Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ustwo
Public Libraries are owned 'by the people' so to speak, which means you have to listen 'to the people'. If there are enough people that don't want such and such a book on the shelf, its a part of this wacky thing we call a republic. If you don't like that some books are banned, change the people who review them.
|
Challenges come from the outside, from patrons, or even frequently from people who are not patrons, private citizens, etc. not from the people who review and purchase books for the libraries, usually a lone voice or very vocal minority who are attempting to force their view of morality on everyone by preventing others from getting access to things they deem inappropriate.
If you don't like a book, don't check it out and don't read it. Nobody is forcing anyone to read anything they don't want to.
Quote:
|
Wake me when they start to ban books from private libraries. To me this is just about hype, in part to sell books, in part to 'shock' people.
|
The ALA doesn't sell books, they promote libraries.
Quote:
I was looking for a new book to read today and wandering around the bookstore I see a display.
It has a pre-printed sign (aka they were ready for this well in advance) that reads 'Banned Books' and on the table are the books from the above list.
Go, go corporate sponsored indignation!
|
They planned a promotion ahead of time to coincide with an ALA sponsored event. I'll bet you'll find displays of Christmas themed books around Christmas, Thanksgiving books around Thanksgiving, summer reading displays, in late spring, and so forth. Bookstores take advantage of banned books week to promote certain books, true. This doesn't make it a corporate sponsored event meant to sell books.
You're reversing cause and effect. Christmas doesn't exist because of stores having Christmas promotions. Easter doesn't exist to promote the sale of eggs, candy, and baskets. Independance Day doesn't exist to promote Baseball and barbeques. That bookstores use this, perhaps with the permission of the ALA, to promote their own interests doesn't mean that they're the driving force behind it.
Gilda