The Censor: Motives and Tactics

Ameican Library Association ^ | Ameican Library Association

[pjsbro]

In most cases, the one to bring a complaint to the library is a concerned parent or a citizen sincerely interested in the future wellbeing of the community.

Although complainants may not have a broad knowledge of literature or of the principles of freedom of expression, their motives in questioning a book or other library material are seldom unusual. Any number of reasons are given for recommending that certain material be removed from the library.

Complainants may believe that the materials will corrupt children and adolescents, offend the sensitive or unwary reader, or undermine basic values and beliefs. Sometimes, for these reasons, they may argue that the materials are of no interest or value to the community.

Although an attempt to stereotype the censor would be unfair, one generalization can be made: regardless of specific motives, all would-be censors share one belief-that they can recognize "evil" and that other people must be protected from it.

Censors do not necessarily believe their own morals should be protected, but they do feel compelled to save their fellows.

[pjsbro]

Straight from the ALA...[Emphasis added]

[PeteB570]

The Local Library censors books itself, just by the way they purchase books to put on the self.

Any low selling book by a liberal can be found but some of the best sellers by Conservatives are nowhere to be found.

[eccentric]

I confess. I once tried to “censor” a book. It was Planned Parenthood’s Guide to Abortion for teenagers. It was copyright 1972 and in the 1990’s was in the library of a school for 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students. The librarian claimed the book was there for students to research information about abortion. I suggested that they get a more current book that was specifically FOR research.

[Nextrush]

The ALA is fanatically committed to allowing anything in a library including porn.

How that shakes out with anti-porn law enforcement means legal conflict.

The ALA is far left and likes to talk about “censorship” but ignores how libraries and librarians censor out conservative materials from their facilities.

[LRS]

Hmm. And what of the degenate, ALA? You know; the person who feels their lack of moral standards shoud be projected upon every one. Must you be an enabler at tax payer expense?

[Liberty Valance]

[wintertime]

The ALA is far left and likes to talk about “censorship” but ignores how libraries and librarians censor out conservative materials from their facilities.
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The library where I last lived, if a patron gave a gift of a conservative book to the library, the librarian staff would simply say they were too busy to catalog and shelve it.