Erotica in Public Libraries

The decision to purchase erotic novels in public libraries is often quite controversial. Institutions opposed to purchasing such titles use a variety of reasons (such as budgetary concerns) to justify their decision. Libraries in favor of purchasing erotic novels often argue against censorship in libraries to rationalize their choice. Ultimately, the decision to include such titles within a library’s collection is based on a variety of factors: the library’s collection development policy and budget, library views on censorship, and the community in which the library is situated. In addition to these factors comes the most important issue to be addressed: is public access to erotic novels what our patrons need and want?

Research on the addition of more erotic titles into libraries began decades ago. A 1970’s study found that the majority (76%) of Americans polled felt that librarians should keep erotic titles out of the public library setting (White, 1981). However, it is important to note that the term used when questioning individuals in this study was “objectionable material”, which has negative connotations and may have encouraged respondents toward a more conservative viewpoint toward censorship (White, 1981). Not surprisingly, the minority of survey respondents (those in favor of allowing what could be considered “objectionable material” on the shelves) reported themselves as college-educated males that did not regularly attend church and possessed stronger liberal viewpoints than conservative (White, 1981). Clearly this representative sample of the American public did not support the inclusion of more suggestive titles into the collection, but that does not mean that views are still the same, more than 40 years later.

If the sales of erotic novels are any clue as to the public’s support, it is safe to say that they are well received. Even if the public as a whole tends to be against erotica, it must be determined if what the public says and what is actually done by the public reflect one another accurately. Previously, the majority of individuals may have opposed libraries purchasing erotic novels and providing access to them on library shelves, but their current private purchasing habits suggest a stronger interest in literature of this genre. For example, online erotica retailer Ellora’s Cave increased sales by 20% between the years 2005 and 2006 (Patrick, 2006). This dramatic increase in sales suggests that readers are interested in purchasing these titles and hungry for more. Though reports over the past few years admit a bit of a plateau in erotica sales, there is still a strong market for these titles (Bond, 2009).

Any library that considers purchasing erotica (or other rather steamy titles) must prepare for the inevitable issue involving an offended community member. For every patron delighted by the availability of these stories in the collection, there will be (at least) one that may be disturbed by the content. Unfortunately for libraries, individuals offended by one choice out of a catalog filled with 341,109 other materials are likely to yell louder than the individuals who had no issues with any library materials. Even more unfortunately for libraries, offended persons are likely to be upset over materials much milder than erotica. The American Library Association compiles a list of materials that have been challenged across the country and some of the titles appear to be quite trivial compared to the potential issues that could arise from purchasing erotica. The Great Gatsby, The Catcher in the Rye and The Grapes of Wrath are some classic materials known to offend (American Library Association, 2012). Librarians choosing to indulge in an erotica collection must be aware of their library’s policies regarding material collection in order to properly address any issues that may arise with disgruntled patrons.

Fortunately for librarians in the midst of encountering an offended patron, there are a variety of materials available that can help explain the library’s policies and hopefully neutralize the situation. First, librarians should be aware of the collection development policies in place at their particular institution. Many libraries provide statements to justify virtually any purchasing decision, similar to this “[A goal of the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library is] to provide materials in the areas of opposing viewpoints and controversy, representing all sides of these areas, that as citizens we may develop logical, critical thinking, and evaluation” (Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, 2012). Essentially, libraries are able to collect whatever items they feel are necessary, even if the items may offend some individuals. Librarians are able to use these collection development policies as established, written proof of the library’s purchasing procedures. Secondly, many public libraries support the ALA’s Freedom to Read Statement, which passionately states:

“there is no place in our society for efforts to coerce the taste of others, to confine adults to the reading matter deemed suitable for adolescents, or to inhibit the efforts of writers to achieve artistic expression” (American Library Association, Freedom to Read Statement, 2012).

Librarians are given many tools to argue against the removal of objectionable material from the library, and should be prepared to use them when necessary.

One argument made by librarians which supports the non-collection of erotic materials in libraries is that the writing in such titles is not very well developed, and that the portion of the budget used to purchase such materials would be best suited for more literary items. Though it is likely that the newest Zane novel will not compare with a classic like Anna Karenina, many libraries will serve a greater number of patrons through the former than the latter. Yes, part of the mission of public libraries is to educate community members, but how can that happen if community members see the library as a stuffy place with snooty books? Sometimes it is necessary for libraries to buy slightly less developed materials to bait hesitant community members, and perhaps use this interaction to provide them with supplemental materials.

However, is this what public libraries are all about? Sure, we want to educate our patrons and encourage them to grow, but we do not want that encouragement to come at the price of alienation. Many librarians were known a century ago for being anti-fiction, feeling that such rubbish was a waste of time and encouraged idleness. It is likely that in a century librarians will feel similarly about current librarians that do not recognize the importance of erotica within the library. It is not our place to judge what the reader chooses, after all, “The Five Laws of Librarian Science” according to Ranganathan states “every reader his (or her) book, and every book its reader” (Wikipedia, 2012). There is a time and a place for erotica and it should not be the librarian’s decision to determine which materials are more suitable in terms of literary value for individuals.

Literary value has a time and a place in libraries, but it should not necessarily be at the expense of use. As many libraries are now realizing, classic literature is not necessarily highly consumed by their communities. Some libraries in Virginia are pulling and removing “classic” titles, such as For Whom the Bell Tolls, from their shelves because they haven’t been checked out in at least two years (Miller, 2007). Libraries absolutely must be aware of their community’s unique needs and adjust their collection development policy to suit what is most beneficial to patrons. What is the point of having a large collection of materials that no one wants to use? Libraries are not simply archives. While it is important to have a diverse collection of materials available to the public, some materials will clearly need to take precedence over others. Many public libraries would serve their patrons and communities better were they to provide access to an entire set of World Books rather than a large collection of erotica novels. However, if the budget is available and community members are actively seeking titles from the erotica genre, it is important that public libraries are able to provide access to a collection of such materials.

Unfortunately, the likelihood that patrons will actively search for and request such titles is a bit questionable. Many community members may be embarrassed to request erotic materials or to be seen reading them, and may therefore hide their interest in accessing them through public libraries. Fortunately, recent technological advancements are likely to help combat this shyness, as erotica e-books are becoming increasingly popular. Between 2006 and 2007 there was a 20% increase in e-book sales from Wild Rose Press, and it is likely that a significant portion of the increase was from erotica titles, as they are 10 times more successful than any other releases (Robbins, 2008). Providing these titles in a variety of formats is likely to appeal to a larger number of library users. However, it is still important that librarians are able to welcome patrons that may show apprehension for requesting more risqué literature, because that interaction has the ability to make or break the patron’s trust.

Public libraries have a duty to provide their communities with access to a variety of materials, and that may include erotica. If erotica sales are any clue as to their popularity, it is clear that the general public is interested in pursuing these titles. Librarians must be tuned in to the needs of their community members and potentially be able to provide these materials in a variety of formats while tactfully discussing them with interested patrons. In the cases of opposition to such materials, librarians should be well versed in their library’s collection development policy and the ALA’s Freedom to Read Statement, which demands a variety of viewpoints be made available. Most importantly, librarians need to realize what is truly utilized by their community and attempt to somewhat meet their needs, because an unused library is a wasted library, and dangling the appealing fruit of erotic novels at tentative or doubtful users may open up a whole new literary world to them.





References

American Library Association. (2012). Freedom to read statement. http://www.ala.org/offices/oif/statementspols/ftrstatement/freedomreadstatement

American Library Association. (2012). Reasons for challenges to classics. http://www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedclassics/reasonsbanned

Bond, G. (2009). Selling sex in a recession. Publishers Weekly, 256(31), 16-20. Retrieved from Library Literature & Information Full Text March 3, 2012

Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library. (2012). Library materials selection policy: Statement of policy. http://www.evpl.org/aboutus/policies/materialselection.aspx

Miller, J. (2007). Should libraries’ target audience be cheapskates with mass-market tastes? Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/article/SB116778551807865463.html

Patrick, B. K. (2006). It’s not just you- it really is hot in here. Publisher’s Weekly, 253(29), 23-26. Retrieved from Library Literature & Information Full Text March 3, 2012

Robbins, S. J. (2008). The new e- in erotica. Publishers weekly, 255(5), 25-32. Retrieved from Library Literature & Information Full Text March 3, 2012

White, H. D. (1981). Library censorship and the permissive minority. The Library Quarterly, 51(2), 192-207. Retrieved from JSTORE March 2, 2012.

Wikipedia. (2012). Five laws of library science. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_laws_of_library_science

"Interview with the Vampire" -Anne Rice

Image source

Rice, Anne. (1995). Interview with the Vampire. Random House.

In the year 1791, Louis becomes a vampire. Unfortunately, Louis’ maker, Lestat, is the complete opposite of Louis and the epitome of everything he despises. Their dislike of one another intensifies until Lestat decides to make another vampire child, Claudia, who is literally quite young when she is ‘changed’. Louis is momentarily mollified through his growing love for Claudia, who begins to become frustrated with her permanent child-like state. An intense battle between Claudia, Lestat and Louis leads to Louis and Claudia escaping to Europe to seek more vampires like themselves, filled with dangerous experiences that prove fatal for a number of those involved.

Click here for more information on Anne Rice 

Appeals: 

• dark tone
• flawed character 
• rich detail

Read alike books*:

• The Historian –Elizabeth Kostova
• The Cell –Stephen King
• Dark Curse –Christine Feehan

Read alike authors*:

• Tanith Lee
• Donna Boyd
• John Farris

*information located through NoveList database

"Contest" -Matthew Reilly

Image source

Reilly, Matthew. (2003). Contest. Thomas Dunne Books.

Stephen Swain is about to encounter six extra-terrestrials with the same goal: to end his life. Swain is teleported into the New York Public Library for the Seventh Presidian, a contest in which intelligent life from a variety of planets fight to the death. With no prior knowledge of even the existence of extra-terrestrials, Swain is a bit behind and is brought up to speed through the knowledge of his guide, Selexin, whose survival depends on Swain’s ability to outsmart and kill his rivals. Not only must Swain battle these other worldly creatures, many of whom have special powers, he must also protect his young daughter Holly, who was accidentally teleported with him. Danger escalates when men from the NSA attempt to enter the library and encounter these beings, without proper knowledge what is occurring. Incredibly fast-paced and well developed, Matthew Reilly’s Contest will have readers on the edge of their seats until the last page. 

Searching for more books by Matthew Reilly? Click here!

Wuthering Bites

Wuthering Bites is a delightfully dark mix of vampires and the classic, tragic love story of Cathy and Heathcliff, from Charlotte Bronte’s Wuthering Heights.

Significant parts of this new, twisted story match that of Wuthering Heights, with the simple addition of vampires in the mix. Heathcliff and Cathy’s bond begin when her father brings the orphan home and introduces him as her new brother, though Cathy’s blood brother Hindley is less than pleased. Heathcliff’s gypsy blood is apparent, but there is a much darker secret that he is hiding from his new family: the fact that he is a vampire. After Cathy’s betrayal, Heathcliff disappears to make his fortune and then returns to enact his revenge upon the evil Hindley and his family, all while mourning the death of Cathy, who dies soon after his return. This classic story envelopes the new vampire obsession with surprising ease, and is destined to leave readers with a deeper understanding of the story.

Secret Shopper

I went to a library in the Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library system to do some secret library shopping. In this particular library I wandered around the fiction stacks a bit before scoping out the librarians; there were two at a reference desk and they seemed to be answering quite a few questions, so I felt bad taking up their time. Anyway, I walked up to the desk and was greeted with a friendly smile (thankfully!) and asked how I could be helped….

Me: Hi! I’m looking for something to read...

Librarian: Ok, do you have a specific title or author that I could look up?

Me: No, I was kind of hoping you could give me a recommendation of some sort.

Librarian: Oh, ok! Well, do you have a specific author or book that you really like?

Me: Well…I just read the Hunger Games and really liked them, but I was hoping for something more for adults because I tend to read a lot of Young Adult stuff.

Librarian: Ok, so you’re trying to get out of the Young Adult area...let’s see what we can find

At this point, he is clearly searching something on the computer but I have no idea what it is…my gut instinct is that it was NoveList because I know they have a subscription to that database. He seemed to be struggling since I wanted to find a crossover from YA to Adult fiction.

Librarian: Well, what did you like about the Hunger Games?

Me: Ohhh, I really liked that it was in a different sort of world, I guess I kind of like fantasy books like that.

Librarian: Would you be interested in a series?

Me: Definitely!

Librarian: Ok, let me show you what I’ve found and we can see if it’s something that you would like…

He led me over to the Charlaine Harris series that True Blood is based on (which I’ve actually already read…but I didn’t want to tell him that) and told me to look at it and he would see if he could find the first book somewhere. They didn’t have it at that library so he let me know the other branches where it could be found (but never discussed putting a hold on it and getting it sent to this library) and when I seemed interested showed me to the second book in the series. Then he said that I shouldn’t blame him too much if I didn’t like it because he really had no idea with those books…which kind of made me question his assistance, though he was very friendly and helpful the entire time. Overall it was a much more positive experience than I expected to have.

Note: I'm sorry that this was posted late, my plan was to have this happen Thursday afternoon and my dentist appointment in the morning that was scheduled to be a simple teeth cleaning actually turned into two teeth being yanked, so I was busy spending quality time with a pillow and painkillers all day.

"The Higher Power of Lucky" -Susan Patron

Susan Patron’s The Higher Power of Lucky provides readers with a large list of possible topics that could be discussed one-on-one, or in a group setting. Addiction plays a large role in the community, as does unemployment. The wide variety of family situations present in Hard Pan offers a particularly strong base for conversations between younger readers and adults.

 Lucky’s personal life shows examples of divorce, abandonment, the grief of losing a parent, and the uncertainty that comes with having a guardian that (through Lucky’s point of view) does not seem fully invested in parenting a child. Each of these experiences alone can provide quite a bit of uncertainty for children; the combination of these situations in Lucky’s life help explain why she is so intent on finding her “Higher Power”. Miles’ family situation also provides discussion points, as many children likely have parents that are incarcerated for one reason or another. His obsession with the book Are You My Mother? is heartbreaking, and may be something that older readers pick up on. These unique family situations may jumpstart conversations about family structure that are necessary, as many children live in families that depart from the traditional nuclear model. Stories that highlight the many potential differences in family structure offer youth the opportunity to discuss differences without making it personal (which may discourage in depth and honest conversations).

Despite the many serious discussion points that are provided throughout the story, the author does manage to keep the book light. As Elissa Gershowitz says the “tale of a grieving, insecure girl is never heavy-handed or maudlin, due in part to quiet bursts of humor.” Lucky’s quirky personality and natural interest in a variety of subjects provide adequate distraction from the mature themes in the book.

Ultimately, I believe that the recommended age group seems a bit too young. However, I think that there is the potential for some very valuable discussions with teachers or parents regarding the more serious topics that arise in Lucky’s life.

References

Gershowitz, E. (2007). “The Higher Power of Lucky” The Horn Book, 83(1), Jan/Feb. Accessed through Wilson Web.

Librarian Infographic

Our discussion in Reader's Advisory class tonight reminded me of something that I had pinned recently. If you go to the link below it has some interesting information regarding librarian gender, age, pay grade, etc. It only takes a moment to read. Enjoy!

http://dailyinfographic.com/anatomy-of-a-librarian-infographic