# Possible activist censor at my library! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 26, 2004, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180 "2004-05-26T14:39:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/21 "2004-05-26T17:17:00Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > Are you talking to an actual librarian, or to a library page? I’m willing to bet that you talked to a page, Am I the only one that is tickled by the fact that library assistance are called “pages?” 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/22 "2004-05-26T17:20:11Z")
Make that “assistants.” What in the FUCK is wrong with me? ---
**Author:** ![Tinkertoy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f19dbf/32.png) [@Tinkertoy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinkertoy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/23 "2004-05-26T17:36:47Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I think there was one at my library. Every time I’d go to check a book out about Wicca, the book was listed as “lost.” > > Either some Wiccan didn’t want to return the book, or some fundie decided to remove it permanently from the shelves to protect the _children_. It’s not just books on Wicca. It’s that whole section of the Library. We replace the almost the whole 133 Section (new age, occult, witchcraft, prophecy) ever two years. Not because of censors but because of people who find it easier to steal books than to buy them. The censors are at the front desk yelling because the bodice ripper that they checked out, the one with a half naked man and woman on the cover, had sex in it. Or that the movie they’ve checkout four times still has a glimpse of a woman’s breast in it. ---
**Author:** ![Paranoid\_Randroid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paranoid_randroid/32/18_2.png) [@Paranoid\_Randroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paranoid_Randroid)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/24 "2004-05-26T17:47:31Z")
When I worked at Waldenbooks, this fellow came in, bought every copy of LaVey’s Satanic Bible we had - several, I don’t know why - and tore them up right in front of us. The situation’s quite different, since he was well within his rights to do so (and the bible itself ain’t worth shit), but I concur about the proliferation of craaaazies in the world he seem to want nothing more than to eradicate what offends them. The fellow didn’t seem to care that we could just order more books, or that at worse he was drumming up artificial demand. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/25 "2004-05-26T18:22:06Z")
> [@](#): > > It?s not just books on Wicca. It?s that whole section of the Library. We replace the almost the whole 133 Section (new age, occult, witchcraft, prophecy) ever two years. Not because of censors but because of people who find it easier to steal books than to buy them. Yep, it’s far more likely to be people who can’t be bothered to buy books on this stuff, than people who are Censoring Evil Books (though that happens sometimes too). The other books that always disappear are the sex ed ones, esp. from school libraries–kids are too embarrassed to check them out, but need them desperately. Librarians just replace the books, knowing that they’ll vanish again. ---
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/26 "2004-05-26T18:30:52Z")
If you speak with the librarian and she/he doesn’t seem very interested, like someone else mentioned (though for the parking thing instead) you could go to the local news stations. One might be interested in picking up something like that, and if the library comes under fire from the public, they might be more willing to keep an eye on things. And I understand about the “unofficial” censorship crap… I stopped using the little local library because so many people stole “objectionable” books or marked them out. When I was little, a librarian even discussed one of my choices with my mother, stating it might not be appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/27 "2004-05-26T18:48:11Z")
> [@liirogue](#): > > **When I was little** , a librarian even discussed one of my choices **with my mother** , stating it might not be appropriate. (bolding mine) Nothing wrong with that. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/28 "2004-05-26T18:48:26Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] I would think they would do that if an emergency is actually in progress; not to do light shopping. [quote] What do you propose they do with their rig, park it in the “compact” spaces? > [@](#): > > It might be “legal”, but I wouldn’t call it “proper.” What if another emergency vehicle had to get in to help someone? It is a “yes” on both accounts, both legal and “proper”. Chances are, that if they’re shopping at a local gorcery, they are the local emergency response team and can handle whatever emergency arises either in the parking lot, shopping center or the store itself. For that matter, if they arrived there on an emergency call, they’d park there anyways and other emergency vehicles would have to navigate around them as well. > [@](#): > > At the very least, it sets a bad example. Of what? Of emergency vehicles using emergency parking? Holy moses Kalhoun. I’d say you’re being a bit…ummm…uptight. It is “legal”, “proper”, and “customary” in most geographical areas. Parking as they did provides them quick access out of or into another emergency situation. Using provided parking for regular-sized non-emergency vehicles would hinder response time. Sam ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/29 "2004-05-26T19:07:02Z")
Cutting out the “naughty bits” of library books with a razor blade, huh? Normally, I’m not one for the old “eye for an eye”… ---
**Author:** ![Binarydrone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Binarydrone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Binarydrone)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/30 "2004-05-26T19:08:29Z")
Basically, what I think that it boils down to is that it doesn’t feel “fair”. Yeah, yeah I know that these guys are out there saving lives and being brave and shit, but when I have been trolling the parking lot for 10 minutes looking for a spot and some dude just pulls up to a fire lane an gets out to go buy lunch a primitive part of my lizard brain seethes with resentment. This also holds true for UPS and FedEx. Not saying that it’s right, just that I can understand why it feels subjectively annoying. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/31 "2004-05-26T19:24:36Z")
> [@Orbifold](#): > > 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. **Orbifold** , that person then checked out the book I’m currently reading ([Death Rites](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00007EI9N/qid=1085599331/sr=1-6/ref=sr_1_6/102-6826919-5623367?v=glance&s=books)), as starting halfway through a patron used a heavy, bleeding, black marker to remove every cuss word. ---
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/32 "2004-05-26T20:21:22Z")
> [@This Year's Model](#): > > (bolding mine) > > Nothing wrong with that. Except I wasn’t _little_ little. And it was for fairly innocent books, like **Charlie and the Chocolate Factory**. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/33 "2004-05-26T20:57:39Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by dangermom_ > It’s not just books on Wicca. It’s that whole section of the Library. We replace the almost the whole 133 Section (new age, occult, witchcraft, prophecy) ever two years. Not because of censors but because of people who find it easier to steal books than to buy them. Yep. Really makes things a pain for those of us who at least ATTEMPT to return our library books, too. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/34 "2004-05-26T21:06:09Z")
> [@Lynn Bodoni](#): > > The librarians …are pantingly eager to help you find a book or a fact. Ok, this line made me laugh, especially as I head out the door for four hours at the reference desk during a break between semesters. There will be two of us there - and although “pantingly eager” is perhaps not quite correct…it might be seen as fairly close to the truth! ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/35 "2004-05-26T22:12:50Z")
One library’s [response](http://sfpl4.sfpl.org/news/releases/vandalism.htm) to censorship vandalism. > [@](#): > > In the early months of 2001, San Francisco Public Library staff began making grim discoveries in the book stacks at the Main Library. Shoved under shelves and hidden from public eye were vandalized books, ranging from gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender topics to women’s issues and HIV/AIDS. Staff collected over 600 badly damaged books. The torn and slashed books were deemed beyond repair and withdrawn from the Library’s collection. The offender was eventually caught and charged with a hate crime. > > The San Francisco Public Library held onto these books and is turning a destructive act into a creative platform for artistic expression and a lesson in tolerance. “We were horrified when the discoveries were made, we didn’t know what we were going to do with the lost items but felt strongly that discarding them would complete the vandal’s crime,” said Susan Hildreth, City Librarian for the San Francisco Public Library. “When the idea of Reversing Vandalism was raised we were very excited to offer this unique opportunity to the community.” > > The project is being spearheaded by the James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center of the Library. The damaged books will be offered to artists who complete a submission form and grant the Library exclusive rights to display the works of art in the Library for an upcoming Reversing Vandalism exhibition. “Book requests will be accepted until August 31 (2003) or when inventory runs out, whichever comes first, and artists have until October 11 (2003) to return the completed art pieces to the Library,” said Jim Van Buskirk, Manager of the James C. Hormel Center. ---
**Author:** ![GLWasteful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f05b48/32.png) [@GLWasteful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GLWasteful)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/36 "2004-05-26T22:27:44Z")
> [@Orbifold](#): > > 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. I find it really amusing that someone would go to the trouble only to give up so early in the game. And inre the OP: damnit, tax dollars are paying for those books. Raise a stink with any and everyone you can find. In a sense, you **do** own those books. Waste ---
**Author:** ![Darkhold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@Darkhold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkhold)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/37 "2004-05-26T22:38:51Z")
You have to wonder about the mentality of these people. I can’t think of any motivation for it that makes even the remotest bit of sense. Of course that’s not saying much people do things all the time that I don’t understand. ---
**Author:** ![AveDementia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@AveDementia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AveDementia)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2004, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/38 "2004-05-26T22:42:39Z")
When I checked out Drew Carey’s book “Dirty Jokes and Beer” I found that most of the chapter entitled “101 Big Dick Jokes” had been cut out. Probably not a censor. More than likely it was someone too lazy to make their own crib sheet. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/39 "2004-05-27T00:13:12Z")
> [@Kalhoun](#): > > Make that “assistants.” What in the FUCK is wrong with me? Too much cartoon-watching, not enough library-visiting. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2004, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180/40 "2004-05-27T00:33:21Z")
It happens with role-playing game books, too. I don’t think I’ve seen an actual AD&D rulebook on the library shelf in my entire life (33 years). They’re in the card catalog (now the computer database), but they just don’t exist on the shelves. The sad thing is that I can’t figure out whether it’s fundie loons deciding to save the children from eternal damnation or the damn kids who are too cheap to actually buy the books. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/possible-activist-censor-at-my-library/247180.md?page=3)