Re: Books Banned in Utah.

On Thu, 8 Aug 2024, Scott Dorsey wrote:

D  <nospam@example.net> wrote:

I don't have children, but if I had, I certainly wouldn't mind if
pornographic magazines were banned from the school library (if we're
talking year 1-9).

>
Agreed, but the thing is all of those kids have seen hardcore porn already,
at least by the time they are 7 or 8 and have used the internet.  They don't
know what it is, they don't find it attractive, but they have seen it and
they know it exists.  So it's not worth putting a huge amount of effort into
keeping it out of libraries.

Is this true? Granted, I'm a technologist, so perhaps it would be easier for me not to give any potential future children smart phones and computers. In fact, if I had children, I would not.
On the other hand, I have read that many parents, instead of raising their children, just give them a smart phone and off you go without supervision. If that is true (I have seen a few examples myself) I can imagine that what you say is true.

I would mind however, if Mein Kampf, Maos red book or Das Kapital were
banned. I think those books are pure garbage, but at least it should be
possible for everyone to form his own conclusion, and Das Kapital is also
interesting from a history of philosophy point of view (which I personally
enjoy).

>
Agreed, but i'd also want librarians to explain the context behind it.
The same as they should do with any other book.
--scott

This is sensitive to me. If I'm in the library I would definitely not have someone review and tell me what to think about what I read. I would like to reach my own conclusions.
How is this context explaining done in todays libraries in the US? When I last visited a library to borrow a book, several decades ago, the process was:
1. Find book.
2. Take book to check out counter.
3. Take book home and read.
No lecturing, in fact, no one even cared. On the other hand... if the library had a service where I could go and discuss the book, that would actually be quite nice!