Week 14

Wow. This is a hefty issue to discuss and dive into - just starting with that. I discussed this concept in one of my discussions in another class, but I find it so difficult to talk about these issues without offending certain groups. Before even deciding my reasoning to separate these genres or not, I looked at the two articles on the public library in Orange City, IA. I was immediately attracted to these articles because I have family living there and I also went to college not far from there. Orange City is a commonly known Dutch town and it is very conservative. It would make sense why they would want these books to be labeled and post flyers about “your tax dollars” going to materials like LGBTQ fiction.

First, I must state that libraries are here for all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, and religion. Even though a certain group of materials may offend a certain group, another group may benefit from those materials. However, I feel books that discuss these intense and ever-changing social issues should be labeled in some way. I struggle with this concept because I’m not sure what is “right.” Parents should be aware of what their children read. Just looking at the book cover and summary aren’t always the best ways of checking content. If the parent didn’t check the book before reading it...and is upset that their child read a book from LGBTQ section, it is their fault. It is not the library’s fault for providing a book in that section. The parents should investigate and research the books their kids read. Maybe the library can provide information on those services. I think that the library can label books that discuss mature content, such as LGBTQ, with a simple sticker.

Many libraries across the country are now “genrefying” their libraries. Instead of putting their fiction into one big lump, they are categorizing them by genre. So all the mystery books will be together, realistic fiction will be put in a section, and historical fiction will be placed together - and so on and so forth. This could be a good way to label the books with LGBTQ themes or a document could be created that lists books that cover these types of materials.

As for African American Fiction, I don't think that it should be shelved separately. I do not belong in that culture, but I truly respect African American authors (and people in general!) and the novels they write. I guess I want to know why these books are labeled under African American fiction. Are they different than fiction from any other author? Why should they be separate if they focus on the same principles and concepts as the regular fiction section? Looking at a blog post, N.K. Jemison, an African American author, writes “I hate the “African American Fiction” section” (2010). Jemison’s books aren’t much different than those that are found in other fiction sections. Even though the African American Fiction section may attract patrons who wouldn’t look there normally, that reason isn’t enough. All books are equal, regardless of who wrote it.

Going through my thought processes above, I don’t think that these sections should be separated. By separating them, it may draw more attention to them, but it also may ostracize them in a worse way. Here is my reasoning:

1. All books are equal, regardless of author or subject.
• If an African American author writes a historical fiction novel, it should be placed where all the other historical fiction novels reside.
2. To separate the sections may cause more division between members of the community and the author him/herself.
• Separation can cause more attention, which may be good in some aspects. However, a patron could stumble on one of these genres they hadn’t been interested in before. By not labeling it, they were more interested in the genre, maybe even hooking them more onto the genre.
3. Libraries are places where community members and authors can come together, not be sectioned apart.
• Looking back to the Library Bill of Rights, it gets to the core of what libraries are to do in all situations.
• “Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation”
• “Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval” (2018, Library Bill of Rights).
• Libraries are called to provide all kinds of books - including LGBTQ and Street Lit - and they should be provided like every other kind of book. More resources concerning these topics may be beneficial to patrons, educating them on these kinds of books, but they shouldn’t be separate sections.

At our core, librarians are called to provide all kinds of books to all types of people. We are called to challenge censorship. Our calling shouldn’t overpower our personal beliefs, but that shouldn’t stop us from providing people with materials that may help or encourage them.

Resources

ALA. (2018). Library Bill of Rights. Retrieved from http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill.

Jemison, N.K. (2010, May 26). “Don’t put my book in the African American section.” Retrieved from http://nkjemisin.com/2010/05/dont-put-my-book-in-the-african-american-section/.