[Original posting on this topic appeared in COLLDV-L no. 1739 and was
reproduced with Responses 1-3 in COLLDV-L no. 1744.]
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From: Nancy Myers <nmyers_at_usd.edu>
I have two points to add to the glb discussion. First, we have a
librarian assigned to act as a liaison to the glb community at the
university. We add items to the collection which are recommended by the
glb community, as well as routinely collect significant works.
Second, as part of our Collection Development Policy, we include the
"Access to Library Resources and Services Regardless of Gender or Sexual
Orientation: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights" statement.
Hope this is helpful.
Nancy Myers
Acquisitions Librarian
University of South Dakota
(5)========================================================================
From: anne langley <anne_langley_at_ncsu.edu>
My experience in academic libraries has been that the most censorship comes
from the paraprofessional staff. I haven't done a statistical analysis but
my gut feeling of over 12 years working in collection management in
academic libraries (7 as support staff and 5 as a professional) 90% or more
incidences of censorship of library materials rise from either the
circulation department or technical services.
I think part of a solution would be to make a commitment to support
diversity training for para-professionals. While they are not librarians,
it is vital that they are made aware of the underlying principles of
intellectual freedom. It ought to be part of any job orientation to any
library.
It might be worthwhile to track incidences of censorship, their nature, and
where they originate from, so as to evaluate the problem and come up with
solutions to attempt to bring the incidences of censorship down.
Anne Langley
Collection Manager, Physical and Mathematical Sciences
NCSU Libraries
Box 7111, NCSU
Raleigh, NC 27695-7111
919-515-3833
Received on Tue Jun 09 1998 - 09:58:45 EDT