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[CCBC-Net] re raburns query
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From: James Elliott <j_c_elliott>
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 08:49:23 -0500
While for the most part I agree with Ellen that most reviews are going to be
'neutral' in that they primarily address the content of a work, there are
'wonky' librarians in charge of collection development out there who do have what can only be termed a 'liberal bias' (refusing to catalog, say, Rush Limbaugh's or Bill O'Reilly's books).
For example, the article on Religious books in libraries in ALA's magazine
"American Libraries" a few years ago that interviewed library directors who REFUSED to catalog any Christian books because they felt it their duty to uphold the 'separation of Church and State'. They went as far as to say that any Christian books donated to the library would automatically be shunted off to the Friend's book sale!
I actually worked under a library manager with this view, and it was frustrating when a High School student would come in and look for books on Catholicism or Mormonism or a copy of the New International Version of the Bible (we had one copy of the King James Version -- purely for literary reasons) and have to be told, "we don't have any". Fortunately, the Library I currently work at does not follow this policy!
James Elliott, Reference Librarian Gadsden County Public Library System 341 E. Jefferson Street Quincy, FL. 32351-2531
>From: Ellen Levine <ellenlev at verizon.net>
>To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
>Subject: [CCBC-Net] re raburns query
>Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2006 14:01:16 -0500
>
> There's a fundamental problem with the question about so-called
>"liberal bias" sites. And I think it's a grave mistake to buy into
>any description of Booklist, ALA, SLJ, VOYA, and other main
>information sources about YA and children's books as biased. It's a
>typical manipulative device to make us hop and jump and rush in to
>express our nervousness.
> Such an assertion of "liberal bias" doesn't really have to
>do with finding "unbiased" reviews. The search for "balance," in fact
>comes (would come, if this is hypothetical) from a source that wants
>to unbalance us. Let's not fall into that trap. If someone wants
>reviews with a particular political slant, there are leftwing and
>rightwing sites for that. If you want a "Christian" angle, go to a
>Christian site.
> It's all part of a campaign to label as "liberal" (and
>therefore discredit) what they disagree with. Let's not forget the
>recent case of Senator Chuck Hagel, self-described conservative
>Republican, labeled a "liberal," and sited as part of the "liberal
>bias" of public television when he said he disagreed with President
>Bush's Iraq war policy.
> Tell such a parent these are standard children's book sites, and
>therefore the ones you monitor. If he/she wants another voice, google
>away.
>
>Ellen Levine
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>CCBC-Net mailing list
>CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
>Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
>http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Wed 29 Mar 2006 07:49:23 AM CST
Date: Wed, 29 Mar 2006 08:49:23 -0500
While for the most part I agree with Ellen that most reviews are going to be
'neutral' in that they primarily address the content of a work, there are
'wonky' librarians in charge of collection development out there who do have what can only be termed a 'liberal bias' (refusing to catalog, say, Rush Limbaugh's or Bill O'Reilly's books).
For example, the article on Religious books in libraries in ALA's magazine
"American Libraries" a few years ago that interviewed library directors who REFUSED to catalog any Christian books because they felt it their duty to uphold the 'separation of Church and State'. They went as far as to say that any Christian books donated to the library would automatically be shunted off to the Friend's book sale!
I actually worked under a library manager with this view, and it was frustrating when a High School student would come in and look for books on Catholicism or Mormonism or a copy of the New International Version of the Bible (we had one copy of the King James Version -- purely for literary reasons) and have to be told, "we don't have any". Fortunately, the Library I currently work at does not follow this policy!
James Elliott, Reference Librarian Gadsden County Public Library System 341 E. Jefferson Street Quincy, FL. 32351-2531
>From: Ellen Levine <ellenlev at verizon.net>
>To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
>Subject: [CCBC-Net] re raburns query
>Date: Sun, 26 Mar 2006 14:01:16 -0500
>
> There's a fundamental problem with the question about so-called
>"liberal bias" sites. And I think it's a grave mistake to buy into
>any description of Booklist, ALA, SLJ, VOYA, and other main
>information sources about YA and children's books as biased. It's a
>typical manipulative device to make us hop and jump and rush in to
>express our nervousness.
> Such an assertion of "liberal bias" doesn't really have to
>do with finding "unbiased" reviews. The search for "balance," in fact
>comes (would come, if this is hypothetical) from a source that wants
>to unbalance us. Let's not fall into that trap. If someone wants
>reviews with a particular political slant, there are leftwing and
>rightwing sites for that. If you want a "Christian" angle, go to a
>Christian site.
> It's all part of a campaign to label as "liberal" (and
>therefore discredit) what they disagree with. Let's not forget the
>recent case of Senator Chuck Hagel, self-described conservative
>Republican, labeled a "liberal," and sited as part of the "liberal
>bias" of public television when he said he disagreed with President
>Bush's Iraq war policy.
> Tell such a parent these are standard children's book sites, and
>therefore the ones you monitor. If he/she wants another voice, google
>away.
>
>Ellen Levine
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>CCBC-Net mailing list
>CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
>Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe...
>http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Wed 29 Mar 2006 07:49:23 AM CST
