450 College & Research Libraries September 2002 The Ownership of Religious Texts by Academic Libraries Matthew Harris and Gregory A. Crawford This study examined the ownership of religious texts within academic libraries that were members of the Associated College Libraries of Cen- tral Pennsylvania (ACLCP). Texts from the Christian, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, Morman, Ba’hai, Christian Scientist, Scientology, and Satanic faiths were included. The ACLCP Union Catalog was searched to find ownership of the specific texts in both English and their original languages. The results showed that most of the texts in English were indeed owned by the libraries included in the study, whereas the texts in their original languages were generally not owned. Due to the growing religious diversity of the students, faculty, staff, and community users of these libraries, ownership of religious texts has become more important in order to serve these individuals more fully. ibraries have as their primary which version to collect. This would be a mission the provision of infor- simple problem except that not everyone mation to their patrons and uses The Holy Bible as his or her main reli- users. Although this sounds gious reference. Even certain sects of easy, there are some roadblocks. The most Christianity prefer different versions. obvious roadblock is money; without it As of late, there has been a growing nothing can be bought. Beyond this mon- awareness of religious diversity. People etary limitation, however, there are other would not be surprised if you were to factors that lead to a lack of resources. In discuss aspects of Buddhism or the basic collection development, a library tries to tenants of Islamic faith. The world has provide the patron with the best, most become a global village with many dif- recent, and most accurate reference ma- ferent views on religion. An integration terials. But what happens when the and acceptance on this scale is a great step source the patron wants has not changed toward true diversity, and knowledge in the past two thousand years but is provided by the library in the form of re- available in many different versions? sources is a needed building block. Take, for instance, The Holy Bible, a work Creating a balanced collection in reli- fitting the aforementioned description. gion can be a daunting challenge. For most Many different versions are available in libraries, the overall goal of their collec- numerous languages, including the King tion development is to provide a well- James Version and the Revised Standard rounded and balanced view of religion. Version, which make it difficult to decide Although this sounds easy, it should be Matthew Harris is Adjunct Faculty at Harrisburg Area Community College; e-mail: [email protected]. Gregory A. Crawford is Head of Public Services in the Library at Penn State Harrisburg; e-mail: [email protected]. 450 The Ownership of Religious Texts by Academic Libraries 451 remembered that religion has caused wars After the events of September 11, this and is still causing conflict around the research took on new meaning. As world simply because of different spiritual America faced its greatest modern trag- viewpoints. Some basic ideas that should edy, people were seeking answers. They be discussed in religion collection build- turned to their local libraries as a resource ing are which religions are going to be rep- for understanding a religion that has been resented, how not to focus on a single reli- misunderstood or overlooked by many gion in favor of others, what is going to be Americans before it was thrust into the used the most, and what are the seminal spotlight. The authors of this study hope that their research can provide a starting Creating a balanced collection in block for a reevaluation of religious col- religion can be a daunting challenge. lections. Knowledge remains the most important way to understand and in- works in minority religions that should be crease tolerance. owned. In an article by Susan Avallone, a survey was provided to public libraries Literature Review dealing with many of the collection devel- Upon searching for literature that would opment questions involving religious ma- pertain to this subject, there was little that terials. In response to one question, a li- directly reflected the proposed research. brarian commented, “We don’t have a Most of the literature dealing with reli- need to include all religions … we don’t gion and libraries did not directly discuss exclude any either.”1 This general state- collection development of primary reli- ment seems to be the mantra every librar- gious texts. In fact, almost every article ian says right before he or she decides was aimed toward Christianity and not whether to buy a work such as The Satanic other world religions. For example, A Bible by Anton LaVey. Inevitably, someone Basic Booklist for Church Libraries by Ber- will feel slighted by any choice a librarian nard E Deitrick was simply a list of rec- makes when deciding which religious ommendations for inclusion in church li- texts to buy. What, then, should be the de- braries.2 Besides a more detailed termining factors in religious collection de- explanation of particular books, this was velopment? a representative case of what most of the The intention of this study was to find literature contained. James Michael Lee’s out what religious texts were being col- article, “The Library and Religious Edu- lected in academic libraries, what deter- cation,” was a more esoteric look at what mines a balanced collection, and which literature should be used to teach religion minor or obscure religions were being in- at parish and Catholic schools and what cluded in collections. The first step was to reference materials those schools’ librar- evaluate local academic library holdings to ies should contain.3 see whether the major religious texts were One theme that recurs in the literature represented. Beyond this, the authors also is that of handling donations of books on wanted to explore which versions were religious topics. Although this does have collected of specific texts and also what impact on the collection of religious ma- obscure references were collected; by this, terials, many of the articles deal with re- the authors included the texts of several ligious works that were not part of the fringe and minority religions in the United core religious texts used in this study. An States. By comparison, current religious sta- example would be a book such as The Bible tistics were used as a way to gauge church Speaks to You by Robert McAfee Brown population as a reason for overabundance instead of The Holy Bible. Chris Kertesz, or lack of some of the texts. More difficult in “The Unwanted Gift: When Saying ‘No to correlate would be actual interest shown Thanks’ Isn’t Enough,” provided insight for each religion in the libraries because sta- into why some books are rejected or ac- tistics of this sort do not exist. cepted.4 Kertesz pointed out that contro- 452 College & Research Libraries September 2002 versy such as evolution versus creation- This statement supports the reason the ism usually led to acceptance or denial authors of this study chose to look at other for inclusion. It is noted that library policy religious works in addition to The Holy usually sets the groundwork for avoid- Bible. Perhaps it is just this simple swing ing such controversy. Again, this article of curiosity that has led to a renewed in- discussed only literature that is related to terest in all religious works. Besides religion, not the texts themselves. There chronicling one reference librarian’s en- was no mention of policies that set limits counter with the new religious question- on what core religious texts should be ing, the article gave advice for dealing accepted or rejected. with this phenomenon. Goucker stated In “Receptivity to Religion” by that “A sensitive, open, nonjudgmental Avallone, a mini-survey was sent to thirty attitude is essential for librarians dealing public libraries across the nation. This with people who hold strong religious survey posed questions such as, “Do li- beliefs.”7 He continued, “it is important braries regularly buy popular inspira- that we do not let personal prejudices or tional and religious books for their col- possibly even religious misconceptions lections?” and “Do libraries attempt to interfere with our ability to take seriously collect materials to ‘balance’ their book and meet the information needs of people collections on such issues as the scientific holding those views.”8 theory of evolution against the funda- This resonates with the topic of the cur- mentalist theory of creation, or view- rent research. It is important to look at ev- points favoring freedom of choice for erything with an open mind. Even though abortion with those called ‘pro-life’?”5 there is currently a lack of supporting lit- This article provided real-life answers to erature on this topic, it is plausible to pre- questions posed by the previous articles. dict that as more reference librarians are It also showed the attitudes toward reli- confronted with questions about different gious works by selected public libraries. religions, more literature will be written. Although interesting, here again no dis- And as a more diverse population seeks tinction was made between core religious religious materials representative of their texts and companion works. It was taken own spiritual path, it will be important to for granted that libraries would own core include literature in our libraries that re- works. Assumptions such as this tend to flect this multiculturalism. Even current be Christian-centric and overlook other political climates provide more than non-Christian core works. enough motivation for libraries to recon- An article by David Gouker, “God Is sider their religious collection.