Hi. I'm Dan Kleinman from SafeLibraries.org. Would you mind if I asked you some questions?
First, let me tell you that I am aware of various library controversies regarding one of your books, namely, "The Joy of Gay Sex." I have read the email you wrote to Paul Cohen of Helena, MT, dated 23 Sept 2008. I have written on this matter myself, including republishing your email in the comments (since it was already published), and I included my own back and forth with Paul Cohen, with his permission. You can see that all here: "Lewis and Clark's Gay Adventure; Helena, MT, and the Homosexuality Red Herring," by Dan Kleinman, SafeLibraries.org, 21 Sept. 2008.
My questions for you are these, and all of these are seeking your opinion:
- What is your recommended minimum age for a reader of "The Joy of Gay Sex"?
- Would it be appropriate for a public library to restrict access to your book to those who fall below that minimum age?
- How best do you think access should be restricted?
- To your knowledge, how have various libraries restricted access to your book and for what reasons?
- Do you believe a community may decide for itself at what age a book is inappropriate for children in that community's public library?
- If not, who should make that decision and why?
- Do you believe a community may decide for itself the method of restricting access to material for those under a certain age?
- If not, who should make that decision and why?
- I personally feel the issue of homosexuality is irrelevant to the matter of what material may be inappropriate for children vis-a-vis public libraries. Do you feel similarly? Why or why not?
- The US Supreme Court said, "The interest in protecting young library users from material inappropriate for minors is legitimate, and even compelling, as all Members of the Court appear to agree," while the defendant and losing party in that case, United States v. American Library Association, said despite that, policy will remain unchanged, children must be about to access any and all material without any age restriction whatsoever. Do you believe "protecting young library users from material inappropriate for minors is legitimate, and even compelling"?
- If not, why not?
- Is there anything else you would like to add?
May I publish your responses? Perhaps co-author Dr. Silverstein would care to answer these questions as well?
I thank you very much for your time and attention.
Lazy parenting combined with unrestricted television and internet access (media as babysitter) is far more damaging than a sex ed book in the public library.
ReplyDeleteThe vast, overwhelming majority of child sexual abuse is perpetrated by relatives and family friends of the victims, not strangers in libraries.
Put your energy where it might actually do some good!
Anonymous, I'll agree with you to a certain extent.
ReplyDeleteBut I hear the "it's worse elsewhere--look there first" excuse quite a lot. It's like saying 5,000,000 people a year are dying from malaria and only 10,000 people a year are dying from some orphan disease so let's not even spend any money trying to eradicate the orphan disease.
Yes, I realize the occurrence of the crimes I am exposing is not huge, but that does not mean I should remain silent just because it's worse elsewhere. There's even an ad on TV now for a pharmaceutical company developing drugs for orphan diseases. Should they "Put [their] energy where it might actually do some good"?
I have received a response from Felice Picano. I am now seeing if I have his permission to publish it.
ReplyDeleteI have now received permission to publish Felice Picano's response. I will do so now.
ReplyDeleteIn the next comment I will publish a comment by the de facto leader of the ALA that is substantially similar. Felice Picano has every right to say and believe as he wishes that anything goes, but does the ALA have the right to enforce that same anything goes policy on public libraries and children nationwide?
Now here is his response, and I think it is very interesting and illuminating. Thank you, Mr. Picano, for responding and allowing me to publish this:
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October 13, 2008
Dear Dan Kleinman,
Although Paul Cohen has stated that my literary career is a figment of my imagination, the truth is, that is how I earn my living. So my comments will have to brief.
Mr. Cohen makes it clear in this and another mail that his evangelical Christianity guides his life, speech, and his ... thinking. Religion has its place in our libraries. I believe the
call numbers for it are 100-125. And that’s it. Historically, religions (with the seeming exception of Buddhism) have attempted to hoard and declare all knowledge their own realm alone: as a way of holding power over other people. The idea of a free library with free books for anyone, of course, contradicts this tenet at its very heart. Whenever anyone declares their religion as a way of closing down, censoring, or limiting reading, they are making a bald power grab -- period.
For me, and historically, libraries have been among the safest places I can think of. This may have changed more recently because new rules make library staff are unable to ask people to leave who they believe are trouble. It may also explain why I see so many young people spread out in the back aisles of oversized bookstores like Daltons and Borders. I’ve always felt safe in libraries.
I haven’t, however, always felt understood in libraries, and this speaks to all your other questions. As a young person of 10-11 years old, I was interested in Ancient Egyptian Theology, Advanced Geology, Astrophysics and Cosmology, and France in the 19th Century. My own librarian refused to let me read or take out books on these subjects because they were “adult.” She offered me Old Yeller and Jungle Tales. I was halfway through Balzac’s Comedie Humaine, and was of course highly insulted. I had to take two busses weekly to the main county library where I found someone who recognized the person I mentally was.
I would not want any person of any age to be treated like that. If someone asks for a book about sex and is not ready, they’ll giggle or be grossed out. No loss, When they’re ready, they‘ll find out what they need to know. The Joy of Gay Sex has been in print for decades and I’m always intrigued to hear how gay boarding school and college students were asked to pass it around their dormitories and circles, to people who were gay, straight, male, female, because after all those people were interested in the subject too.
The instinct and need for people of all ages to be educated is what librarians face every day. Their need to make instant assessments and treat people with dignity is an absolute requirement. They are unsung heroes. Let them do their job.
Felice Picano
Now here is a substantially similar statement by Judith Krug, the de facto leader of the ALA. She too says children should decide for themselves whether material is appropriate or not, whereas common sense and the law says adults make those decisions. That's fine for Felice Picano to believe that, and for Judith Krug as well, but it is not fine when she effectively forces that same admitted "belief" into local libraries nationwide:
ReplyDelete"[S]chools are where children learn. Schools are where children have an opportunity to expand their minds, to look at things that they might not have any interest in until they're sitting in a classroom. It's so important to let them explore what's out there in the safe environment of the schools. If they have an issue or concern, they can talk to the teacher. It's absolutely vital to just turn kids loose in the library. Let the children try it. If they don't understand it, they're going to put it down, and what harm has been done? My belief is that if they do understand it, they're ready for it, and they should be reading it. Now, I know all parents don't agree with me, and that's all okay. But that's what I believe."
Source: "Marking 25 Years of Banned Books Week," by Judith Krug, Curriculum Review, 46:1, Sep. 2006.
Look again at the Felice Picano response. Is that not substantially similar to Judith Krug's? Look carefully--there are numerous striking similarities.
Isn't the ALA's own policy a mirror image of Judith Krug's "belief" that children should have access to anything, no matter how inappropriate, so the children can decide for themselves if it's inappropriate?
Isn't the ALA's own policy a mirror image of Felice Picano's "giggle" test that children should have access to anything, no matter how inappropriate, so the children can decide for themselves if it's inappropriate?
Is it fair to ask then, should the policy of the author of "The Joy of Gay Sex" that anything goes be forced by the ALA into local libraries nationwide?
Is this not especially significant where community efforts to legally protect children from inappropriate material are actively opposed by the ALA, such as in Howell, MI, where the ALA, Judith Krug herself, called parents racist when they tried to keep school children from a book containing bestiality, among other such things?
Is this not especially significant where community efforts to legally protect children from inappropriate material are passively opposed by the ALA, such as by the use of the "shameless propaganda" called Banned Books Week, which is the sole creation of Judith Krug on behalf of the ALA?
This blog post has made the news: "Felice Picano On Libraries, Censorship and Librarians," by Blake, LISNews, 16 October 2008.
ReplyDeleteThanks to Safe Libraries for publishing Felice Picano's response!
ReplyDeleteI had a similar experience to the one he relates in my childhood public library. Although, at that age, I was not halfway through anything by Balzac. If I had been allowed to venture into the "adult" section, however, I might have at least gotten a start.
A mind is a terrible thing to waste. We need FREE libraries, not "safe" libraries!
Thanks for commenting, reACTIONary.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, see "City Touts Safe Libraries." It's about the "Safe Libraries" police intitiative in Albuquerque, NM, and featuring McGruff, the Crime Dog.
Clearly 'The Joy of Gay Sex' should be available to any adult or child interested in checking it out.
ReplyDeleteOkay, Coyote, but tell everyone why. And thank you for commenting.
ReplyDelete