Yesterday, the Leesburg Library Advisory Board in Florida refused to move a couple of Young Adult books into the adult section of the library or give them advisory labels. Parents had drawn up a petition in April against the YA status of the books, Only in Your Dreams: A Gossip Girl Novel and The Bermudez Triangle.
Mothers Dixie Fechtel and Diane Venetta objected to sexual themes and the depiction of drug use in the books, according to a local paper. Library Director Barbara Morse cited the presence of similar themes on television, and parents’ right to decide what is appropriate for their own children, as reasons for the petition’s rejection.
The decision comes about a week after Wisconsin’s West Bend Public Library similarly chose to keep contentious books unlabeled and on the shelves. While the Leesburg ruling could possibly be challenged under a City Commission, it’s great to see libraries taking a strong stance against book challenges.
Tags: bermudez triangle, gossip girl, Kids' Right To Read, leesburg public library, West Bend book challenge, young adult
June 15, 2009 at 2:12 pm |
[...] do you think? Let us know in the comments! Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Gossip Girl, Bermudez Triangle to remain in Young Adult section in Florida …I Miss ReadingCensorship at the Nampa Public LibrarySilicon Valley Reads Events at Sunnyvale Public [...]
August 24, 2009 at 11:36 am |
[...] Girls: Only in Your Dreams from the Leesburg Public Library. In June, we were excited to offer an update full of good news. Yet somehow we are still holding our [...]
September 25, 2009 at 12:00 pm |
The Leesburg Public Library staff members have proposed a compromise. It has been approved by the Library Advisory Board and will be presented to the Leesburg City Commissioners at the meeting on Monday, September 28th.
October 23, 2009 at 3:02 pm |
I love Gossip Girl
February 4, 2010 at 2:45 pm |
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September 24, 2010 at 1:12 pm |
Thanks good share!