Freedom to read what we want

Times Reporter     

 

As Canadians we sometimes may take for granted some of the rights and freedoms we have. One of those rights is the freedom to choose, and read, what we want to read. 

“That should never be taken for granted. There are a lot of countries where their government still dictates what libraries have on their shelves and what schools can have on their shelves,” said Assistant Director of Library Services Carmen Erison. 

“As Canadians we have the freedom to read what we want and as libraries we uphold those freedoms.” 

Every year the Strathmore Municipal Library creates a grand display to showcase Freedom to Read Week, which is Feb. 23 to March 1 this year. 

“Schools and libraries are regularly asked to remove books and magazines from their shelves. We’re very fortunate here in Strathmore, we’ve never had any challenges that I know of, not in the four years I have been here,” said Erison.

“The biggest thing is for people to understand that it affects their right to decide what they choose to read. When somebody is making those challenges, making those decisions that you have inappropriate materials on your shelf and they’re asking you to remove them, they’re in turn making that choice for you and choosing to deny you that right to read that material.”

The mandate at the library is to provide information on all topics, providing they don’t fall under three headings; they must not promote hatred, they must not contain illegal images and they must not promote sedition. 

And Tango Makes Three is a children’s book published in 2005. The book is based on the true story of two male penguins, Roy and Silo, at the New York Zoo who raised a chick. 

“It’s a very lovely story, and we have it here at the library, but it often shows up on these lists in the top 10 because people feel it is inappropriate because it depicts two male penguins,” said Erison. 

She said that is unfortunate because it is a very loving, and heartwarming story that teaches acceptance of everyone. 

New to the list, placing fourth in 2012, is 50 Shades of Grey. 

“I think the reason that it hit was because it was highly publicized. There are numerous books in the library’s collection, and in all libraries, that have this type of content in it, but I think because it became such a highly publicized book people were openly more offended with it,” said Erison. 

“I think people wanted to rally against it. It’s either you loved it or you hated it, so I wasn’t really too surprised when I saw it made the list.”

Erison said The Kite Runner, a New York Times bestseller for over two years, has continuously been challenged because of homosexuality, offensive language, religious view points, and sexually explicit themes and it was a fantastic book.

“Just because a book makes these lists doesn’t mean it’s removed from a shelf, it means that it was actively challenged,” said Erison. 

There is a policy in place at the library that people are welcome to challenge a book that they have on their shelves. There is a form to fill out. One of the questions is ‘did you read it?’ sometimes people want to censor a book without reading it

Those challenges, if they received one, would be examined by the director and then brought to the board for a decision.

Many of the books that are challenged in schools or library’s are rarely pulled off the shelves, but each challenge is taken very seriously said Erison.

The 2013 list of challenged books will be released later this year.