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September 29, 2008
Burning, banning books imperils freedom, democracy
By MARIAN R. BAUMAN • September 28, 2008
Asbury Park Press
Since the first Banned Books Week in 1982, libraries and bookstores across America annually have celebrated the right to access books without censorship
The theme for this year's Banned Book Week, which began Saturday, is "Elect to Read a Banned Book." It celebrates the most basic freedom in our democracy — the freedom to read freely — and encourages us not to take this freedom for granted.
Entire civilizations have toppled when, in an effort to suppress dissenting or heretical views, governments have burned the books that contain the collective knowledge of that place and time.
In the 1480s, Tomas de Torquemada, grand inquisitor of Spain, promoted the burning of all non-Catholic literature, especially the Jewish Talmud. During the War of 1812, the British burned the Capitol in Washington, D.C., destroying the small Library of Congress that was then housed in the building.
Censorship, however, isn't something that occurs only in the distant past or in places far away.
In the three decades I have worked in a public library, I have been approached several times by well-meaning individuals who wanted a particular book removed from the shelves.
Our renewal policy at the Neptune Public Library is designed to thwart those who check out a book they feel is not appropriate and then renew it again and again to prevent it from being on the library's shelves.
Attempts to remove books are not simply an expression of a certain point of view, but an attempt to restrict the access of everyone else. This censorship denies our freedom as individuals to choose and think for ourselves. Even when the challenger's motivation is well-intentioned, the outcome is detrimental. We all have the right to choose books freely for ourselves.
Recently, a sincere and kind gentleman asked if I would consider relocating "The Golden Compass" from the children's department to the adult department. He was concerned that the author is a self-professed atheist and might be influencing young children.
I explained to him that when it comes to choosing books for children, parents are the only ones who have the right to decide what their children can read. Since librarians are not in the business of censoring who reads what, children would be able to check out a book from the adult section anyway.
A local school principal found one of our books in a student's locker and called to ask how we could let that book be checked out by a child. I reminded her that it is the parents' responsibility to make sure their child is bringing home appropriate books for their age. With today's literacy levels, I might have been happy the student was reading on an adult level — or even was reading at all.
Children are not given enough credit for being able to distinguish between fact and fantasy. One of the arguments given by those who object to the "Harry Potter" books is the notion that they teach witchcraft. Children understand that fairy tales and fantasy fiction are not real and can enjoy the imaginary plots without becoming warlocks.
I was offended by the churches that burned "Harry Potter" books on their backyard barbecues. They could have at least built a proper bonfire, as the Nazis did in Berlin on May 10, 1933, when they used 1,000 torches to burn the works of everyone who didn't agree with their Aryan philosophy.
The 19th-century German writer Heinrich Heine stated: "Where one burns books, one will soon burn people." He foretold the Holocaust in his own nation.
Reasons for challenging a book's place in a school or public library have included religion, violence, race and ethnicity, profanity, sex and sexual orientation. Classics such as "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," "The Catcher in the Rye" and "To Kill a Mockingbird" may not be on school library shelves or included in a school's curriculum because of objections by parents and school administrators.
These books, when placed in historical perspective, can be significant and meaningful to their readers. The Neptune Public Library material selection policy states: "It should be recognized that some materials chosen may be offensive, shocking or boring to some individuals, but may be meaningful and significant to others. It is the responsibility of individuals to limit their library use to books and materials which are consistent with their individual tastes. While everyone is free to reject for themselves and their children materials of which they do not approve, they may not restrict the freedom of others to read or inquire."
Books are not evil and do not harm anyone. The stifling of free discussion harms us as a democratic society. I invite all to come and continue this discussion at the Neptune Public Library at 4 p.m. Wednesday, when the topic will be "Come Read a Banned Book."
Marian R. Bauman is the director of the Neptune Public Library.
Posted by tumulty at September 29, 2008 12:31 PM
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