Friday, October 2, 2009

Selection Policy Analysis Thoughts

I was pleasantly surprised to see such open and accepting language in our selection policy. Even if it was just following a cookie-cutter design, the policy embraces the library's role as an important source in the instruction of our students. I also think that someone facing a challenged book would have a decent foothold to explain why the material was selected and deserves to be in the collection.

However, I don't think the policy is detailed enough to actually allow a controversial book to survive a challenge. Yadkin County is extremely conservative and openly invites censorship whenever a thought doesn't align with the W.A.S.P. mindset. I think that almost any book with a touchy topic, that a person devoted enough time to removing, would eventually get removed. The words in the policy mean little when they are so vague, and the policy becomes little more than a smokescreen to hide our views that a library needs to be edited to not offend anyone.

I really fear my first challenged book, and our lack of any real support from the selection policy only increases my fear.

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