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Those with longish memories may recall that MLA published some guidelines on the provision of "controversial stock" which were founded on exactly these principles of robust stock policies and the CILIP statement about lawful publications. I am not sure what has happened to the publication with the demise of the MLA website but I trust it will have been archived by either the National Archives or the Arts Council (although Google is unable to point me towards it so maybe not?). The guidelines were endorsed by CILIP and I believe used by a number of library services in informing their own stock policies. I was involved in the development of the guidelines, which was done in close collaboration with SCL and CILIP among others. CILIP subsequently commissioned me to run a series of workshops around the country to publicise them which many stock managers attended. If anyone is interested, my presentation for those workshops, which contains the headlines from the guidance document, is available on Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/toonsarah/guidance-on-the-management-of-controversial-material-in-public-libraries Sarah Sarah Wilkie [log in to unmask] 07944 198812 www.sarahwilkieconsulting.co.uk http://about.me/sarahwilkie On 1 May 2012 10:00, Alyson Hogarth <[log in to unmask]>wrote: > > David makes a good point about stock policies, and it's worth making sure > they are robust whatever the management methodology of a particular library > service or branch (since these are rapidly changing in places) > CILIP's view which I paraphrase, is that if it may be lawfully published > in the UK it may lawfully be placed on our shelves . > > There will always be difficulties where adherents of one set of strongly > held views find themselves in conflict with holders of other views. Members > of the three monotheistic religions believe gay relationships to be sinful > for example. There are no easy answers to this sort of disagreement but a > good stock policy will certainly strengthen the hands of management. It > will also support those untrained volunteers who, whatever we think about > the increasing use of them, are probably for the most part trying to do > their best without the knowledge which underpins the professional workforce. > > Alyson Hogarth > Stock Manager > > 01642 729420 > > > *David Moger <[log in to unmask]>* > Sent by: "lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries" <[log in to unmask]> > > 01/05/2012 09:41 > Please respond to > David Moger <[log in to unmask]> > > To > [log in to unmask] > cc > Subject > Re: Banned books in libraries > > > > > Apologies for resurrecting this post from a week or so ago, but I've been > following a debate on banned books on another list and revisited this. The > thing that struck me is in the title of the article "books removed from > library shelves after parents complain they are offensive". > > What happened to the stock policy of these libraries? > > If a book is on library shelves it has been chosen by someone. In the > past it would have been chosen by a librarian, and a children's book may > well have been read and it's merits debated by a selection team. > > If the library has a stock policy (which i assume people in library > suppliers are using to choose books for their customers) then the library > authority has a powerful weapon in the defence of their right to stock a > particular book. And if things were done correctly the Stock policy would > have been signed off by senior library management and maybe even the > politicians. > > If the books which were subsequently banned conformed to the stock policy, > why were they banned? If they didn't, why were they bought in the first > place? > > > > David Moger > > > > Date: Mon, 23 Apr 2012 16:40:48 +0100 > > From: [log in to unmask] > > Subject: Re: Banned books in libraries > > To: [log in to unmask] > > > > " The survey of 98 library authorities took in more than 300 complaints > from the last five years about 'unsuitable, inappropriate or offensive' > works. Half of them were about children's books." > > > > > > So that's 150 complaints about children's books between 98 boroughs over > 5 years. My maths gives out here but it doesn't sound as if anyone is > exactly overwhelmed with Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells-type missives (or is > it the PC brigade?) > > > > > > Nicky Smith > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries [mailto: > [log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Wylie, Alan > > Sent: 23 April 2012 13:08 > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Subject: Re: Banned books in libraries > > > > I'm sure the Daily Mail has concocted this to fit in with their 'world > > view', it's a bit of an 'urban myth' that's being doing the rounds for > > years! I worked for Hackney Libraries years ago and we were accused by > > the 'Sun' of banning 'ba ba black sheep'! > > > > Alan Wylie > > Reference Librarian > > Islington > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: lis-pub-libs: UK Public Libraries > > [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ian Clark > > Sent: 23 April 2012 11:52 > > To: [log in to unmask] > > Subject: Banned books in libraries > > > > Apologies etc etc > > > > Anyone know the source for this survey that is doing the rounds in the > > right-wing press: > > > > http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2133798/Childrens-favourite-book > > s-removed-library-shelves-parents-complain-offensive.html > > > > I can't find a reference to the source of it anywhere. > > > > Of course, if this 'problem' is bad now, imagine how much worse it will > > be with community libraries springing up all over the place...which > > makes me wonder why some librarians want to encourage them. Is it now > > the position that some are happy to support a policy that will lead to > > increased censorship of the written word? Are librarians no longer > > bothered about censorship? Once it is farmed out to the community, is > > it no longer our problem? > > > > Ian Clark > > Library Systems Officer, > > Augustine House, > > Canterbury Christ Church University > > > > Email: [log in to unmask] > > Tel. 01227 767700 ext 3141 > > > > > > This e-mail is intended for the addressee only. If you have received it > in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from your > computer. 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