[CALIBK12] Collection Development and GN After School Nightmare

Wed Sep 24 14:49:51 PDT 2008

I agree with Cynthia. I've always thought the "at least they are reading"
argument was lame. Even given all the studies you cite (and they are
depressing!), I'd still rather have them not read (yes, you read that
correctly!) than read or look at pornography, or anything else that will
sexualize our children at a young age. There's plenty of time for that
when they are older, less vulnerable and more able to cope with what is
presented. I'm one of those wacky people who is all for protecting
children from the base, vulgar and sexually/violently graphic material. I
know I am in the minority in our profession, and I hear all the time about
how I should just put anything and everything on the shelves and let them
choose, but I just feel a responsibility. Yes, I have "edgy" stuff on my
shelves, but with middle schoolers we can still opt out of the truly
violent and graphic. Books are rated (as are films) as suitable for
certain ages for good reasons, and I use those ratings in making my
choices - it is never just my opinion. Also, it tends to keep parental
complaints to a minimum. I've yet to have a parent complain that my
library doesn't have enough sexually explicit books in it!
Like I said, I know I'm in the minority - I just can't help it!

> Just wanted to gently challenge the notion that "at least they are
> reading" is a "lazy response."
> Consider:
> --77% of California's fourth graders scored below proficient on the 2007
> NAEP reading test
> --California ranked just ahead of the District of Columbia, Louisiana,
> and Mississippi in its 4th grade reading scores. Students from all other
> states outscored our 4th graders.
> --70% of our 8th graders scored below proficient on the 2007 NAEP
> reading test.
> -- California ranked just ahead of the District of Columbia and
> Mississippi in its 8th grade reading scores. Students from all other
> states outscored our 8th graders.
>
> One might suggest that "at least they are reading" is a teacher
> librarian keeping her eye on the prize. Amount counts.
>
> That said, we don't subscribe to Playboy in our library, either.
>
> Good comparison map on NAEP reading scores at
> http://nationsreportcard.gov/reading_2007/r0005.asp?subtab_id=Tab_1&tab_
> id=tab1#chart.
>
>
>
> Doug Achterman
> Library Media Teacher
> San Benito High School
> 1220 Monterey St.
> Hollister, CA  95023
> (831)637-5831 ext. 181
> dachterman at sbhsd.k12.ca.us
> http://www.sbhsd.k12.ca.us/sbhslib/library.htm
> ********************************************************
> School libraries raise student achievement.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu
> [mailto:calibk12-bounces at lists.sjsu.edu] On Behalf Of Bianchi, Cynthia
> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 11:18 AM
> To: Thomas Kaun; ode2living at aol.com
> Cc: calibk12 at listproc.sjsu.edu
> Subject: Re: [CALIBK12] Collection Development and GN After School
> Nightmare
>
> 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 mate!
>  rials 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
>
>
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