tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post8628921513372556024..comments2024-03-29T03:37:19.590-04:00Comments on SafeLibraries®: Brave Librarian Ignores False Censorship Charges to Keep Fifty Shades of Grey Out of Harford County Public LibrarySafeLibraries®http://www.blogger.com/profile/06756725065032196698noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-39989729015849377332012-06-28T15:48:34.248-04:002012-06-28T15:48:34.248-04:00;);)SafeLibraries®https://www.blogger.com/profile/06756725065032196698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-43832371496348677792012-06-28T15:44:31.317-04:002012-06-28T15:44:31.317-04:00You're hilarious. The answer to your post is: ...You're hilarious. The answer to your post is: Two wrongs don't make a right. And you're numb enough to consider this book banned. It's not banned, just not selected by the library because they have a policy NOT to carry porn, the same policy that prevent them from carrying Big Butt Sluts 2 DVD, despite porn enthusiasts might be coming into the library and protest: <br />"Wahhhh you have no right to ban porn, what ever happened to freedom of press, wahhh!!!" <br />In the book there was a scene where the guy busts a nut into the girl's mouth and she even described how it tasted, tell me how is that not porn?<br />You're argument sucks and if you select your thoughts before expressing them the way libraries select their books, you wouldn't have to look so stupid.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-66214320536873887242012-06-13T00:22:11.751-04:002012-06-13T00:22:11.751-04:00Heather, thank you for commenting here. Here is t...Heather, thank you for commenting here. Here is the information you seek, and know that the relevant distribution list goes to thousands. Guessing, I think about 6,000 from years ago when I looked. <br /><br />I just went to the list again to look up the number of addressees. At this date and time, the number is Subscribers: 681. I'll have to say it appears either the list has shrunken or my memory was faulty. I'll bet it's the latter. In any case, it's an honest mistake and does not substantially change much. The email was still sent to hundreds of people interested in such matters, and if I recall correctly (now in doubt) the ALA did not send around the library director's comments for balance. Now here is the exact email, cut and pasted, and not from my memory:<br /><br /><br />On Thu, Jun 7, 2012 at 12:46 PM, Deborah Caldwell-Stone wrote:<br /><br />from: Deborah Caldwell-Stone dstone@ala.org<br />to: ifaction@ala.org<br />date: Thu, Jun 7, 2012 at 12:46 PM<br />subject: [ifaction] Censoring books isn't part of a librarian's job description<br />mailing list: <br /><br />Censoring books isn't part of a librarian's job description<br />Letter to the Editor<br />Anne A. Baker<br />Baltimore Sun<br />June 7, 2012<br /> <br />As an educator, certified Maryland public librarian and member of the Harford County community, I am disappointed and embarrassed by the Harford County Public Library's decision to censor the "50 Shades of Grey" series by E. L. James ("Too hot for Harford, librarian concludes," May 31).<br /> <br />County library director Mary Hastler has denied censoring the book. However, by the American Library Association's own definition, censorship is "the suppression of ideas and information that certain persons — individuals, groups or government officials — find objectionable or dangerous. … The censor wants to prejudge materials for everyone."<br /> <br />I understand selection policy. But Ms. Hastler also states that "a lot of the reviews that came out very publicly and quickly identified these books as 'mommy porn.' Since our policy is that we don't buy porn, we made the decision not to purchase the series."<br /> <br />This is a clear admission that she decided to censor these books because of their sexual content, an act that is both unprofessional and unethical.<br /> <br />Full letter:<br />http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/readersrespond/bs-ed-0605-harford-censorship-20120607,0,1919836.storySafeLibraries®https://www.blogger.com/profile/06756725065032196698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-90994953873584340782012-06-12T23:57:33.001-04:002012-06-12T23:57:33.001-04:00Could you please provide the basis/source of your ...Could you please provide the basis/source of your statement, "an example the ALA sent around to thousands." (re: "Censoring Books Isn't Part of a Librarian's Job Description," by Anna A. Baker, The Baltimore Sun, 7 June 2012, if I am understanding you correctly)? Thanks, as always!Heather J Hopkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16007307067896450500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-31537109963184799422012-06-11T15:05:50.456-04:002012-06-11T15:05:50.456-04:00Thanks for writing, Anonymous. This will answer y...Thanks for writing, Anonymous. This will answer your concern:<br />"<a href="http://blog.libraryjournal.com/annoyedlibrarian/2012/06/11/fifty-shades-of-illogical/" rel="nofollow">Fifty Shades of Illogical</a>," by <b>Annoyed Librarian</b>, <i>Library Journal</i>, 11 June 2012.SafeLibraries®https://www.blogger.com/profile/06756725065032196698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5060593324936581367.post-42908032765473614462012-06-08T17:25:01.078-04:002012-06-08T17:25:01.078-04:00If they have read half of the books they purchase ...If they have read half of the books they purchase before hand we would have any at all. I have read a lot of sexual books in the Harford County Library. Why would you ban these books and not the thousand books on your selves now? Is it b\c the head people of the library decided to read of the books before putting it into circulation and come to find out that is written porn? Really? Have you seen some of the movies on your selves\ books that are currently in circulation. You have no right to ban these books, and what ever happened to freedom of press.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com