Dealing with challenges to graphic novels is similiar to dealing with any challenges in the library. However, graphic novels are at greater risk for challenges from patrons, simply because an image can be far more powerful than a written description.
It is best to be prepared for complaints.
The National Coalition Against Censorship and the ALA have produced a guide that gives several suggestions for preparing for and responding to a challenge, including the following points to focus on when responding to a challenge:
"1. Libraries provide ideas and information across the spectrum of social and political views.
2. Libraries provide choice for all people.
3. Parents are responsible for supervising their own children’s library use.
4. Collection does not imply endorsement."
The guide also gives sample answers to questions patrons might have, including the following:
"Why do libraries have to buy graphic novels?
The library has a responsibility to serve its community—your neighbors—including those you may not agree with or who may not agree with you. Libraries purchase materials, such as graphic novels, because they have a mission statement that requires them to serve a broad range of community needs and wants. The material you find in your library was selected by ibrarians, who are taught as part of their professional education to determine the needs of their communities and to select materials based on library policies."
"Graphic novels: Suggestions for Librarians." The National Coalition Against Censorship, American Library Association, and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. 2006. 2 Dec. 2007 http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/ifissues/graphicnovels_1.pdf.
Other Resources:
"Graphic Novel Resources." from seminar "Graphic Novels, Manga, and Anime: What's New and Cool for Your Library," ALA's Annual Conference, June 2006. 2 Dec 2007. http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/GraphicNovelResources.pdf
"Coping with Challenges: Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials" ALA webpage. 2007. 2 Dec 2007. http://www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=dealing&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=77096
Kinsella, Bridget. "Libraries Developing Guidelines For Graphic Novels." Publishers Weekly 251.47 (2004) :12 , Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. UIUC Library. 2 Dec. 2007.
"Marshall Keeps Graphic Novels." American Libraries 38.5 (2007): 29. Academic Search Premier. EBSCOhost. UIUC Library. 2 Dec. 2007.
4 comments:
Thanks, Becky!
This looks really useful. Nice to know we're prepared. :)
Here are a couple links I've run across:
Gilles Poitras's "Librarian's Guide to Anime and Manga" has a page for Parents & Librarians that looks at "problematic" issues with Manga:
http://www.koyagi.com/problematic.html
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
http://www.cbldf.org/
This organization works primarily with booksellers, artists, and publishers to protect them against censorship and work with other first amendment issues. I don't think they work with libraries very much, but you can find out a lot about censorship issues in this field by browsing their website or the Wikipedia page about them
Great, add them. (Or should I?) The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a good one to add I think, they co-authored the guide I quoted from.
Feel free if you want to. I don't think it hurts to use comments this way, though, since there are always more things that can be found on these topics. :)
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