Banned Books — Weak

The book in question — Ban my book, please!

Banned books usually make us think of inappropriate library materials at middle schools, maybe intense subject matter at high schools. Yet one would think a library on a college campus is immune; after all, this is where free thinking is encouraged.

That’s why I was surprised last spring when a patron demanded that the Billington Library ban a book. The book, Mapplethorpe, contained nude images along with other photographs.

She complained that children shouldn’t have acess to it.

I urged her to put that in our suggestion box.

But what I really wanted to say was, “Hello? Earth to crazy lady: this is a college library not childrens’ story hour at Borders.”

Materials at college libraries differs from those at public libraries because our primary charge is to provide materials that support courses. That matierial provide is selected to provoke thought, expand minds and facilitate discussions. Librarians work with instructors to procure material that enhances the required and suggested texts students purchase.

Sometimes that material is ugly, violent, sacrilegious or even naked.

If you can’t find material in a college library that offends you, then they aren’t doing their jobs.

El Libro del Día

Primera Página: Poetry from the Latino Heartland
Latino Writers Collective
Scapegoat Press, 2008

Members of the Latino Writers Collective, a local writers group, will read selections from their book, Primera Página, at Johnson County Community College in the Nerman Museum’s Hudson Auditorium, Thursday, Sept. 24.

Along with the group’s veteran members, the reading and discussion will feature the collective’s JCCC student members.

Rigoberto González, author of Butterfly Boy and Men without Bliss, examined Primera Página in a posting on Critical Mass, the blog of the National Book Critics Circle Board of Directors.

“Fourteen distinct voices contribute to this anthology, showcasing an impressive range of subject matter and poetic traditions that make it difficult to pin down ‘poetry from the Midwest.’ If anything, it’s interesting to see how a number of the poets bring to the work other landscapes, like Mexico, the Southwest, the East Coast and even Europe, although it’s clear that the Midwest is home, or the home away from home.”

The Latino Writers Collective appears as part of the college’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebration and is sponsored by newly formed Hispanic student group, LUNA (Latinos United Now and Always), and the college’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

The Latino Writers Collective: readings and discussion
Welcoming reception begins at 6 pm.
Readings start at 7 pm.

Hudson Auditorium in the Nerman Museum,
Johnson County Community College
Overland Park, Kan.

INFODESK: Fingers

“Where’s the … “

Wheres the ...

The library veterans call it air traffic control.

The first few weeks of the semester we spend most of our time directing students to the restrooms, Student Center, Testing Center, Writing Center and just about any other “center” on campus (except the center of a Tootsie Roll pop, which is where I will direct myself in a few moments).

Anyone walking into the library is likely to catch us pointing (sorry, mom) to the “invisible” wooden doors on the staircase to the second floor. We call them invisible because no one seems to be able to see them unless we point to them like bird dogs.

So don’t worry if you see big Hispanic guy at the Infodesk extending a finger, it’s probably just me to telling you where to go … you know, on campus.