I wrote a while back about the introduction to this book. Having finally finished reading it, I think it would interest many librarians with its variety of challenges and stories. The number one recommendation by the different writers is to have a collection development policy as well as a materials reconsideration policy in place before a challenge or situation occurs. Besides the usual challenges by parents and school boards, the essays ranged from self-censorship by a member of a circ staff in one library (who was later fired), to the question of digitizing a historic magazine with maps and detailed information about Native American archaeological sites, that could potentially place those sites at risk and violate state law. There was even a story about a Cuban American school board member who protested the book Vamos a Cuba, due to the fact that it contained misinformation about life in Cuba under Castro, to which he could well attest, having been a former political prisoner.
I found the discussion questions at the end of the book to be quite relevant. For example, the question “How should a library determine where to place a book… if a book belongs in the adult or children’s section…? I struggle with this often when tween materials are involved. Do I catalogue it YA/Teen or Juv/children’s? Just recently, I had a Blauvelt patron question the title Luv Ya Bunches, a title about 5th graders we had in children’s. His fifth grade daughter read it recently, and asked him questions that concerned him enough to read it himself. The book mentions a character’s aunt who is a “pole dancer”, and uses words like “slut” and “penith”(she has a lisp!), which the patron felt didn’t belong behind the innocuous cover with daisies on it. After reading the book and doing some research, I decided to move it to YA ( others did have it catalogued there as well.) The review journals recommendations ranged from grades 3 to 8! But after reading another question from True Stories, “…does changing the location of an item allow for more or less use?”, I’m thinking that if it doesn’t circ in Teen, I may need to revise my decision.
At any rate, I would highly recommend this title.