From the Marshall-Democrat News:
Louise Mills of Marshall is requesting that two graphic novels -- "Fun Home," by Alison Bechdel and "Blankets," by Craig Thompson -- be removed from the library because she feels that the books are inappropriate. Mills has filed forms with the library to request the removal of the books. Mills could not be reached for comment Tuesday, Oct. 3.
Both books are coming-of-age stories, both have sexual content. I still haven't read Blankets, though I own it. Fun Home, though... Fun Home is a fantastic memoir. I checked the online catalog, and it looks like they shelve it in adult non-fiction, which sounds right to me.
Of course, Ms. Mills isn't asking them to change the placement of the books, she's asking them to remove them altogether. So it probably doesn't matter to her where they are, just that they're available in the first place.
Note that this is a challenge to material in a public library, not a school library.
Blankets was good. Very good.
Posted by: Chrissy | 04 October 2006 at 12:52 PM
So I've heard. I need to read it, but at the moment, it's serving as the base of a large stack of books. If I pull it out, disaster will strike.
Posted by: Leila | 04 October 2006 at 12:57 PM
If children are allowed to take out any book they want then does it really matter which section of the library they shelve it in?
Certainly the community should have some say in what books are in their public library (they do pay the taxes that pay for the library and the librarian) but one person or a small group of people should not be able to dictate what everyone in the community gets to read. But residents should have the right to challenge any material they like. No one should be controlled by the opinions of one person (for example, a librarian).
Posted by: Tom | 13 October 2006 at 04:51 PM
Yes, Tom. If it came down to it, I'd defend Mills' (or your) right to challenge books. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Including me.
Posted by: Leila | 13 October 2006 at 05:04 PM