Here is a very brief podcast from First Amendment Minute called "Banning Books" that describes censorship in action. I found this podcast through a Google search for "podcast index" which lead me to a page called "Podcast Alley" where I did a subject search for "censorship." I chose this podcast to show a real example of censorship at libraries as well as to share one side's opinion about censorship.
First Amendment Minute podcast: "Banning Books"
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Censorship: no one can agree
Through a Google search I discovered a blog called Censorship-Free Libraries, a site "dedicated to free speech and equal access in public libraries." Here is a passage from the blog which explains why censorship is such a troublesome issue for public libraries:
"One of the things that causes confusion in debates about library censorship is that there is no nationwide standard for defining what is illegally obscene, let alone who can or cannot distribute, display, or receive such materials. When it comes to obscenity and public libraries, it is quite possible, even common, that a specific item that is illegal in one jurisdiction is perfectly legal in another."
The blogger goes on to note that the only exception to this is child pornography, which is illegal everywhere under Federal law. Yet other subjects found offensive by many people - violence, drug use, sexual content - must be regulated by each individual library, which is then responsible to enforce and defend its censorship policies. This often puts library staff in a tough position as they feel the need to both adhere to censorship policies as well as placate the patrons whose tax dollars keep the library afloat.
"One of the things that causes confusion in debates about library censorship is that there is no nationwide standard for defining what is illegally obscene, let alone who can or cannot distribute, display, or receive such materials. When it comes to obscenity and public libraries, it is quite possible, even common, that a specific item that is illegal in one jurisdiction is perfectly legal in another."
The blogger goes on to note that the only exception to this is child pornography, which is illegal everywhere under Federal law. Yet other subjects found offensive by many people - violence, drug use, sexual content - must be regulated by each individual library, which is then responsible to enforce and defend its censorship policies. This often puts library staff in a tough position as they feel the need to both adhere to censorship policies as well as placate the patrons whose tax dollars keep the library afloat.
To censor or not to censor...
The purpose of this blog is to satisfy a requirement for a master's level graduate class on information organization and retrieval. This blog will give me space in which to explore technologies associated with information, information systems, information storage and information retrieval.
The topic of this blog is censorship and its place in libraries. Should libraries act as censors? Who (if anyone) should decide censorship guidelines? Who (if anyone) should enforce them, and how? These are questions I hope to explore throughout the semester. I am primarily interested in censorship issues in public libraries, although I hope to explore censorship issues dealt with in school libraries as well.
The topic of this blog is censorship and its place in libraries. Should libraries act as censors? Who (if anyone) should decide censorship guidelines? Who (if anyone) should enforce them, and how? These are questions I hope to explore throughout the semester. I am primarily interested in censorship issues in public libraries, although I hope to explore censorship issues dealt with in school libraries as well.
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