[UK] One third of librarians asked to censor or remove books

cormack12

Gold Member
Source: https://amp.theguardian.com/books/2...ed-to-censor-or-remove-books-research-reveals

Librarians are increasingly being asked to censor or remove books, and have also faced threats in discussions about the removal of books.

Research carried out by the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (Cilip), the UK's library and information association, found that a third of librarians had been asked by members of the public to censor or remove books, indicating that such incidences "had increased significantly in recent years", according to Cilip's chief executive, Nick Poole. The most targeted books involve empire, race and LGBTQ+ themes.

Thankfully it seems there is still common sense in the real world

Some 82% of librarians said they were concerned about the increase in such requests.

"There is no such thing as censorship in public libraries," said Hunter. "We don't know of any libraries that have trigger warnings."
 
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I expected better from you British people.
Dougie Payne Doctor GIF by Travis
 
Asking Librarians to censor or ban books... Fucking cunts! There are some utter shits in this world. Who the hell do these people think they are? Cunts, that is what they are. Somebody needs to write a book about them.
 
I would have to see the books in question, because some of them are really not age appropriate and need to be in proper sections. From what I've seen, both sides have their points to make in this whole "book banning" debate
 
Gotta be in London, which in that case...they're not English.
 
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"Some of the public debate is reaching librarians," Poole said. "We've heard reports of requests to remove materials that deal with race and empire and Britain's colonial heritage."

"We've even had a round table with some librarians who've received personal threats of violence around their work on decolonising collections, or balancing that historical perspective in their collections. Part of our job is to maintain book stock that tells the whole of that story and to be unafraid in telling that story," he added. "No librarian should ever be in fear of their wellbeing or safety as a result of doing their job for the public."
Poole said the other big area where librarians had received requests for removals was books with LGBTQ+ themes or characters.
Obviously we can't teach the kids about the negative aspects of the British Empire.

P.s. I know all Empires were shitty and it isn't fair to judge people on modern standards.
 
I would have to see the books in question, because some of them are really not age appropriate and need to be in proper sections. From what I've seen, both sides have their points to make in this whole "book banning" debate
What does "age appropriate" have to do with these libraries?
This article is about Libraries in general not just school libraries.
 
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Gotta be in London, which in that case...they're not English.
Yeah it'll definitely be largely liberal culturally diverse London, with a large LGBTQ community, that would be putting in requests to ban books around topics on race, empire and the LGBTQ community.

Season 3 GIF by Parks and Recreation
 
It with be different groups for the different subjects not the same group requesting it.

100% it will be practicing Christians (what's left of them) and Muslims requesting the books on LGBTQ to be banned. Ironically you will find in tower Hamlets public libraries lots of questionable jihadist material.

The empire request will be from ethnic minorities. Alot legit hate the union jack because of empire etc.

Ban on race books? No idea who would be requesting that
 
What does "age appropriate" have to do with these libraries?
This article is about Libraries in general not just school libraries.
Uhhh, do I have spell out "age appropriate" to you? Really? There's different sections for different things. I'm not saying to ban the books, just not have brontosaurus bondage on the top shelf
 
Uhhh, do I have spell out "age appropriate" to you? Really? There's different sections for different things. I'm not saying to ban the books, just not have brontosaurus bondage on the top shelf
Why the attitude? I wasnt rude?

I didnt see the sections reference in your post for some reason.
 
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Any chance this also includes school libraries? Because that's the only sort of "maybe we should be a little critical about who can read what" that I could understand.
 
Any chance this also includes school libraries? Because that's the only sort of "maybe we should be a little critical about who can read what" that I could understand.

If I could guess, pretty much the first target will be libraries schools. They have the 'think about the children' card.
 
I thought the title meant that the librarians asked to censor/remove books :messenger_tears_of_joy:

I am not usually for physical media but if this is the slippery slope we're going down then we need to protect it at all costs and stop ourselves going down a 1984/Fahrenheit future. I have a Kindle and I'm aware it can be updated and changed at any time but I will still always buy my favourite books in paperback.

Any chance this also includes school libraries? Because that's the only sort of "maybe we should be a little critical about who can read what" that I could understand.
My school library didn't let us read some horror books until a certain age but that was about it as far as I can remember. Even then we could read it but never were allowed to check it out. This was the 90's though. Our library had a lot of really good stuff. One of my favourite books I found was one about overthrowing religion and literally killing god. I was maybe about 12 years old at the time when I first read it.

I don't mind that approach where they have all sorts of different books but maybe have to judge when is the best time for someone to read it. It's the same for games or movies. Parents should be able to decide when they think is the best time for their kids to read/watch/play something. I've been playing GTA since I was 9 and done me no harm but I get why everyone was against kids playing it.
 
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Yeah it'll definitely be largely liberal culturally diverse London, with a large LGBTQ community, that would be putting in requests to ban books around topics on race, empire and the LGBTQ community.

Season 3 GIF by Parks and Recreation

Where did TGO TGO say they were liberal?
 
We are unfortunately having the same problem in the US, with some libraries being threatened to shut down. Its a really sad state of affairs.
 
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