Published: August 18, 2009 10:23 am      

Library Board refuses to censor book from teen section

Effingham Helen Matthes Library Board was united in its stance against censorship Monday when it unanimously agreed to deny a request to remove a book from the teen section.

Board members were adamant against censoring what books the public had access to, indicating it was up to parents and other patrons to preview materials prior to reading to decide if the book met individual tastes or value systems.

Amy and Brad Hibdon and their five children all use the library, but the Hibdon’s became concerned about a particular book being offered in the teen section of the library after they read it because their 15-year-old daughter had checked out the book and seemed upset by the content.

The book, “Living Dead Girl,” written by Elizabeth Scott, is about a 15-year-old’s perspective of living with her captor after being forcibly kidnapped and imprisoned at the age of 10. The book has received several accolades from book critics.

The Hibdons formally requested the book be removed from the library or at least the teen section because of the graphic content of the book and the unsatisfactory ending. The main character is murdered at the end of the book.

Hibdon claims the sexual abuse the character is subjected to in the book is too graphic for young teens.

“It appalls me my daughter read this,” said Amy Hibdon. “It’s a book about forced kidnapping, forced imprisonment. ... A book on severe abuse should be how to get out of the situation ... but this book shows the girl had a chance to get out and didn’t.”

Hibdon said her research of the book indicates the book was written for adults and the author intended it for readers who were age 16 or older.

“I don’t think any teen or adult should read this book,” Hibdon said. “There is no good coming out of this book.”

Hibdon said her daughter would not talk about the book other than to say she keeps trying to come up with a new ending.

Library Director Jeannie May said she agrees the book takes on a painful topic, but she doesn’t believe that is reason enough to remove the book from the library.

“We have a responsibility to serve all taxpayers,” she said. “We believe parents know what is best for their children and it is their job to review the materials they are reading.”

May told the board any decision made would set a precedence for the future.

This is the first formal censorship request that has reached this point in the past eight years, according to May, who spoke with former Director Amanda Standerfer, who was in charge of the library during that timeframe. Standerfer said there had been a couple of challenges to books, but when persons making those challenges were asked to fill out a formal complaint, they were dropped.

Board members understood the concern of the Hibdons as parents, but they also were united in their stance against censorship.

“I understand where they are coming from, but I’m adamantly against banning the book” said board member Rod Wiethop.

May told the board it could decide to leave the book on the shelf as it is, remove the book altogether or move the book from the teen section to the adult section.

Teen librarian Shirley Marshall told May removing the book could start a trend because the middle teens is when young adults begin exploring dark things as an outlet. That is why the “Twilight” series, which revolves around vampires, is so popular. If the requested book is removed from the shelf, how long before someone asks that these other type of “dark” books be removed? questioned Marshall

Board member John Latta said although the subject of the “Living Dead Girl” is a difficult subject, it also is something that actually happens in society and having access to that reality may not necessarily be a bad thing. He added the book’s point about the character having the chance to get out of the situation and not taking it illustrates a harsh reality that occurs in those type of abusive situations.

“I’m opposed to censorship,” he said. “It is up to the parents to censor the material they are reading, not the library.”

Wiethop added he would not want his 12- or 13-year-old daughter reading this book, but it is up to families to make those type of decisions.

When questioned about the graphic scenes in the book, May told the board she found the physical abuse to be more graphic than the sexual abuse, although this type of material is often hard to read.

Board member Racheal Fearday asked if it would be possible to limit access to the book to those who were age 16 or older.

May said the library does not enforce age limits when it comes to checking out materials. Instead, those regulations are left to parents of patrons.

May also told the board four other Rolling Prairie libraries had the book in the teen or young adult section.

“Why you might not like something, censoring is a whole different matter,” said board President Bob Willenborg.

In other business, the board:

• Heard the Tech Atlas Inventory showed most of the computers in the library are 2002 to 2003 models and because generally computers should be replaced every three or four years that may be something the library needs to look at in the future.

• Agreed to continue to have the library open on Martin Luther King Day and Veterans Day. Last year was the first time the library was open on these holidays. In addition, the board agreed the library would close Saturday, July 3, next year in observance of the July 4 holiday. The library will remain closed on Presidents day and Columbus Day.

Donna Riley-Gordon can be reached at 217-347-7151 ext. 129 or donna.riley-gordon@effinghamdailynews.com.