Within two days, more than 100 librarians replied to either me or the SYSTEMS list. Some librarians replied with a quick, “the book is very popular in my library,” while others expressed fascination, surprise, and concern that the Guinness World Records book was being challenged. A few commented on the “distractions” that the book sometimes creates in the library, and some admitted that they no longer purchase the book. The question has impassioned a great many media specialists in Nebraska to speak to the issue of intellectual freedom. Due to the limitations of the Systems list and because most replies were sent directly to me, participants have missed a bulk of the discussion. Let’s continue the discussion here.“Media Specialists: Has any school library in the state of Nebraska ever had a request to remove the Guinness World Records from an elementary school library? In my experience, Guinness World Record books are very popular among young people. Please contact me with any information you may have regarding use of this title in your school library, or complaints that you may have experienced. This information will be very helpful to one of our Nebraska school libraries. Thank you.”
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We have been purchasing the book in the past but I limit the number of copies. Our library aide looks through it before we add it to the collection and removes any pages our patrons might be offended by. It had not occured to me to look for alternatives, so I appreciate the recommendation from Battle Creek suggesting the purchase of the Scholastic Book of Records and the World Almanac Book of Records. I plan to add them next year.
The Guinness Book of World Records is one of the most popular books in our Middle School Library. It is never in . . . when it comes back, it goes right back out again. I seldom, if ever, get it back on the shelf.
Our only concern in the elementary was page 74 which had a picture of a woman with enhanced breast and also talked about a record for a penis. We removed this page and let the students check it out because it is popular.
Betty Armstrong
Ogallala Elementary Schools
Betty Armstrong mentioned page 74 that she has removed but what book(there are different ones in the series) and what year??? I never new that there was any problem with this book, so I was surprised by wanting to remove it from the library. It is a very popular book here in our school also.
Thank you
Debbie Covey
We have a copy of each of the last several years. They are popular, but we find mostly with younger students. We talk about them in Media class. About why people appear in the book etc., and also about knowing that the books are written for sensationalism. We look up the word and talk about it and decide that the books are not about everyday people. We have no fighting over copies and many students choose not to take a turn to look at them. We don’t have them out any other time during regular class checkout or silent reading time.
Just really need to express a caution here for removing pages or pictures from any book. That’s in effect altering the final product – or the author(s), editor(s), publishers final product and contrary to the Library Bill of Rights, let alone the ideas or content that were intended to be expressed. I realize it probably seems like a simple solution – but getting rid of what one person or even many might find objectionable is not the solution. The formal word for it is expurgation – which is defined as deletion, excision, alteration, editing or obliteration of any part(s) of books or other library resources by the library. This discussion should encourage us all to take a look at Library Bill of Rights and their interpretaions and the important freedoms they protect. It’s also a good time to review selection policy. If you need assistance or more information on these things check with your System office, or the Nebraska Library Commission, or the Intellectual Freedom Committee of NLA. That committee has a great resource on the NLA website – the Intellectual Freedom Handbook that may help: http://www.nebraskalibraries.org/committees/if/IFHandbook.pdf.
Brenda Ealey
Southeast Library System
http://www.selsne.org
It’s the 2009 issue that is causing all of the problems. It is the one that is bigger book with the 3-D glasses.
Betty
It is my understanding that individual libraries may choose to adopt the ALA’s Library Bill of Rights as policy if they wish, but that it is not a legally binding document. It is simply a statment of ALA principles. Is that correct?
All that needs to be said about this is that the ‘issue’ is indicative of how intolerant America trully is, that you are hurting your own is clear to any outsider but how you will end up is not so clear even if inevitable. Try burning the book!
Terrible stuff from you people. Burn the book perhaps. Intolerance is a first step in a seriously wrong direction no matter how mistaken the motivation.
Certainly it is a choice whether or not a library adopts the Library Bill of Rights as part of policy. However, since the Library Bill of Rights are founded on principals that shape the library profession like providing resources for ALL, on ALL points of view and resisting efforts to interfere with free expression and access to ideas – I would be dismayed by a library that did not adopt the Library Bill of rights. Or at least I’d be curious why they felt it was not appropriate as a part of library policy. My understanding, although I am not an attorney, is that policy that is adopted and approved by the library board is legally binding.
I’ll now go back to listening to polka music – which certainly could be seen by some as offensive, but am delighted to report that polka music has not been removed from the library I patronize and that they do have as a part of policy the Library Bill of Rights.
I dilike polka music but I will defend to the death your right to listen to it. In the same breath I will defend anyone’s right to read or write what they want. In today’s New York Times was a truly offensive political cartoon but they have every right to publish what they want. Even if they are wrong. I do not censor any materials at our Library. The Guinness Book of Records is continuously checked out, and I am happy that the kids are reading. Usually more questions arise which makes for more research and MORE READING.
My comment about the book is they are very popular, but we have a huge problem with how they are made. They tear apart from the binding and a 29$ book that is not made to last is now the responsibility of the child that just checked it out and has droped it because they are heavy. I say let’s all quit ordering them until they are made to last, they are not for library use. Any sugestions on how to contact the company and protest on their porely made crap they charge to much for?? but the kids love them!!!!