So, being a fine connoisseur of the graphic novel that I am, I was delighted to discover that my local library has a somewhat decent selection of the aforementioned literature. Of late, I have specifically been on both a Preacher and Hellblazer kick.
What I have been finding is that some buttmunch has been removing pages from these books! This is not a case of the binding getting old and pages falling out, rather it is obvious that someone has gone in and (using something like an exacto-knife or a razor blade) very carefully removed selected pages. Moreover, in these same books this person has gone in and drawn black bars over any naughty bits that might show.
Now I do get that these particular story lines are on the rather gritty side, but what the fuck gives someone the right to do this? Even more frustrating is the library staff’s blasé attitude when I bring this to their attention.
Kind of a weak rant, I know, but I really resent people that take it upon themselves to decide what others are going to view and/or read. Who the fuck appointed you the guardian of morality anyway?
This is what I would be ranting about. Maybe the ones you are complaining to are the ones doing it? Write a letter to the head librarian, both at your branch and for the library as a whole, and tell them about it. Libraries spend perfectly good tax money on this stuff; I can’t imagine them being blase about destruction of materials.
They’re probably intimidated by the fact that 1) they don’t know which “borrower” did the editing, and 2) hey…we’re talking exacto knives here!
But I must say, the blase’ attitude can be frustrating. My husband called the local fire chief because the rescue squad guys parked their rescue vehicle in the FIRE LANE at the grocery store, and went shopping! The chief said they weren’t in the wrong. It was better to have their vehicle there in case an emergency came up while they were shopping. I could hardly believe it.
We used to do the same with our ambulances, only heard one gripe about it and he conceded in about 30 seconds that it was ok when I explained how much longer it was going to take me to navigate this big fat ford cargo van out of a stall, down to the far end of the aisle and come back down the opposite way to get back to the driveways, stopping 3 times for people pulling out in front of me, before I can come help him when he gets clobbered in the intersection 300 yards away.
I was going to mention that I thought Ambulances were included in that category, but I’m not aware of laws or regulations concerning Paramed vehix. Just Fire/rescue vehicles.
Sorry, I’m just trying to “fight ignorance”. Didn’t mean to completely hijack your petty little rant about censorship. If you like these “graphic novels” so much, why don’t you go to a comic book store?
Well, the main reason is that we have a severe problem with books at the Binarydrone household. Unless I remain constantly vigilant, they tend to take over. Therefore, I am trying to stop buying just the pulpy literary snack type books, and save the actual purchases for quality books that I will want to have around, or reference material. Plus, I like the part where I don’t have to pay money for things.
:eek: :eek: :eek: I’ve come across this sort of vandalism now and then in libraries, but it’s been pretty much random. What I’ve seen are things like full-page pics of a celebrity cut out of a magazine, or a craft project…something that someone might have wanted to take home for his/her own purposes, but did not want to photocopy. I’ve never seen deliberate censorship like this, though. I’m amazed that the staff are not more concerned with it. Are you talking to an actual librarian, or to a library page? Most librarians have at least a Masters in Library Science and a passion for the written word, and the preservation of their materials. Generally speaking, the pages are the ones who are usually checking books in or out and restocking the shelves. The librarians are the ones who are in the office or are sitting behind a reference desk, and are pantingly eager to help you find a book or a fact. I’m willing to bet that you talked to a page, so go back and talk to a librarian, hmmmm?
I’m pretty sure that you are correct. I do plan to make a bit of a fuss over this. I know that these particular books aren’t exactly literature, but this sort of behavior really needs to be nipped in the bud.
Aah yes, we have the same problem in my household. Censorship bites, but the librarians can’t exactly monitor all of the books for vandalism all of the time. It’s bound to happen more often than not.
Someone did much the same thing at my local library once, with “Salem’s Lot”. Specifically, someone had gone through the first few chapters and scribbled out all of the naughty words.
Thing is, they stopped partway through. I can only assume that they eventually put down the book in disgust…I mean, if naughty words bother you that much, what are you doing reading Stephen King?..but the result was a book with a few naughty words scribbled out near the beginning and graphic descriptions of vampire attacks at the end. So it’s not like they even accomplished anything, really.
