School Library Journal recently had an article chastising those in our profession for what we don’t buy.  “A Dirty LIttle Secret:  Self-Censorship”.  I read it.  I pondered it.  And then I asked myself the questions that always plague me when censorship within the profession is discussed, “Why am I only a good librarian if I allow everything?  Can’t good librarians reject things?”

Then I read an SLJ blog post’s rebuttal to the article.  It was stated much more strongly and radically than I would have written, but I found I agreed with a lot of what The Annoyed Librarian had to say.  I wouldn’t have said it quite that way, however… I’m not allowed to use the “f” word. 

I asked my father what f___ meant when I heard it on the playground in third grade.   My question was truly innocent.  He told me in no uncertain terms exactly what it meant and that I was NEVER to use that word again.  I have not.  Ever. 

In my undergraduate child psychology class, however, I remembered that incident.  I went home on break and informed my father that he had completely overreacted to an innocent childish question.  My father asked, “Have you ever used the word.”  “No,” I replied.  “There’s your psychology,” said father.   You’ve got to love the direct ways of the farmer…

So without the “f” word, I’ll add only a little to The Annoyed Librarian’s rant and I will also acknowledge a valid warning in the SLJ article.  I must be careful as I purchase books not to allow my own prejudices to color my selection.  But the SLJ article was not about my prejudices, it was about allowing the anticipation of perceived or real threats of outside objections to color my purchases.  That is a valid warning; I must guard against that as well!  If I don’t buy a good title just because I know it will upset Mrs. SoNSo, I’m not doing my job. 

I know that “Man who walk down middle of road get run over by trucks from both directions”, but I find myself in the middle as I select controversial materials.  First, I make sure I read most fiction completely, but especially those with potential controversy.  When I read the title, I better find something in it to make it worth defending. 

And ALA and SLJ, I’m sorry – many of the awards have lost their credibility with me.  I shall continue to approach all award titles with skepticism and I will decide for myself whether that title is worth defending. 

The word scrotum did not particularly disturb me in The HIgher Power of Lucky, but I also didn’t see how it added to the value of the book or how it was integral to the story.  I also did not think the title was well written.  It had some wonderful characters and was somewhat engaging, but the author totally dropped the title’s theme!  Dropped it!  Gone!  It was a good story, but not a good piece of literature.  So SLJ – add me to your dirty list.  I didn’t buy it.  It wasn’t worth fighting for!

That is my mantra with controversial materials.  Is the book worth fighting for?  If not, I’ve got better things to do with my limited budget.