Does controversial books can be kept in the library?

[Siddu M Huded]

It’s a common questions for all working professional, some of the controversial books have been banned by the respective governments for hurting individual’s sentiments of the citizens. However some of the faculties are required these books for their classroom teaching. The problems for a librarians are;

1. Where do we get these books? Because already books have been banned?
2. If we get these books, Can we kept in the libraries? If yes it might be hurt of someone’s sentiments.
3. If we make it available in the library it may mislead the student’s opinions as government has already banned these books.

A survey was conducted on 9^th November 2016 in USA on “Controversial books in the library”, a following link may helpful for understanding more on this issue.

https://natlib.govt.nz/blog/posts/controversial-books-in-the-library

[Praveenakumar Menasinakai]

Good Information 

[Siddhartha Shankar Ray]

Dear Sri Siddu M. Huded,

Thanks for your post.

First of all, "Controversial" & "Banned" books are different. The first type can be purchased as they may be available fore sale. The second type are not available for sale because, stocks will be confiscated. As such, there is no question of acquiring the "banned' categories of books. For example, if you keep Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie in your library, not only the book will be confiscated, but also you, your authority & the bookseller will face legal proceedings. Vladimir Nokov's novel Lolita or D.H. Lawrence's Lady Chatterley's Lovers were banned at a certain time for being considered as 'bearing Sexually Explicit Contents'. Later ban was lifted and they are being subjected to class room teaching. If you have such types of "controversial" books, mark them with a letter C in red and don't issue them to students below a certain age group.

Hope I could explain your query.

Sincerely,

Siddhartha Shankar Ray, Calcutta

[Siddu M Huded]

Thank you sir for clarifying a doubt with a examples.