List of Challenges to Resources and Policies

List of Challenges to Resources and Policies Reported by Publicly-Funded Canadian Libraries, 2010

Dates of Who Type challeng made of Provinc e & Material Bibliographic info/Policy complain Libra e/Territ resoluti type title Reason and reason details t? ry Final response and details ory on Material retained October 4, The book targets contemporary 2010; American society, not Christianity. It resolved exemplifies the counter-culture mood of Jan. 3, Other the 60's and the book was well reviewed 2011 “An offensive joke book about God and the author/artist well-known. It is The New Adventures of Jesus whose purpose is to degrade and insult understood that material purchased to Adult graphic Christ: the Second Coming by Christianity.” meet the needs and interests of some 1 novel Frank Stack “The book should be removed.” Patron Public customers may be offensive to others. Ontario Book Sept. 23, Adult Does not support curriculum 2010, nonfiction Other resolved intended to The customer found that the content is Material removed Jan. 3, help readers worthless and does not provide useful Information was out-of-date and 2011 prepare for information. unreliable and the book was poorly the CFA CFA: 100 Success Secrets by The customer wanted the book written. It is not useful for its intended 2 exam Howard Korbin removed from the collection. Patron Public audience. Ontario Material retained Aug 25, Book The picture book is targeted at older 2010, Children's Violence readers and has a large label on the resolved picture book Offensive language cover warning of scary content. It is Oct 29, about a dog Age inappropriate popular and has circulated well. The 2010 waiting for a The customer found that the book had Library recognizes that parents and mailman and obscene content, language and guardians have different view on fantasizing pictures. appropriate material for children and about eating The Waiting Dog by Carolyn The customer wanted it removed from depends on them to make decisions 3 him. and Andrea Beck the collection. Patron Public regarding their children. Ontario Sexually explicit Material retained Ontario June 18, Age inappropriate The book contains adult content and is 2010, Book The customer found that the book has shelved in the adult collection. The resolved An adult sexual content and visually explicit author and artists are well known and Sept 3, graphic novel pictures - no value for students or the book is popular. Customers have the 2010 - a collection youth. right to reject material for their own use of four stories War Stories Volume 1 by Garth The customer wanted the book but cannot restrict the freedom of others 4 about WWII Ennis removed. Patron Public to have access to it. 5 DVD Bruno, written by and starring Sexually explicit Patron Public Material retained Ontario May 7, A comedy Sacha Baron Cohen The customer found the film Bruno is a satire which mocks 2010, film, pornographic and shocking. homophobia and celebrity culture. It is a resolved purported to The customer wanted the DVD popular mainstream movie with an 18A Aug 4, be a removed from the collection. rating, which means that it cannot be 2010 documentary about a gay Austrian journalist borrowed by anyone under 18. It is who comes to understood that some material the America to Library acquires to meet the needs and become interest of some customers may be famous. offensive to others. Material retained Ontario June 11, The urban fiction genre is very popular - 2010, novels are set in the inner city and may resolved feature explicit profanity, violence and July 7, sex. Most mainstream publishers have 2010 an urban fiction imprint - this title is from a Simon & Shuster imprint and Cairo is a well-known author. It fits with the Library's goal of providing a diverse Sexually explicit public with a collection that reflects their Book The customer felt that the book was needs and interests. It is understood that Adult novel in pornography and customers should some material selected for some users urban buy it for themselves. may be offensive to others. The book fiction/street The customer did not want any more was retained and titles by Cairo will 6 lit genre The Man Handler by Cairo books purchased by the author. Patron Public continue to be acquired. Racism Ontario Jan. 4, The customer found that the book 2010, depicts Africans in a grossly resolved stereotypical way that may have been May 11, acceptable when the book was Material retained 2010 Book published but is no longer. The author Material relocated/reclassified Graphic made revisions to the book and the The Tintin series continues to be popular novel/comic 2005 edition owned by the Library so the title was retained. However, staff book in the contains a foreword explaining the did not think that children would either children's colonial attitudes that prevailed when read the foreword or place the book in its collection, it was written historical context. It was moved to the first The customer wanted the book adult graphic book collection - it will still published in removed from the children's collection, be accessible to customers of all ages 7 1934 Tintin in the Congo by Herge. if not completely from the system. Patron Public but its location signifies its adult content. Racism Ontario Jan. 7, Sexism Material retained 2010, The customer found that the article Vanity Fair was retained in the collection. resolved Magazine/jou bordered on hate literature in its The Library stated that the article March 18, rnal Article in description of Vietnamese women and reflected the author's personal views, not 2010 the "Letters the poor. [The City’s] ethnic the magazine's publishers. Vanity Fair is from..." communities' tax money should not be covered by the Materials Selection Policy series in supporting this magazine. - contemporary material of current Vanity Fair The customer wanted staff to write a interest that represents varying points of describing letter to Vanity Fair objecting to the view. Regarding the letter - as a public the author's "Good Evening Vietnam" by article and to remove the magazine institution dedicated to intellectual experiences Brian McNally in Vanity Fair from the collection if a second similar freedom, the Library does not express 8 in Vietnam. magazine article was published. Patron Public opinions on the content of material. Violence Jan. 14, Age inappropriate 2010, The villain had a sadistic nature and resolved Book might give a teen reading the book March Teen mass might have violent ideas. Material retained 18,2010 market Swans in the Mist by D. E. Customer wanted the book withdrawn The book was retained in the teen fiction 9 paperback Athkins or moved to the adult collection. Patron Public collection. Ontario November Sexually explicit 4, 2010 1 DVD pornographic scene December 0 Trick 'r Treat DVD Patron Public Material retained BC 10, 2010 Sexually explicit pornographic scene

Policy linked request change to Restricted rating; 1 to Trick ’r disallow borrowing to those under 18 1 Treat DVD years of age Patron Public Material retained [and policy/] BC November DVD 26, 2010 Bulgarian resolved 1 language Violence December 2 DVD Zift DVD extremely dark Patron Public Material retained BC 10, 2010 Sexism October Violence 28, 2010 - Magazine/jou images of sexual victimization not yet rnal promotes discrimination, contempt; resolved specifically pornographic September Rolling Stone magazine patron viewed material as 1 2010 cover specifically September 2010 pornographic; requested that library 3 (Trueblood) cover cancel subscription to magazine Patron Public Material retained BC Anti-ethnicity October Inaccuracy 14, 2010 Racism Resolved Political viewpoint November DVD Other 15, 2010 1 documentary Islam; What the West need to lack of evidence, analysis, authority; 4 film Know DVD inflammatory Patron Public Material retained BC July 19, 2010 Resolved July 29, 2010

Nudity Sexually explicit 1 patron requested rating change and 5 DVD Lost Song DVD keeping out of public view Patron Public Material retained BC Nudity June 4, Sexually explicit 2010 June Violence Material retained 10, 2010 MPAA NC-17 rating (equivalent to 18A) Library does not allow borrowing of adult 1 concern about loaning to children or DVDs by children, or of 18A or restricted 6 DVD Man Bites Dog DVD teens Patron Public DVDs by minors BC Material retained May 18, Violence Author is recognized as deliberately 2010 Book Political viewpoint provocative and 'outrageous', Resolved Russian Offensive language challenging many societal norms; uses June 10, 1 language objected to cannibalism, infanticide in literature to attack totalitarianism in 2010 7 novel Pir by Vladimir Sorokin one short story Patron Public thought and practice BC Insensitivity November Sexism 2, 2010 Sexually explicit Resolved Offensive language January The book's plot was very similar to the 11, 2011 Homolka/Bernardo tragedy. The serial rapist/killer character uses extremely demeaning, sexually offensive language with female characters in the book. Upon returning the novel, "Victim Six," the patron, an avid reader, suggested that we remove the book from our Material retained shelves as she found it brutally Material relocated/reclassified offensive due specifically to the Material restricted attitude, behaviour, and language the I am in the process of ordering spine main character inflicts on various labels for books that are of a graphic 1 Book "Victim Six" by Gregg Olson female characters. nature. They will be available only to 8 Adult novel Patron Public patrons above legal age. Manitoba We are in the course of November creating a system, beyond 2, 2010 what is provided by way of Resolved information through our Material retained January cataloguing system, that will Material relocated/reclassified 11, 2011 identify graphic/sexually Material restricted Policy linked explicit materials. We do not I am in the process of ordering spine to Victim Six wish to censor any The patron thought our policy should labels for books that are of a graphic 1 novel publications; that is against all be changed to ban any such offensive nature. They will be available only to 9 challenge protocol. material. Patron Public patrons above legal age. Manitoba 2 Book Huckleberry Finn: Mark Twain. Racism Library Public Material retained January 0 The author describes the "African administrat While it is unacceptable in today's Manitoba 24, 2011. American" character, Jim, as a or society- and I recall correcting my elders "nigger." There was, near to that same in the '60's- people who were not date, in the "Financial Post," an knowingly using the word as an editorial/letter to the editor decrying intentional slight; they just knew it as the the upcoming republishing of the novel word that then became: "blacks" and which will replace the word "nigger," then "coloured" and then "African which is used some 200+ times, with American." We had a great discussion the word "slave." While we agree that about how the slaves who built the pyramids were NOT "niggers" - nor were the Irish slaves that the English forced to develop the sugar cane industry in the Caribbean. Are "negroes" who reside in Canada "African Canadians" and in England, and so on. We were challenged to learn the scientific terminology for all races: Caucasian, Asian, etc. It Caucasians are known as "whites" and that is not considered derogatory, why do we feel that "black" IS derogatory? This is an endless issue, and certainly won't be resolved among one small group in a library!

I was going to use the novel to read to a group - and had prepared a full presentation about the use of the word, and how at various times, we adapt to the growing awareness of society. I decided against the presentation, as the editorial and republishing of the novel was drawing more attention to it than I felt prepared to deal with.

As mentioned above, we did not remove the word "nigger" has no place in ANY the existing novel, as we see it as an society; it was used commonly in the opportunity to teach the reader the era the novel was written. It is not history of the time, and we will likely not simply a word for "slave." purchase the republished work. One Prejudice : should NOT mess with literature. Nov. 26, 2009, Book Sex education resolved 2 Kids’ picture Butler, Dori H. My Mom's Patron felt content was too Jan. 28, 1 book Having a Baby sophisticated for a child. Patron public Material retained Ontario 2010 Sexually explicit April 30, Violence 2010, Viewer felt that prostitution & rape resolved 2 scenes were too graphic June 2, 2 DVD Gardens of the Night Patron felt content was too graphic Patron public Material retained Ontario 2010 2 Book Beauty's Punishment by Anne Sexually explicit Patron public Material retained Alberta Challenge 3 Sound Rice Violence Because the Overdrive database is a d: Dec 4, recording Violence towards women, associated region-wide system, a committee with 2010 Other with sex. Patron felt reading the representatives from various member Resolved: Audiobook material would result in harm to the libraries was convened, and the material Dec 20, download via human mind and soul. was reviewed. A collection development 2010 OverDrive policy specifically for Overdrive was database: "In drafted, and ultimately, the material was the erotic retained. sequel to The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, Beauty is sold into sexual slavery and forced to obey the orders of the Captain and Mistress Lockley." 2 BookGenre Slocum and the Lucky Lady by Sexually explicit Patron public Material retained Alberta Challenge 4 Western Jake Logan Patron felt material was pornographic d: paperback: and did not belong in a public library. November ""Twenty 22nd, years ago, 2010 Slocum sent Resolved: the outlaw December Durango to 16th, prison. 2010 Released by a bought pardon, Durango goes back to his outlaw ways, terrorizing folks in the village of Antonio. With the help of Donn a, a spunky border woman in need of an escort home, Slocum journeys into Mexico in search of the ruthless bandit. Now Slocum has to outwit Durango, before the outlaw from his past puts an end to his future..."--p. [4] of cover. DVDDVD, Challenge feature film. d: Sept "After losing 20, 2010 her unborn Resolved: child, Oct 17, Madeline 2010 Matheson insists on carrying the baby to term. Following the delivery, the child miraculously Violence returns to life Other with an Disturbing, offensive appetite for Patron felt the film was visually human blood. offensive, disturbing, especially to Madeline is Grace - DVD Director: Paul young mothers/women, and cautioned faced with a Solet Writer: Paul Solet that it should not be watched by mother's (screenplay) Stars: Jordan pregnant women. Requested that 2 ultimate Ladd, Samantha Ferris and material be labeled with a warning of 5 decision." Gabrielle Rose its contents. Patron Public Material retained Alberta Book Challenge Children’s d: June 8, picture book. 2010 "A young Resolved: hippopotamu June 17, s worries that 2010 he is too big to be good at anything, but with the help of Aunt Emerald he learns that "You can always find Insensitivity something to References to fatness associated with be good at, laziness. you just have Patron felt that the book created 2 to find out The Bigness Contest by negative associations and judgments Material retained 6 what it is." Florence Parry Heide about weight Patron Public Material was returned to circulation Alberta December 2010 [no Newspaper resolution This is a free date monthly Sexually explicit given, but publication Patron asked that this free publication appears to focusing on be moved into a less visible location in have been 2 gay and the branch library due to the perceived resolved] 7 lesbian news. Xtra West sexually explicit cover. Patron Public Material retained BC Inaccuracy Fall 2010 Patron disagreed with the historical perspective of the author. Material retained Patron felt that the book perpetuates The Manager, Collections discussed the an outdated idea (Europeans are the patron's concerns with her and noted only people who "discovered" North that we try to provide collections that Book A Voyage Long and Strange: America) and that it ignores the include works with other points of view, 2 Adult non- Rediscovering the New World / culture and presence of First Nations in rather than suppress single works. This 8 fiction Tony Horwitz North America. Patron Public didn't turn into a formal challenge. BC 2 9 May 2010 [no Sexually explicit resolution Patron complained in person to staff date and had a discussion with the Director given, but Book responsible for the branch. The patron appears to 3 Adult non- Jay Wiesman's erotic bondage considered it inappropriate for the have been 0 fiction handbook / Jay Wiseman. collection. Patron Public Material retained BC resolved] Sexually explicit Material retained January Explicit sexual images Material is already located in the Adult 28, 2010 "Little signs of passion". Patron had Graphic Novel area. Cover art on the response Book Breakdowns: portrait of the flipped through the graphic novel book clearly states "Adults Only" and February 3 Adult graphic artist as a young %@&*! by Art before giving to son to read. Thinks it Patron/pare that information is reflected in the 2, 2010 1 novel Spiegleman should be for adults (18+) only. nt Public catalogue record. Ontario Sexually explicit Septembe Offensive language r 30, 2010 Age inappropriate Material relocated/reclassified Response First short story has sexuality; p. 30 - We agreed that while the artwork on the October Book lewd expressive language; p. 63 cover might suggest it is for a younger 14, 2010 3 YA short language and themes mature. Should audience, it is better suited for teens and 2 stories M is for Magic by Neil Gaiman be in teen collection. Patron Public was moved to our teen collection. Ontario Age inappropriate October 5, "To the goblins (nearly every page); to 2010 goblins marrying a baby (p. 11); the Material retained Responde useless parents" Patron said "It's very Response took a while as all children's d disconcerting as an adult; hard to staff looked at the book. Well-respected November know the effect on children, but it author. Won an award (Caldecott). Not 17, 2010 Book could be scary and unsettling for intended to frighten, but to explore 3 Children’s Outside Over There by Maurice younger audiences too". Wanted it feelings. Goblins revealed as babies at 3 picture book Sendak removed from collection. Patron Public end of book. Ontario 3 DVD The Great Mouse Detective Sexually explicit Patron Public Material retained Ontario November It is in our "Family Video" collection 15, 2010 which is for ages 5 and above. Older Response movies like this (1986) may have on smoking that does not appear in more November recent films. This could provide an 29, 2010 Drugs/drug use opportunity for discussion with a child Age inappropriate (noted that villain smoked throughout). Patron referenced "a lot of smoking, One cabaret scene provided historical Children’s bar scene - sexuality". Recommended atmosphere, but was not sexually 4 movie (Disney) it be for those 12 and over. explicit. Anti-ethnicity October, Inaccuracy 2010 Not Insensitivity resolved Racism Age inappropriate Not age appropriate; depicts The Absolutely True Diary of a Aboriginals inaccurately or poorly; will Other 3 Book Part-Time Indian Sherman make Aboriginals in the class feel bad Educational K-12 5 YA novel Alexie if the book is taught Assistant school Challenge hasn't been resolved Manitoba Other Challenge Customer objected to the placement of received a religious text, Guru Granth Sahib, June 24, within the collection. In customer's Material retained 2010 view, these sacred texts should not be Patron The Library wrote to the customer Challenge in the open public area and should be The thanking him for his interest; the letter resolved reference, not circulating. The Library customer was copied to the alderman. The Library within the holds the text in both English and wrote to described the role its collections have in week Punjabi. his enhancing knowledge and following As above ... customer objected to alderman understanding, and in serving all parts of placement of the texts on the open who in turn the community. Many customers like to shelves along with other materials and forwarded find materials on their own and prefer suggested they should be wrapped in the circulating over reference books. The Book cloth and placed in a separate objection Library endeavours to provide easy Religious text cupboard. The customer indicated a to the access to collection resources. The 3 sacred to the preference for reference over Library for Library applies the same process to all 6 Sikh religion Guru Granth Sahib circulating. response. Public religious texts. Alberta Material retained March The book was already in the adult 2010. Sexually explicit collection. The library does not affix Resolved Patron felt the content was too warning labels on its material. The at the sexually explicit and asked that a patron was informed that the book was a same warning be placed on the book that it multiple-award winner that had received time. 3 Book was unsuitable for youth. rave reviews in many places and was in 7 Adult novel American Gods by Neil Gaiman Patron Public the collections of most public libraries. Ontario 3 DVD Voices of Iraq Violence Patron Public Material retained Ontario October 8 Adult the patron said that while watching it, Upon reading descriptions and reviews of 2010; documentary she realized the brutal violence it the film and viewing it ourselves, we resolved contained. there was actual footage of realized it had been made by U.S. Oct/10 people having their hands cut off, filmmakers who sent out 150 video tongues cut out, execution style cameras to Iraqi citizens who were asked killings, beheadings, etc. She to film themselves, their neighbors and wondered whether the library was their surroundings. Most of the scenes of violence were actually second-hand clips taken from Iraqi TV, showing what Saddam Hussein had perpetrated on the aware it owned and rented out such a Iraqi citizens. The film received generous violent movie and wanted us to be reviews. We saw no good reason to aware of it. remove it.

Nudity March 8th Sexually explicit 2010; Drugs/drug use letter sent Age inappropriate to patron patron indicated that "themes and with imagery are mature and disturbing". decision Asked for the book not to be pulled, on March but reclassified as an adult title (from Material relocated/reclassified 22nd YA). Youth Collections Librarian and Adult 2010 Again, patron felt that imagery Collections Librarian looked at book, Book (genitalia) and scenes of drugs and reviews and other titles by this author. 4 Adult graphic drug-taking, and sex were "mature and Decided to move this item to the adult 0 novel. "Black Hole" by Charles Burns disturbing". Patron Public collection. BC Material retained Challenge Controversy often surrounds d: March Mapplethorpe's work but nonetheless he 23, 2010 Nudity is thought to be a brilliant photographer Resolved: Sexually explicit and a cultural force of the twentieth March 25, Patron objected to a particular photo of century. 2010. a child which he perceived as child Reply was sent to patron referring to the Book pornography. Canadian Library Association Statement [adult] Book Certain People: A Book of Patron does not want his tax dollars of Intellectual Freedom and the Ontario 4 of Portraits by Robert paying for "this obviously illegal Library Association Statement on the 1 photographs Mapplethorpe material being in the public library". Patron Public Intellectual Rights of the Individual Ontario Material retained Date of The book received good reviews. We Challenge: explained our Materials Selection Policy August to the patron. 24, 2010 Date resolved: Septembe r 1, 2010. A letter explaining the reasons for keeping the book in the Book Religious viewpoint collection 4 Adult French Maria Monk by Sylvie Ouellette Patron perceived the writing as "pure Patron was sent 2 novel (French) vitriolic anti-Catholic hate" Other Public Ontario to patron. 4 Book Hot City by Barbara Joosse User objected to the language and Patron Public Material retained Ontario Original challenge: February 12, 2010 Resolved: February 19, 2010. A letter explaining the reasons for keeping The book was recommended by the the book School Library Journal, Publisher's in the Weekly and The Horn Book Guide. It is in collection Children's found the book "patronizing, racially Public Libraries in Vancouver, Toronto, was sent 3 picture book stereotypical, faux empowering" Halifax and New York City. to patron. Sexually explicit December Violence 18th, Offensive language 2010; Patron felt that the "extreme and letter sent graphic violence", swearing and to patron "graphic sexual scenes" in this film on January were inappropriate for a public library 21st, collection, and thought that its' 2011. inclusion in the ORL collection did not fit with the library's mission statement Patron objected to the library circulating this film which has several scenes of violent struggles and deaths (stabbings) and a man having sex with "Eastern Promises" - feature a young sex trade worker. Also, patron 4 DVD film by David Cronenberg objected to the amount of swearing in 4 Adult thriller (writer/director) the movie. Patron Public Material retained BC Offensive language March Patron suggested that the frequency of 20th, profanity, particularly the words "fuck" 2010 ; and "fucking", in this rather gritty story resolved about a dysfunctional Northern Irish (letter to police officer working in London was Material retained patron) Book excessive. Adult Collections Librarian read the book April 13th Adult Patron's objection was solely on the and reviews; sent a letter to patron 2010. 4 mystery "Murphy's Law" by Colin type of language used by the about her decision to retain the book in 5 Bateman characters in this book Patron Public the [ ….] Library collection. BC 4 Book "The Third Woman: the secret Homosexuality Patron Public Material retained BC March 6 Adult non- passion that inspired 'The End Offensive language 12th, fiction of the Affair'" by William Cash Patron particularly objected to a 2010; limerick by Norman Douglas quoted in reply to the book, which she felt was both patron on offensive and promoted pedophilia. April 15th, Patron picked up the book on a 2010 recommended reading shelf and checked it out. Patron did not object to the main storyline analyzing the reputed adulterous affair between Greene and Catherine Walston. Rather, her objection focused on a limerick by Norman Douglas (who was an Italian neighbour and friend of Walston and Greene) which is quoted in the book in a section considering whether Douglas had "a sexual appetite for Italian children". Policy is to not allow any Ongoing individual, regardless of marital status or any other Individuals were upset when their Policy revised status, to check-out materials spouse would send them to the library Library Written note with both individuals without [with] the other to pick up materials on hold for their administrat present could be presented and kept on patron's library card. Phoning spouse, only to find staff would not or file, with a note written on individual's 4 individual for permission was allow their family member to take the Chief ILS account indicating permission is 7 [Policy] not acceptable. materials on their behalf. Librarian Public granted. BC Age inappropriate letter Book Other Septembe Children’s objected to references to eating poo, r replied 4 non-fiction Dino Dinners / Nick Manning nieces, nephews and the eating of October 7 8 picture book and Brita Granstorm other dinosaurs No answer Public Material retained Ontario Material retained letter sent Patron reminded that parents are Septembe responsible for "screening" library r 29, 2010 Book Violence materials selected for their children but reply sent 4 Children’s Age inappropriate [patron/par that Library staff would be pleased to October 7, 9 picture book Cold Feet by Cynthia DeFelice too gory for young children ent] Public help select books should they be asked. Ontario 2010 Book May 2010 Adult non- [no fiction book - resolution describes and date illustrates given] (with Material relocated/reclassified cartoons) Library Email discussion by collections manager many staff with staff member about likely intent of examples of member book - to improve male behavior. The inappropriate Other Branch book was reclassified from sociology to 5 behavior for Don't Be That Guy, by Colin Gross situations and illustrations. circulation humour, where being gross seems more 0 men. Nissan and Sean Farrell Staff member felt the book was gross. supervisor. Public acceptable. BC 5 Book The Boys, Volume 5: Herogasm Sexism Library Public Material removed BC June 2010 1 Adult graphic Sexually explicit staff This graphic novel was returned to the [no novel Plot concerns a large group of member vendor. resolution superheroes hiring call girls and Library date having an orgy. technician given] Staff member felt this graphic novel working as would offend community standards in a Surrey. Librarians managing the cataloguer Collections Services department agreed. Patron/gra January ndparent 2010 Customer Material retained [no was A library branch manager explained to resolution Homosexuality reading the customer that she could check the date Book Customer was not expecting the book this book CIP subject headings in most books given] 5 Children's Uncle Bobby's Wedding, by to have a homosexual theme. She to her before reading them aloud to her 2 picture book Sarah S. Brannen would like to have some warning. grandchild. Public grandchild. BC Sexually explicit August Violence 2010 Customer cited adolescent sexuality Policy [material?] retained [no and murder in Harry Potter DVDs. Branch children's librarian consulted with resolution Customer wrote a comment card to the manager of youth services, and date DVDs request that Harry Potter DVDs should decided to keep the series together in given] 5 Kids/YA be kept in teen or adult section, rather the children's area, as most other library 3 7 DVDs Harry Potter series than children's section of the library. Patron Public systems do. BC Material retained Challenge: Careful consideration is given to the July 22, materials added to the library’s 2010 collections. Reviews of this book in Resolved: library selection journals indicate that July 30, Egg Drop is appropriate for children of 2010 preschool age. This book has been described by School Library Journal as a “wonderfully subversive reinterpretation of a Humpty-Dumpty-like tale” and by Age inappropriate Booklist “as a cautionary tale about The concept of life and death is just rushing to undertake something for too difficult for a three year old to which one is not quite ready”. While the comprehend in this format. Library acknowledges your personal The story implies the egg dies before response to this title, it does fall within the chick can live. My granddaughter is the guidelines for inclusion in the picture three and a half and was very upset book collection. The Library also Book about the egg. The illustrations of the recognizes that others may have 5 Children’s Title: Egg Drop Author: Mini eggs bandaged and "fixed" were Patron/gra different reactions to the book’s content 4 picture book Grey disturbing to her. ndparent Public and placement within its collections. Alberta 5 Book Title: Calf Roping Author: Roy Other Patron Public Material retained Alberta Challenge: 5 Adult non- Cooper Cruelty The book Calf Roping was acquired in July 27, fiction Calf roping, to put it simply, is cruel. 2005 to support the Library’s collection 2010 Because it is, the library, I believe, of materials on rodeos. While much of Resolved: shouldn't have a book that details how this collection is biographical or historical August to do it. Pages 87-88, and 95, for in nature, some of the items, such as this 26, 2010 example, show how to "roll" the calf in one, are handbooks to specific events. the air and throw it down. Please do Statistics show that rodeos still have a not promote cruelty to helpless significant role in western culture and animals. the Library has collected material on this topic as part of its mandate to support the cultural and recreational interests of its citizens. The Library acknowledges your personal response to this book and to issues related to the welfare and treatment of rodeo animals. You have suggested that our collections should include materials that detail the cruelty of rodeos. You may be interested to know that we have many titles in our collection under the subjects of “animal rights” and “animal welfare” and a number of these books, such as The PETA Practical Guide to Animal Rights, speak directly to the subject of rodeos. In addition, many of our magazine databases are excellent sources of information on this topic. Material retained October Insensitivity The manager of youth services found 12th, Offensive language various book reviews. She left a detailed 2010 Customer completed a comment card telephone message for the customer, [no Dead [Dear] Dumb Diary: to object to the use of "dumb" and explaining that the author did not intend resolution Book Never Underestimate Your "dumbness" in this book, as being to put down intellectual disabilities in this date 5 Children’s Dumbness, by Jum [Jim] insensitive to those with intellectual humorous book for middle school given] 6 novel Benton disabilities. Patron Public children. BC Sexually explicit Challenge: This movie is very disturbing - deals May 7, with and shows explicit sex acts. It 2010 should be labeled Adults Only. Resolved: I am aware of the awards this film has May 28, won. I have been a fan of Japanese 2010 films for some time. I have watched a lot of Japanese films and have admired the famous directors such as Akira Kurosawa, Mizoguchi, Fukasaku Kinji, etc. The problem I have with this Material retained movie, and you would agree if you This movie is catalogued as adult watched it, is the disturbing scenes material and is housed in the adult including autoerotic asphyxia, penile section of the Library. The policy of the mutilation, sadomasochism, etc. I Library is to provide young customers believe that the library should carry all with access to all of our collections, with types of material for all ages, but this the stipulation that parents and movie should be placed behind the guardians are expected to take desk and only given out when responsibility for what their children requested by an adult. With the read, view, and listen to. This DVD Title: In the Realm of the automated checkout system you have responsibility is accepted by parents 5 Adult feature Senses Director: Nagisa in place, any person could check this when they authorize a child’s borrower’s 7 film Oshima movie out, adult or child. Patron Public card. Alberta 5 Book Title: Chicken Soup for the Anti-ethnicity Patron Public Material retained Alberta Challenge: 8 Adult short Unsinkable Soul Author: Jack Racism The Chicken Soup books have been a January stories Canfield, et al. Racist/ethnocentric content in one of long-standing and popular series with 12, 2010 the short stories in this book (“The customers and have received wide Resolved: Birthday Present”, pages 176-177, by acclamation by reviewers for years. February Mavis Burton Ferguson). While the Library acknowledges your 16, 2010 Racist/ethnocentric content in one of personal response to a story in this the short stories in this book (“The Birthday Present”, pages 176-177, by Mavis Burton Ferguson). This story at first appears innocuous and even uplifting. However, the author's racist attitudes come out in her dismay over her son being paired with a child of another ethnicity ("Unless you were born and reared in the deep south you cannot know what this means") (was her reaction). My concern is that others will read this and internalize the values that a child of another ethnicity is "different" in a detrimental way, or that it is appropriate to treat people of other heritages as inferior. The author in the story pats herself on the back for her superiority in allowing her child to be paired with this other child. However, the real truth of the matter is that she was very troubled by the pairing. She went as far as scheduling an appointment with her son's teacher to have the pairing broken. It was only when she ran into the other child's mom who was also visiting the teacher that she lost her courage to make the request for change. Nonetheless, she discouraged her child from actively befriending the child. This type of racism can be even more dangerous than very overt racism, because it's subtle parlaying of racist values in the guise of an innocent story sneaks these values into our society's mores and consciousness. I am not a person who makes a fuss about many things. However, I truly believe that this story dangerously infiltrates its beliefs in a Chicken Soup title, it does fall within the way that can negatively impact those [ …… ] Public Library’s guidelines for who read it. I do not read every story inclusion in our adult collections. With on my own before reading it to my the exception of specific Chicken Soup child. I would have been well into this titles such as Chicken Soup for the Kid’s story before I would have realized its Soul, Chicken Soup for the Teen’s Soul or underlying message (it is tucked so Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul, all neatly between other very good and the books in the series are considered encouraging stories). part of the adult collection. 5 Book Title: The Complete Fairy Tales Age inappropriate Patron/pare Public Material relocated/reclassified Alberta Challenge: 9 of Charles Perrault Translated I object to the location as to where I nt Recently, the [ ……] Public Library August by Neil Philip and Nicoletta found this particular book. This book is reviewed its children’s collections to 24, 2010 Simborowski full of disturbing and cruel content. As ensure that all service points had Resolved: a mother I strongly oppose to having comparable collections. In doing so, August some titles were relabeled and/or moved 27, 2010 to new collections in error. The copy in question was one of those titles, as it was incorrectly labeled for the picture book collection. This copy will be relabeled as a juvenile nonfiction book and removed from the picture book area. Reviews in reviewing journals such as Booklist and Kirkus indicate an audience of grades four to six, reinforcing the any parent think it's an "appropriate" placement of this book in the juvenile kid friendly book, only to find out its nonfiction and not the adult nonfiction content should be rated PG of PG13. collection as you suggest. Challenge d May Offensive language 2010 Book "Big Bad Bun" by Jeanne Willis Age inappropriate Material retained Resolved 6 Children’s and [illustrations by] Tony Challenge that language not Book retained in children's picture book May 20, 0 picture book Ross. -- appropriate for young children. Patron Public collection. Ontario 2010 Fanny Hill [DVD] : memoirs of a Challenge woman of pleasure / a Sally d March Head Production for BBC ; Sexually explicit 2010 DVD Fremantle Media ; produced by Request that a warning about sexual Material retained Resolved 6 Adult feature Nigel Marchant ; directed by content be affixed to DVD to ensure DVD retained in adult DVD collection April 6, 1 film James Hawes that children do not view this DVD. Patron Public with no warning affixed. Ontario 2010 Challenge d October Material retained 2010 DVD Violence DVD retained in adult DVD collection, Resolved 6 Adult Real outlaws [DVD] / Revolver Customer requested warning label be with no additional warning affixed to October 2 documentary Entertainment added to DVD about violent content Patron Public DVD. Ontario 28, 2010 Akeelah and the bee [DVD] / Challenge Spelling Bee Productions, Inc. ; d 2929 Productions ; Cinema February Gypsy Productions ; Lions Gate 2010 Films ; Out of the Blue Resolved Entertainment ; Reactor Films ; March 4, Starbucks Entertainment ; 2010 produced by Laurence Fishburne, Sidney Ganis, Nancy DVD Hult, Daniel Llewelyn, Michael Material retained 6 “family” Romersa ; written and directed Offensive language DVD retained in children's DVD area of 3 feature film by Doug Atchison Age inappropriate Patron Public library. Ontario Challenge d Book Septembe Children’s r 2010 novel (middle Material retained Resolved 6 school) "Alice the Brave" by Phyllis Book retained in children's area of October 1, 4 Reynolds Naylor Age inappropriate Patron Public library. Ontario 2010 6 Book "Alice on Her Way" by Phyllis Age inappropriate Patron Public Material relocated/reclassified Ontario Challenge d January Other copies of this title were already 2010 catalogued for teens. Re-processed copy Resolved Teen title incorrectly catalogued for identified by customer to move it from January 5 YA novel Reynolds Naylor children. children's area to teen area. 21, 2010 Challenge: The library has to be open Septembe during the evening hours only, till r 2010 9:00pm if possible, so that the challenge students could have access to the d. computers. The Education department Resolved had purchased 4 new computers for by student use and the Chief and Council October wanted them available for those 15, 2010. students. The policy was regarding programming offered by the library were following the contracted hours that the library was funded for. The hours of the library being open were perceived as not being accessible for an afterschool homework program for all students. The current agreement with the Brighter Futures program coordinator was that she had an afterschool program and I was available for research and printing of material. Her program was run from 3:00 - 5:00pm. The hours that had been available were Saturday - Tuesday Noon - 6:00. These hours were for teens on the weekend so they would be able to Policy revised socialize with friends and to do I still retained one of my weekend dates, homework. It also helped those people Sunday, and have included Wednesday. who were doing their EI stuff. I had The Chief and Council have agreed with been trying to find a way to add the my arrangement. I am open Sunday - "online Ojibwe Lessons" that were held Tuesday Noon - 6:00pm and on The policy states: The hours on Wednesday evenings. I don't know Elected Wednesday 2:00-7:00pm for the public available to be open were only what occurred with the BF program but official and from 7:00-8:00pm the "online Ojibwe 6 24 and for safety reasons the it fell to me to have a space available Chief and Lessons" are available on all the 6 Policy library closes at 6:00pm. students. Council Public computers. Ontario 6 42 Dark Horse Comics Star Wars Age inappropriate Parent/gua K-12 Material restricted BC October 7 Graphic Series, translated from the one illustration of Princess Leia shows rdian Child school a red dot was placed beside the barcode 2010, was novels/comic Japanese, George Lucas her scantily dressed, in the midst of in grade so that any staff checking the book out about 2 s credited with authorship, some battle or other, her breasts one had could exercise their own judgment as to weeks. 42 listed in illustrators Hisao Tamaki, and coming close to falling out of her been whether the student concerned was of a amazon.com Tom Orzechowski. Volume 3 is dress. directed sufficient maturity to view images in Manga of all ISBN 1-56971-364-2 Father found the material too numerous context. staff were advised of this 6 movies; suggestive. Father came to talk to times by "restriction" Amazon rates library clerk and asked to remove the teacher them ages 9- series from the shelves. and library 12 staff to the primary section of the library, and yet he insisted on borrowing this Star Wars series. Father found the material inappropria te. Book[s] June 2010 paperback [no chapter resolution book[s] date (junior given, novel[s]) although ? titles – the amazon.com challenge lists 14 titles appears to in the have been “Encounters” Drugs/drug use resolved] series, and Violence lists some as Age inappropriate 6 for ages 9-12, questioned if the book was age Parent/gua K-12 the complaint was anonymous, the books 8 some as YA Author: Paul Kropp appropriate for elementary school rdian school remained on the shelf BC Original date of challenge: May 1, 2010 Date Sexually explicit it was Book Concerned about Cat woman's resolved: 6 [Adult] Cat Woman- Crime Pays by Will cleavage as well as her nipples Parent/gua May 5, 9 graphic novel Pfiefer showing. rdian Public Material retained BC 2010 Date of original challenge: April 1, Other 2010 Date Book The parent thought the bunnies were resolved: 7 Children’s The Dumb Bunnies Go to the too dumb, and she did not like the Parent/gua April 6th, 0 picture book Zoo by Dav Pilkey improper spelling in the book. rdian Public Material retained BC 2010 7 Book See inside Pirate Ships by Rob Violence Parent/gua Public Material retained BC Date of 1 This was an Lloyd Jones The parent was concerned about the rdian Original easy picture amount of blood in different scenes, Challenge: book for the images of sawing through legs, Feb 7th, children that and the acts of hacking and stabbing 2010 Date had flaps. people. of resolution: Feb 15th, 2010 Homosexuality December Sexually explicit 15, 2010 We have had 3 complaints within two December years about this newspaper. It is one 31, 2010 of the publications offered in our "Free Material retained Newspaper Materials" area in the foyer of the main Patron Material relocated/reclassified A newspaper library. All complaints have centered Comment The newspaper remains in the free with a focus around suggestive language or images Card - materials area but has been moved to a 7 on the LGBTQ on the covers - and the potential responded location where it is somewhat less visible 2 community. Xtra West newspaper impact on young children. by letter. Public to young children. BC Original challenge d date: Violence April 27, DVD A parent was concerned about a scene 2010 Date Children’s/fa where a muppet was being sawed in resolved: 7 mily feature half. She though the violence to be too Parent/gua May 6, 3 film The Muppets Wizard of Oz extreme for young children to view. rdian Public Material retained BC 2010 Other Spring, We are 2010. Previously the Bible college A student approached the principal both a taught courses on marriage, asking why we had texts on the "how 9-12 however it is no longer to" side of sex in marriage. The private teaching these classes. It was administrator and I discussed together high requested that those print and agreed that there was no longer school resources directly related to any need for these texts on the Patron/stud AND a sexual satisfaction in marriage shelves as the courses that would use ent small be removed from the general such resources are no longer being School private collection and be placed in the taught and the library is now being administrat Bible Material relocated/reclassified 7 teacher resource section in the used primarily by high school students or college As our library primarily serves Grade 9- Saskatch 4 Policy back room. rather than college students. . 12 students, I agreed with this change. ewan