Subject
"Lolita" at the library (in Florida)
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----- Forwarded message from spklein52@hotmail.com -----
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 16:02:56 -0400
From: "Sandy P. Klein" <spklein52@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: SPKlein52@HotMail.com
Subject: "Lolita," a novel written by Vladimir Nabokov about a man's love ...
To: spklein52@hotmail.com
http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050922/NEWS/209220401/1001/News01[2]
Library declines to review books for appropriateness
Ocala.com, FL - 8 hours ago
... 8 filed the statement regarding "Lolita," a novel written by
Vladimir NABOKOV about a man's love for his 12-year-old stepdaughter.
...
-------------------------
Article published Sep 22, 2005
LIBRARY DECLINES TO REVIEW BOOKS FOR APPROPRIATENESS
RESIDENTS FILED STATEMENTS OF CONCERN OVER BOOKS TO TEST NEW COUNTY
POLICIES.
OCALA - Neither the county's library director nor the Marion County
Commission will review three books in the library's collection
brought to their attention by two library patrons.
"It was determined that, because they were not asking the library to
take any action to do anything, that there was nothing for the
library to do," Library Director Julie Sieg said.
Terry Blaes and Brian Creekbaum filed Statements of Concern under the
county's new policy for addressing concerns about the appropriateness
of library materials. These were the first requests filed under the
new policy.
Blaes, a member of the county's now-defunct Library Advisory Board,
on Aug. 8 filed the statement regarding "Lolita," a novel written by
Vladimir Nabokov about a man's love for his 12-year-old stepdaughter.
Creekbaum, a library patron, filed two statements on Sept. 6, one
concerning "My Two Uncles," a book written by Judith Vigna about a
man's failure to accept his son's homosexuality, which turns to
acceptance by the end of the book, and another, "Abortion: A Positive
Decision," written by Patricia Lunnenborg.
In their statements, both Blaes and Creekbaum wrote that they were
not hurt by the books, nor did they want the library to do anything
with the books, such as removing them from the shelves. But they did
ask that the books be reviewed for appropriateness by the Marion
County Commission.
After receiving the statements, Sieg formed three committees, one to
review each of the books, as required by the procedures for handling
Statements of Concern. But after consultation with County Attorney
Gordon Johnston, Sieg disbanded the committees and sent letters to
Blaes and Creekbaum saying that no action on the books would be
taken.
Both Blaes and Creekbaum said their statements were valid.
"No one who ever brought a book to the Library Advisory Board to
complain about it claimed to be personally harmed," Blaes said. "They
all were worried about someone else being personally harmed."
Creekbaum said that because Sieg formed the committees, she must have
believed that his Statements of Concern were valid requests.
"Her judgment is reflected in the appointment of those committees
before her superiors in the county government intervened," Creekbaum
said.
But attorney Gordon Johnston said the committee and the library
director are the library, and they were not asked to do anything.
"They can't override their own procedure," Johnston said about the
County Commissioners. He said that, because Blaes and Creekbaum did
not want the library to take any action on the books, there was no
decision to appeal to the County Commission.
"What are they asking the board to do?" Johnston asked. "Review
what?"
The County Commission in April dissolved the citizen Library Advisory
Board and, the following month, instituted a policy that allows the
commissioners to decide whether a book they consider inappropriate
for children - even if that book was located in the adult section -
would be placed on a restricted list and into a restricted area.
Under the new procedures, when a Statement of Concern is received,
the library director forms a committee of three librarians to review
the material in question. Within four weeks, the committee writes a
recommendation to the library director.
The library director then has two weeks to write a response complete
with a decision to the person who raised the concern. That person has
30 days to appeal that decision.
The County Commission must hear the appeal within 45 days from the
date of notice of appeal. It then has 30 days to issue a written
decision. An appeal of the commission's decision is made to the
Circuit Court of the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
Blaes said that because the County Commission has instituted the
policy that says the commission, not the library or a library board,
will decide what material will appear on the library's shelves, that
those decisions should be made in a public forum.
"We need to know the criteria they will use to judge books in the
library, so I think I will probably resubmit it," Blaes said about
her Statement of Concern.
Susan Latham Carr may be reached at susan.carr@starbanner.com or
867-4156.
Sieg
OCALA - Neither the county's library director nor the Marion County
Commission will review three books in the library's collection
brought to their attention by two library patrons.
"It was determined that, because they were not asking the library to
take any action to do anything, that there was nothing for the
library to do," Library Director Julie Sieg said.
Terry Blaes and Brian Creekbaum filed Statements of Concern under the
county's new policy for addressing concerns about the appropriateness
of library materials. These were the first requests filed under the
new policy.
Blaes, a member of the county's now-defunct Library Advisory Board,
on Aug. 8 filed the statement regarding "Lolita," a novel written by
Vladimir Nabokov about a man's love for his 12-year-old stepdaughter.
Creekbaum, a library patron, filed two statements on Sept. 6, one
concerning "My Two Uncles," a book written by Judith Vigna about a
man's failure to accept his son's homosexuality, which turns to
acceptance by the end of the book, and another, "Abortion: A Positive
Decision," written by Patricia Lunnenborg.
In their statements, both Blaes and Creekbaum wrote that they were
not hurt by the books, nor did they want the library to do anything
with the books, such as removing them from the shelves. But they did
ask that the books be reviewed for appropriateness by the Marion
County Commission.
After receiving the statements, Sieg formed three committees, one to
review each of the books, as required by the procedures for handling
Statements of Concern. But after consultation with County Attorney
Gordon Johnston, Sieg disbanded the committees and sent letters to
Blaes and Creekbaum saying that no action on the books would be
taken.
Both Blaes and Creekbaum said their statements were valid.
"No one who ever brought a book to the Library Advisory Board to
complain about it claimed to be personally harmed," Blaes said. "They
all were worried about someone else being personally harmed."
Creekbaum said that because Sieg formed the committees, she must have
believed that his Statements of Concern were valid requests.
"Her judgment is reflected in the appointment of those committees
before her superiors in the county government intervened," Creekbaum
said.
But attorney Gordon Johnston said the committee and the library
director are the library, and they were not asked to do anything.
"They can't override their own procedure," Johnston said about the
County Commissioners. He said that, because Blaes and Creekbaum did
not want the library to take any action on the books, there was no
decision to appeal to the County Commission.
"What are they asking the board to do?" Johnston asked. "Review
what?"
The County Commission in April dissolved the citizen Library Advisory
Board and, the following month, instituted a policy that allows the
commissioners to decide whether a book they consider inappropriate
for children - even if that book was located in the adult section -
would be placed on a restricted list and into a restricted area.
Under the new procedures, when a Statement of Concern is received,
the library director forms a committee of three librarians to review
the material in question. Within four weeks, the committee writes a
recommendation to the library director.
The library director then has two weeks to write a response complete
with a decision to the person who raised the concern. That person has
30 days to appeal that decision.
The County Commission must hear the appeal within 45 days from the
date of notice of appeal. It then has 30 days to issue a written
decision. An appeal of the commission's decision is made to the
Circuit Court of the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
Blaes said that because the County Commission has instituted the
policy that says the commission, not the library or a library board,
will decide what material will appear on the library's shelves, that
those decisions should be made in a public forum.
"We need to know the criteria they will use to judge books in the
library, so I think I will probably resubmit it," Blaes said about
her Statement of Concern.
________
_Susan Latham Carr may be reached at (352) 867-4156 or
susan.carr@starbanner.com[3]._
-------------------------
Library Director Julie Sieg
=======================
"We need to know the criteria they will use to judge books in the
library."
Terry Blaes
_former member of now-defunct Library Advisory Board_
Links:
------
[1] http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
[2]
http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050922/NEWS/209220401/1001/News01
[3] mailto:susan.carr@starbanner.com
----- End forwarded message -----
Date: Thu, 22 Sep 2005 16:02:56 -0400
From: "Sandy P. Klein" <spklein52@hotmail.com>
Reply-To: SPKlein52@HotMail.com
Subject: "Lolita," a novel written by Vladimir Nabokov about a man's love ...
To: spklein52@hotmail.com
http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050922/NEWS/209220401/1001/News01[2]
Library declines to review books for appropriateness
Ocala.com, FL - 8 hours ago
... 8 filed the statement regarding "Lolita," a novel written by
Vladimir NABOKOV about a man's love for his 12-year-old stepdaughter.
...
-------------------------
Article published Sep 22, 2005
LIBRARY DECLINES TO REVIEW BOOKS FOR APPROPRIATENESS
RESIDENTS FILED STATEMENTS OF CONCERN OVER BOOKS TO TEST NEW COUNTY
POLICIES.
OCALA - Neither the county's library director nor the Marion County
Commission will review three books in the library's collection
brought to their attention by two library patrons.
"It was determined that, because they were not asking the library to
take any action to do anything, that there was nothing for the
library to do," Library Director Julie Sieg said.
Terry Blaes and Brian Creekbaum filed Statements of Concern under the
county's new policy for addressing concerns about the appropriateness
of library materials. These were the first requests filed under the
new policy.
Blaes, a member of the county's now-defunct Library Advisory Board,
on Aug. 8 filed the statement regarding "Lolita," a novel written by
Vladimir Nabokov about a man's love for his 12-year-old stepdaughter.
Creekbaum, a library patron, filed two statements on Sept. 6, one
concerning "My Two Uncles," a book written by Judith Vigna about a
man's failure to accept his son's homosexuality, which turns to
acceptance by the end of the book, and another, "Abortion: A Positive
Decision," written by Patricia Lunnenborg.
In their statements, both Blaes and Creekbaum wrote that they were
not hurt by the books, nor did they want the library to do anything
with the books, such as removing them from the shelves. But they did
ask that the books be reviewed for appropriateness by the Marion
County Commission.
After receiving the statements, Sieg formed three committees, one to
review each of the books, as required by the procedures for handling
Statements of Concern. But after consultation with County Attorney
Gordon Johnston, Sieg disbanded the committees and sent letters to
Blaes and Creekbaum saying that no action on the books would be
taken.
Both Blaes and Creekbaum said their statements were valid.
"No one who ever brought a book to the Library Advisory Board to
complain about it claimed to be personally harmed," Blaes said. "They
all were worried about someone else being personally harmed."
Creekbaum said that because Sieg formed the committees, she must have
believed that his Statements of Concern were valid requests.
"Her judgment is reflected in the appointment of those committees
before her superiors in the county government intervened," Creekbaum
said.
But attorney Gordon Johnston said the committee and the library
director are the library, and they were not asked to do anything.
"They can't override their own procedure," Johnston said about the
County Commissioners. He said that, because Blaes and Creekbaum did
not want the library to take any action on the books, there was no
decision to appeal to the County Commission.
"What are they asking the board to do?" Johnston asked. "Review
what?"
The County Commission in April dissolved the citizen Library Advisory
Board and, the following month, instituted a policy that allows the
commissioners to decide whether a book they consider inappropriate
for children - even if that book was located in the adult section -
would be placed on a restricted list and into a restricted area.
Under the new procedures, when a Statement of Concern is received,
the library director forms a committee of three librarians to review
the material in question. Within four weeks, the committee writes a
recommendation to the library director.
The library director then has two weeks to write a response complete
with a decision to the person who raised the concern. That person has
30 days to appeal that decision.
The County Commission must hear the appeal within 45 days from the
date of notice of appeal. It then has 30 days to issue a written
decision. An appeal of the commission's decision is made to the
Circuit Court of the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
Blaes said that because the County Commission has instituted the
policy that says the commission, not the library or a library board,
will decide what material will appear on the library's shelves, that
those decisions should be made in a public forum.
"We need to know the criteria they will use to judge books in the
library, so I think I will probably resubmit it," Blaes said about
her Statement of Concern.
Susan Latham Carr may be reached at susan.carr@starbanner.com or
867-4156.
Sieg
OCALA - Neither the county's library director nor the Marion County
Commission will review three books in the library's collection
brought to their attention by two library patrons.
"It was determined that, because they were not asking the library to
take any action to do anything, that there was nothing for the
library to do," Library Director Julie Sieg said.
Terry Blaes and Brian Creekbaum filed Statements of Concern under the
county's new policy for addressing concerns about the appropriateness
of library materials. These were the first requests filed under the
new policy.
Blaes, a member of the county's now-defunct Library Advisory Board,
on Aug. 8 filed the statement regarding "Lolita," a novel written by
Vladimir Nabokov about a man's love for his 12-year-old stepdaughter.
Creekbaum, a library patron, filed two statements on Sept. 6, one
concerning "My Two Uncles," a book written by Judith Vigna about a
man's failure to accept his son's homosexuality, which turns to
acceptance by the end of the book, and another, "Abortion: A Positive
Decision," written by Patricia Lunnenborg.
In their statements, both Blaes and Creekbaum wrote that they were
not hurt by the books, nor did they want the library to do anything
with the books, such as removing them from the shelves. But they did
ask that the books be reviewed for appropriateness by the Marion
County Commission.
After receiving the statements, Sieg formed three committees, one to
review each of the books, as required by the procedures for handling
Statements of Concern. But after consultation with County Attorney
Gordon Johnston, Sieg disbanded the committees and sent letters to
Blaes and Creekbaum saying that no action on the books would be
taken.
Both Blaes and Creekbaum said their statements were valid.
"No one who ever brought a book to the Library Advisory Board to
complain about it claimed to be personally harmed," Blaes said. "They
all were worried about someone else being personally harmed."
Creekbaum said that because Sieg formed the committees, she must have
believed that his Statements of Concern were valid requests.
"Her judgment is reflected in the appointment of those committees
before her superiors in the county government intervened," Creekbaum
said.
But attorney Gordon Johnston said the committee and the library
director are the library, and they were not asked to do anything.
"They can't override their own procedure," Johnston said about the
County Commissioners. He said that, because Blaes and Creekbaum did
not want the library to take any action on the books, there was no
decision to appeal to the County Commission.
"What are they asking the board to do?" Johnston asked. "Review
what?"
The County Commission in April dissolved the citizen Library Advisory
Board and, the following month, instituted a policy that allows the
commissioners to decide whether a book they consider inappropriate
for children - even if that book was located in the adult section -
would be placed on a restricted list and into a restricted area.
Under the new procedures, when a Statement of Concern is received,
the library director forms a committee of three librarians to review
the material in question. Within four weeks, the committee writes a
recommendation to the library director.
The library director then has two weeks to write a response complete
with a decision to the person who raised the concern. That person has
30 days to appeal that decision.
The County Commission must hear the appeal within 45 days from the
date of notice of appeal. It then has 30 days to issue a written
decision. An appeal of the commission's decision is made to the
Circuit Court of the Fifth Judicial Circuit.
Blaes said that because the County Commission has instituted the
policy that says the commission, not the library or a library board,
will decide what material will appear on the library's shelves, that
those decisions should be made in a public forum.
"We need to know the criteria they will use to judge books in the
library, so I think I will probably resubmit it," Blaes said about
her Statement of Concern.
________
_Susan Latham Carr may be reached at (352) 867-4156 or
susan.carr@starbanner.com[3]._
-------------------------
Library Director Julie Sieg
=======================
"We need to know the criteria they will use to judge books in the
library."
Terry Blaes
_former member of now-defunct Library Advisory Board_
Links:
------
[1] http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage
[2]
http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050922/NEWS/209220401/1001/News01
[3] mailto:susan.carr@starbanner.com
----- End forwarded message -----