[CALIBK12] Collection Development and GN After School Nightmare

Wed Sep 24 11:17:31 PDT 2008

A  quick thought--I think that it is just as important to ask ourselves why we should provide access to material as it is to ask ourselves why we shouldn't provide access. For example, Playboy Magazine was mentioned and young people's access to the magazine at home (with or without permission), in stores and probably at friends' homes. I do not think that just because material is easily available in other venues and because students will indeed read (or gladly look at) it eagerly, that that is reason enough to provide access in an educational setting. Material in school libraries must serve many purposes--support the curriculum, advance literacy skills, engage and reflect the community in which the school is found, assist integration into adult society and assist students in gaining a historical perspective, among other purposes such as enjoyability. The "Oh well, at least they are reading" argument seems a lazy response to a topic that should require thought about what materials really are appropriate and important for minor students to access. 

This is an interesting and important discussion to assist in quality collection development.

Cynthia

Cynthia Bianchi, TL
Ellen Ochoa Learning Center
Middle School Library
Local District 6
5027 Live Oak Street
Cudahy, Ca. 90201-4428
323-869-1327
cbb0290 at lausd.net

________________________________

From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu on behalf of Thomas Kaun
Sent: Tue 9/23/2008 9:40 PM
To: ode2living at aol.com
Cc: calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.edu
Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] Collection Development and GN After School Nightmare

Hi, Connie.
You've raised some really interesting questions which could lead to fruitful discussion.
I do think that it is ultimately your professional judgment which should prevail here. That doesn't mean you don't get input from as many folks as possible, especially with controversial items like ones you've mentioned.
I've never had the luxury (or the burden) of any kind of a selection committee in all my years as a TL. It's a somewhat lonely job and we do make mistakes from time to time--I certainly have had my share.
On the tech's discovery that you have "adult" books as designated by Follett, I hope we all have adult books. Follett does not categorize a book as "adult" because it's pornographic or obscene, it merely is saying the book is written for an adult reader as contrasted with a young adult or juvenile title. Many books in our collections are categorized as adult so that cannot be used as a way of deciding whether a book is suitable for a high school library.
As far as "full nudity" in GNs go, it's interesting. I see kids in the bookstore near me all the time reading GNs full of violent, sexualized images which I probably wouldn't buy but I wonder why not. I guess it's sort of like not providing Playboy in the school library even though kids have access at home (with or without parental permission). And in fact I know I have some quite "graphic" books in my library. I guess once I've added the book to the collection based on whatever my selection criteria are then I'll have to justify the selection when the time comes that the book is challenged. Until then, I'll bide my time.
This is an important topic and I really like to see a thorough discussion of it on a professional level.
I think we all need some help when it comes to selecting controversial materials and the role that pre-censoring plays in our decision-making.
I am a little curious about your statement that CSLA recommended the series. I didn't know CSLA did that kind of recommendation. Maybe you're thinking of YALSA.
Thanks for asking.
Tom Kaun

On Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 9:04 PM, <ode2living at aol.com> wrote:

	Hello. I was wondering how many of you carry the series, After School Nightmare, or are familiar with the series. I ordered the series, but Follett delivered just one volume because the others were out of stock. One of my technicians was disturbed by the fact it is about a hermaphrodite and that on one page, there is a sex scene (bare shoulders in bed with no breasts showing). We also have a couple of students who are manga "gurus"; they've read tons of GN and recommend a lot of titles to me. Anyway, these girls told my tech that this series is NOT appropriate for high school and that one volume (or more?) has a scene that contains "full nudity." Does anyone know? My tech also said that in the MARC record Follett has the series identified as "adult," which is true. However, the publisher has the series classified as "OT: Older Teens 16+," and it was named a Top 10 Graphic Novel series for teens by CSLA.  

	So, this experience has me really thinking about:
	1. Should I carry this in my HS collection? If so, how do I address the 16+ recommendation (if at all)?
	2. a. How do you address the issue when one of your techs disagrees with your collection development decisions? Obviously, it's ultimately the TL's decision, and we've been trained to deem what's appropriate. However, I don't want to exclude my techs and would rather get them "on board" with what we have in our collection, especially when they, too, recommend these books to our students just as much as I do. 
	b. I also once had a different tech upset that I had purchased a novel that, in her opinion, had too many vulgar words. Of course, she hadn't read the book or the reviews. She is very conservative. I imagine many of us are questioned about our purchases by our staff. When this happens, how do you address it? Also, is this important enough for CSLA to address? Would paraprofessionals benefit from having a CSLA conference session on censorship and collection development, particularly those paraprofessionals who are in charge of collection development and don't have the benefit of a TL?

	If you've made it this far, thank you! This post is really two-fold. TIA for any input. 

	Connie Joyce
	Teacher Librarian
	Rancho Cucamonga High School
	Rancho Cucamonga, CA
	= 
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Thomas T. Kaun
Teacher Librarian
Bessie Chin Library @ Redwood High School
395 Doherty Drive, Larkspur, CA 94939
tomkaun at gmail.com | Library Web site: http://rhslibrary.org <http://rhslibrary.org/>  | Professional development blog: http://tomlmt2.blogspot.com/ | Library news blog: http://libraryleaves.blogspot.com <http://libraryleaves.blogspot.com/> 

Read, every day, something no one else is reading. Think, every day, something no one else is thinking. Do, every day, something no one else would be silly enough to do. It is bad for the mind to be always part of unanimity.
- Christopher Morley