Controversial Issues: Books on Sexuality in Libraries

I've done some research on this topic and found that countless books on this topic or even touching on this topic have been banned from both public and school libraries. Usually books that have been banned from schools have been "taught" by teachers first in English classes and parents have objected to the material being taught. Most libraries and librarians support your freedom to read, but realize that all topics aren't appropriate for all audiences.

Books may be banned for the following reasons: they are sexually explicit, contain offensive language, are unsuited to a particular age group, have an occult theme, are violent, they promote homosexuality, promote a religious viewpoint, or are anti-family. Some of the books that have been banned over the years include: 1984 by George Orwell, Another Country by James Baldwin, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Sallinger, and Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov.

Some books that were considered to be offensive in the past are no longer offensive today due to the fact that our society's values and standards have changed. For example, The Catcher in the Rye, a classic coming of age novel, was banned for profanity, sexual references, and undermining morality. Some also considered it to be blasphemous because of the repeated use of the Lord's name in vain. Today, however, the book is one of the most "taught" pieces of literature in American public high schools. I read the book for the first time after graduating from college and found nothing particularly offensive (with the exception of the profanity). In the 1960s, in a different world, with different values, however, I suppose it would be.

On the other hand, a book like Lolita would still be offensive today to many, even though it is written well and a very respected piece of literature. From what I remember of this book, it is about a middle-aged man sleeping with a 12-year-old girl. In my opinion, this book most definitely doesn't belong in a classroom or a school library because of these sexual themes. However, in a public library, it may be appropriate because it is considered to be a classic, well-written, well-respected piece of literature (even though it is controversial).

Most research that has been done on the topic of how children and teens are affected by the topic of sexuality in various media sources concludes that fictional stories do have some influence on teens decision making, especially if they can relate to the character in the story. Teens who are unaccepted socially are particularly vulnerable. Most school systems teach abstinence, therefore fictional stories that glorify sex are unacceptable in the school setting. Teens are trying to learn who they are and the kind of person they want to become. They can be easily influenced by fictional characters that they identify with.

So, the question remains, do books with sexual themes belong in libraries? I suppose the answer depends on who the audience is. In our textbook, it talks about building your catalog to fit the needs of the whole community it serves. Therefore, I guess we just need to use a little common sense. If the community you serve is children in a school setting, books on sexual education may be acceptable, but fictional books with sexual themes may not. However, in a public library, if there was a demand for these books within that community, there should be no reason why books with sexual themes should not be a part of the "adult" section of the catalog, especially if the books are classics or are considered to be a part of the literary cannon.