Censorship is subjective? I just thought that we don't do it. I thought as librarians we are totally against it. And yes there are many librarians who do it. Why? because they are afraid. They don't want to ruffle any feathers. Or they let a select few control them. Or only worry about what the majority may think. I've worked in college and university libraries but now I am at a public library and let me tell you it happens a lot. Sure librarians will defend "Catcher in the Rye" and "Heather Has Two Mommies" because where's the controversy there? What we really need to do is buy that porn film for that professor or realize that Russ Meyer is art and not porno. Unfortunately, I see a lot of censorship by public library administration in New Jersey and I see nothing done about it. By saying that librarians are the worst doesn't mean that librarians do it the most. It means that we should not do it at all. We can expect it and be prepared for it from outside the library but from within? NEVER!
On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 7:25 PM, Anthony Anderson <antho...@usc.edu> wrote: > I am not sure that I could agree with the thesis that librarians are > “the worst of censors” and “do it all the time.” This may be often the case > in certain politically repressive cultures (North Korea?) but I don’t > believe that it is necessary the standard norm in American academic > libraries. Besides other responsibilities here at USC, I am also the > selector for Holocaust Studies. I felt myself distinctly queasy about > ordering some Holocaust denial books for the collection, but the books did > get ordered. > > > > In any case, claiming that another colleague’s opinion is categorically > “wrong” is a highly subjective judgment. Or so I think. > > > > Best regards, > > Anthony > > > > ******************************* > > Anthony E. Anderson > > Assistant Director, Doheny Memorial Library > > University of Southern California > > Los Angeles, CA 90089-0182 > > (213) 740-1190 antho...@usc.edu > > "Wind, regen, zon, of kou, > > Albert Cuyp ik hou van jou." > > ******************************** > > > > > > > > > > *From:* videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto: > videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] *On Behalf Of *Doug Poswencyk > *Sent:* Monday, November 17, 2014 3:34 PM > *To:* videolib@lists.berkeley.edu > > *Subject:* Re: [Videolib] pornographic films in the Library collection? > > > > BULLSHIT!!!! I did not attack Darby or Maureen personally. I attacked > what they did. What they said. They were wrong. If you don't want to > have discussions then don't bother hanging around here. You Matt are > attacking me and I am sure you would not have the balls to say that to my > face. I am not a bully at all. I am just stating my opinion. If that's > not OK then let's just not even have this conversation or any on here at > all. Librarians are the worst of censors. And they do it all the time. > This should be an issue that is dear to everyone in the profession. It > should not be tolerated. We should be here to support in any way we can > people who stick their necks out and make the right decision. Not to > support the wrong decisions. I think that in both cases neither Maureen or > Darby would have received any grief if they made the purchases. > > > > On Mon, Nov 17, 2014 at 4:57 PM, Cristella Bond <cb...@andersonlibrary.net> > wrote: > > Hi Matt, > > > > I'm feeling the same. Thanks for saying so. > > > > Cristella Bond > > Information Services Librarian > > Anderson Public Library <http://www.andersonlibrary,net> > > 111 E. 12th Street > > Anderson, IN 46016 > > (765) 641-2456 > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: "Sarah E. McCleskey" <sarah.e.mccles...@hofstra.edu> > To: "videolib@lists.berkeley.edu" <videolib@lists.berkeley.edu> > Date: Mon, 17 Nov 2014 21:32:44 +0000 > Subject: Re: [Videolib] pornographic films in the Library collection? > > > Hi Matt, > > You are not the only one! > > Best, > > Sarah > > > > Sarah E. McCleskey > > Head of Access Services, Film and Media > > 112 Axinn Library, 123 Hofstra University > > Hempstead, NY 11549 > > sarah.e.mccles...@hofstra.edu > > 516-463-5076 (phone) > > 516-463-4309 (fax) > > > > > > *From:* videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu [mailto: > videolib-boun...@lists.berkeley.edu] *On Behalf Of *Matt Ball > *Sent:* Monday, November 17, 2014 4:18 PM > *To:* videolib@lists.berkeley.edu > *Cc:* videolib@lists.berkeley.edu > *Subject:* Re: [Videolib] pornographic films in the Library collection? > > > > As usual, videolib provides a lively forum for discussion, and this one in > particular is fascinating. But I must say, I'm quite disturbed by the > vitriolic tone of some of the responses as well as the judging and the > public bullying that Maureen and Darby are having to endure. Am I the only > one? > > > > Matt > > > > ___________________ > > Matt Ball > > Director, Woodruff Library > > Pace Academy > > 966 W. Paces Ferry Rd. > > Atlanta, GA 30327 > > mb...@paceacademy.org > > > > > > > > VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of > issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic > control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in > libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as > an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of > communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video > producers and distributors. > >
VIDEOLIB is intended to encourage the broad and lively discussion of issues relating to the selection, evaluation, acquisition,bibliographic control, preservation, and use of current and evolving video formats in libraries and related institutions. It is hoped that the list will serve as an effective working tool for video librarians, as well as a channel of communication between libraries,educational institutions, and video producers and distributors.
