, because to puritanical minds a man who can elevate himself > with a propeller beany, and look into childs rooms thereby, smacks too > much of pedophilia? >
Uh... yes, you would be incorrect? I certainly checked out Astrid Lindgren books from the public library when I was a kid. I have never heard of them getting challenged in the US. Citation needed? The ALA maintains a list of books that do get routinely challenged in US libraries here: http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/index.cfm. Note, this just means someone *asked* for the book to be removed from the public or school library, not that it actually was; libraries generally stand up to such requests. Also note that challenges are typically asking for the book to be removed from the library altogether -- restricting access to it for everyone in the community -- as opposed to simply not looking at it yourself or allowing your own kids to check it out. It's the 'removal for everyone' part that is the problem; the issue here is freedom of choice: people should have the right to read, or not read, a particular book as they see fit. -- phoebe _______________________________________________ foundation-l mailing list foundation-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/foundation-l
