I never thought I'd see the day when a public library would actually pull a book from its shelves to prevent patrons from checking it out, but that day has come. It seems Fifty Shades of Grey is just too steamy to be kept in some libraries located in Florida, Wisconsin and Georgia - and I must say I'm outraged. Since when is it okay for a public library to determine what I should and should not be reading?
Let me say that I can fully understand those public libraries who do not intend to order it. Public libraries have budgets and need to stay within that budget, so to skip ordering one book in favor of another book is common practice, and chances are that any book a patron wants to check out that is not owned by one library, can be sent to the library of the patron's choice from another library that owns it via inter-library loan. Public libraries do this every day, all across the country. But when a book such as Fifty Shades of Grey has already been purchased for patrons and is then pulled from public library shelves, well...the only word for that is "censorship," and that word doesn't sit well with me.
The reasons for pulling the book from the shelves are as shallow as they are pedantic.
Don Walker, who is a spokesman for Brevard County, Florida, and where the library put 19 copies of the book on the shelves, only to turn around and take them down after reading reviews about the book, said the novel was "semi-pornographic." At least 200 notices were then sent to patrons who had put the book on reserve.
I believe the bigger question now is what becomes of those 19 books that have already been ordered? Talk about a waste of taxpayer money.
Despite hundreds of requests from patrons, libraries in at least four Florida counties will not be purchasing the book, citing a limited budget or poor book reviews. As I said before, the budget limits I can understand, but when a book is intensely popular and patrons are lining up at the door to get a copy, citing poor book reviews shouldn't come in to play. As a former librarian and current patron at my own local library, I've read hundreds of books, and I can say without a doubt that just because a book may get poor reviews doesn't mean I (and other patrons alike) wont enjoy it - just as if a book were to receive stellar reviews, I still may end up thinking it would make nothing more than great kindling in the winter.
In Gwinnett County, Georgia, which is located in the northeast area of Atlanta, all 15 library branches will not carry the book. Said Deborah Gage, the county library director of materials management:
"We do not collect erotica at Gwinnett County Public Library. That's part of our materials management collection policy. So, E L James' three books in the trilogy fit that description."
A quick check of the catalog within my own public library gives me quite a few books which are classified as "erotica," or "erotic fiction," including The Story of O, and Nine and 1/2 Weeks - which, like Fifty Shades of Grey, center around women who become embroiled in relationships shrouded by dominance and submission.
Paul Bogaards, who is a spokesman for Random House, said Brevard County is engaging in censorship by taking the book off the shelves - and I agree.
What about you?
Source: Fifty Shades Too Steamy for Some Library Shelves