When it comes to finding a good book, the shelves of the public library continue to be the best place to start. The libraries in many rural communities have moved forward with the times as they have expanded their services to their patrons by offering online check-out. This allows all of the community members who have signed up for a library card to take advantage of libraries throughout the state, to order the desired materials and have them sent to their own library. Most every community library offers free reading cards to make sure check-out is available to all members of the community. Children are able to have their own cards once they reach school age. No matter what the subject or the name of the author, or the title of the article or book needed, it is usually obtainable. These days, our first amendment rights are being challenged, as books are being banned and taken from library shelves. Children’s books are especially vulnerable these days.
Voracious readers of all age are discovering familiar, well-loved books pulled out of circulation. Often these titles have been cited by an individual or small group as on the list of banned books somewhere by somebody for being dangerous or inappropriate. No matter that book has been on the shelf for years and years or are books that may have been donated or recommended by residents. No one cares if county residents over the years have approved them, as quite a few of the library board members decided with their librarian to add these particular books to their collection.
In addition, most of our state’s libraries are used to obtain the materials elsewhere, such as other libraries across the state. Volunteers in schools and libraries help to select age-appropriate materials, as well. Luckily, the opponents of these particular written materials remain a minority.
Books and authors that have been revered for years, some winning prestigious awards year-in, year-out, are finding their names on a list of banned books. Authors of all backgrounds are having their books pulled for reasons that only are evident to a small segment of the local population. School and library boards have made arduous decisions if they have received a complaint from a patron. When a request to “pull a book” has been made and a library board decides on the action that is best for their community, that is democracy in action!
By Dolly Viscardi
