On Thu, Aug 25, 2011 at 10:10 PM, phoebe ayers phoebe.wiki@gmail.com wrote:>
This seems like an over-hasty statement. There are many possible categorization schemes that are neutral; the ALA in fact makes that distinction itself, since libraries (obviously) use all kinds of labeling and categorization schemes all the time. The ALA and other library organizations have taken a stand against censorious and non-neutral labeling, not all labeling. If you keep reading the ALA page you linked, it says that the kind of labels that are not appropriate are when "the prejudicial label is used to warn, discourage or prohibit users or certain groups of users from accessing the material" -- e.g. a label that reads "not appropriate for children". That does not mean that picture books for kids, or mystery novels, or large-print books, aren't labeled as such in every public library in the country -- and that is the difference between informative and prejudicial labeling.
Would I be incorrect in pointing out that American public librarys routinely exclude world famous childrens book author Astrid Lindgrens childrens books, because to puritanical minds a man who can elevate himself with a propeller beany, and look into childs rooms thereby, smacks too much of pedophilia?