Posted on 01/21/2004 2:54:36 PM PST by Tribune7
One man's concern grew into a class action, Jan. 13, as more than 75 Marple residents gathered at St. Pius X Church to air their concerns regarding the collection of sexual instruction manuals in the Marple Public Library (MPL).
The meeting served as an information session and Q&A forum. Speakers outlined the basic issue and possible courses of action to remove from the shelves what some consider to be pornographic materials, followed by an opportunity to clarify remaining points.
The books in question were discovered last month by Glen Mills resident Jack Whoriskey, a frequent MPL patron. Asked by his wife to find a title on the Atkins diet, he discovered it in the "new book" section adjacent to several recently purchased volumes on sexual instruction. Whoriskey checked out The Ultimate Guide to Fellatio: How to Go Down on a Man and Give Him Mind-Blowing Pleasure by Violet Blue, then returned the next day for the remaining titles.
(Excerpt) Read more at countypressonline.com ...
By Leslie Krowchenko 01/20/2004
One man's concern grew into a class action, Jan. 13, as more than 75 Marple residents gathered at St. Pius X Church to air their concerns regarding the collection of sexual instruction manuals in the Marple Public Library (MPL).
The meeting served as an information session and Q&A forum. Speakers outlined the basic issue and possible courses of action to remove from the shelves what some consider to be pornographic materials, followed by an opportunity to clarify remaining points.
The books in question were discovered last month by Glen Mills resident Jack Whoriskey, a frequent MPL patron. Asked by his wife to find a title on the Atkins diet, he discovered it in the "new book" section adjacent to several recently purchased volumes on sexual instruction. Whoriskey checked out The Ultimate Guide to Fellatio: How to Go Down on a Man and Give Him Mind-Blowing Pleasure by Violet Blue, then returned the next day for the remaining titles. He subsequently brought the books to the attention of the commissioners, local clergy, organizations, State Senator Ted Erickson and State Rep. Tom Killion. "We are grateful to Jack for bringing the issue to the surface," said Kathy Coll, founder and president of Pro-Life Coalition, who led the meeting. "I just began today calling him 'Paul Revere.'" With the exception of one book available at the Springfield Library (The Joy of Gay Sex, by Charles Silverstein), Whoriskey said he was unable to find the volumes at any other public library in Delaware or Chester counties. He did locate a copy of The Joy of Sex at the Tredyffrin Township Library, which houses the title in the director's office.
"They told me they would not keep it on the shelves, but in Marple you are proud of it," he added. "The Marple Library is the porn capital of Delaware and Chester counties."
A check of the online catalogues for both county libraries revealed Talk About Sex: The Battles Over Sex Education in the United States, by Janice Irvine, which Whoriskey checked out, is on the shelves of the Ridley Township and Chester County libraries.
MPL, with more than 80,000 books and additional items in its adult and juvenile collections, serves as the public library for the township, an area resource center (ARC) for the Delaware County Library System and a participant in the ACCESS Pennsylvania program. The collection development policy, revised in 1999, states materials are selected by various criteria, such as purpose, subject matter, audience, timeliness and credibility of the author and/or publisher. Works are not excluded due to "frankness of expression, race, nationality, political, sexual orientation or religious views of the author."
Patrons who feel strongly about the inclusion or exclusion of certain materials may complete a "Citizen's Request Form for Re-Evaluation of Library Materials." The inquiry asks several questions, such as whether the material has been read in its entirety, the objections, and recommended action. The form is reviewed by the library board, composed of seven township residents, and responded to by the library director within 30 days.
Whoriskey was given a copy of the form by MPL Director Deborah Parsons and invited to the December library board meeting, but he has chosen not to complete the inquiry and was unable to attend the session.
Attorney Tom Paschos, a township resident, noted the overriding concern is not one of censorship, but protection of minors from pornography. Citing the United States Supreme Court decision regarding pornography and subsequent cases about the need for Internet filters, he added the books could probably be limited from the library.
"The challenge is the policies and procedures of the Marple Library," he said. "How the books got there is the issue, not some form to complete."
His comments were echoed by Sue Brinkmann, a correspondent for the Catholic Standard & Times who recently wrote a seven-part series on the effects of the Kinsey report and pornography on the family structure. She expressed similar concerns about Internet access and cited book challenges in communities in New Jersey and New York.
Mrs. Coll listed several ways in which the perceived problem could be addressed. She urged those in attendance to pray for families and communities and encouraged signing a petition citing alarm about the pornographic materials and Internet access in the library. Numerous copies of the petition were taken to secure additional signatures and the group tentatively plans to present the documents at the Feb. 9 commissioners meeting.
Should the issue not be resolved to the group's satisfaction, Mrs. Coll also suggested the possibility of withholding donations to the library or organizing a peaceful public protest. "I'm not looking to be the point person, as I do not live in the township," said Mrs. Coll, a resident of Havertown. "We are hoping someone else will spearhead the campaign."
How about just not buy the book with other people's money?
The library should at least keep these books out of the way of anyone under 18 due to their subject matter...but what if someone over the age of 18 actually wants to know what is in Violet Blue's book?
Well, coud they go to a, uhm, bookstore?
It is their function to pick and chose what books to buy with other people's money. Most books in the Library of Congress are not in the typical public library.
Just curious but where do you draw the line? Necrophilia? Bestiality? The Abercombie and Fitch catalog?
Modern libertarians have now evolved into demanding public subsidies for porn. :-)
Don't forget the New Testament. Whole lotta begatin' goin on in that book.
Marple has a strong "soccer mom" contingent which means Oprah sets the community standards for them, so I have no idea how this will shake out.
Regardless, it's a sign of decline.
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