Libraries and the ethics of censorship.

Libraries and the ethics of censorship. This paper reviews a selection of literature pertaining to thesubject of censorship in modern libraries. It interrogates theliterature in terms of the ethical debates informing much of thecontemporary academic writing on this subject. A multi-pronged approachto the subject is adopted. The review includes evaluations of therelevant aspects of particular professional codes and statements. Italso evaluates opinions that have been proffered with regard to the useof Internet filters in public libraries. In public libraries, librariansmust also decide whether to enable an entirely free flow of informationfrom other mediums or to take it upon themselves to protect readers frommaterial that might be considered harmful considered harmful - Edsger W. Dijkstra's note in the March 1968 "Communications of the ACM", "Goto Statement Considered Harmful", fired the first salvo in the structured programming wars. . These issues are complicatedfurther in school libraries where the question of a particular duty ofcare to young minds arises. This paper also investigates recentrepresentations of libricide, the most extreme form of censorship whichmanifests in the destruction of libraries and the burning of books. Fourteen centuries have learned, From charred remains, that whattook place When Alexandria's library burned Brain-damaged the humanrace. Ted Hughes, 'Hear it Again' Introduction The term 'censorship' is notoriously difficult to define.Although censorship is often seen as 'an enduring feature of allhuman communities' (Jansen 1988, 4), the concept is fluid. Even alegal definition is almost impossible to attain. However, it isgenerally accepted that the key aspects of censorship involve'those actions which significantly restrict free access toinformation' (Moody 2004). Despite strong anti-censorshipstatements in professional association codes, the library andinformation sector often plays a major role as a censor censor(sĕn`sər), title of two magistrates of ancient Rome (from c.443 B.C. to the time of Domitian). They took the census (by which they assessed taxation, voting, and military service) and supervised public behavior. . There is a wide range of recent literature devoted to the issue ofcensorship in libraries. This literature bears witness to the fact thatthis is a highly controversial subject, encompassing legal,professional, social, political, and ethical issues and often givingrise to powerful emotions. If a gap exists in the contemporaryliterature relevant to this subject, it lies in the effective absence ofdocumentation regarding the perspective and opinions of the customer,except perhaps in the case of concerned parents seeking to safeguard theinterests of small children. Nearly all of the voices that are heardemanate em��a��nate?intr. & tr.v. em��a��nat��ed, em��a��nat��ing, em��a��natesTo come or send forth, as from a source: light that emanated from a lamp; a stove that emanated a steady heat. from academic critics, professional organisations, governmentdepartments, and from the librarians. This paper will review a selection of literature pertaining to thesubject of censorship in modern libraries. It will interrogate (1) To search, sum or count records in a file. See query.(2) To test the condition or status of a terminal or computer system. theliterature in terms of the ethical debates informing much of thecontemporary academic writing on this subject. In particular, there isthe question of the librarian's role and whether a moral dutyexists to protect the public from material that might be consideredharmful or whether the restriction of access to information of any kindis itself unethical. The paper includes evaluations of the relevantaspects of particular professional codes and statements, an analysis ofarguments regarding censorship of the Internet, discussion of theparticular problems faced by public and school libraries, and aninvestigation of the most extreme form of censorship that manifests inlibricide. Though critical evaluations of each source are included, itis not the principal purpose of this review to advance a particularargument but to offer a compendium of the various controversiesassociated with the ethics of censorship in libraries. This review focuses upon literature relevant to the ethical issuesof censorship in libraries and therefore does not include extensivemention of literature explicating the purely legal aspects of mattersrelating to relating torelate prep → concernantrelating torelate prep → bez��glich +gen, mit Bezug auf +acccensorship such as intellectual property and copyright. Allof the primary texts are recent publications, extending no further backthan the late 1990s. The scope is confined to scholarly and professionalpublications and excludes the popular media and fictional works. Thereview is primarily concerned with the Australian situation, but doesinclude some assessments of works relating to censorship practices inAmerica. There are also some references to practices in totalitarianregimes such as Iraq, Communist China and Nazi Germany. The Codes Many ethical codes relating to censorship in libraries areforthright and uncompromising in their statements. According to according toprep.1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians.2. In keeping with: according to instructions.3. theprofessional code of the Australian Library and Information Association,all professional librarians must avoid censorship at all times; theyshould be 'committed to intellectual freedom and the free flow ofideas and information'. Similarly, the International Federation ofLibrary Associations InternationalAssociation of Christian Librarians Website International Association of Agricultural Information Specialists Website (IAALD) International Association of Law Libraries Website International Association of Music Libraries Website states: 'IFLA calls upon libraries and librarystaff to adhere to adhere toverb 1. follow, keep, maintain, respect, observe, be true, fulfil, obey, heed, keep to, abide by, be loyal, mind, be constant, be faithful2. the principles of intellectual freedom, uninhibited uninhibited/un��in��hib��it��ed/ (un?in-hib��i-ted) free from usual constraints; not subject to normal inhibitory mechanisms. access to information and freedom of expression and to recognise theprivacy of the library user' and IFLA IFLA International Federation of Library Associations and InstitutionsIFLA International Federation of Landscape ArchitectsIFLA Instituto Forestal Latinoamericano (Venezuela)IFLA Israel Free Loan Association 'does not discriminatedue to race, creed, gender, age or for any other reason'. TheAmerican Library Association follows suit: ALA actively advocates in defense of the rights of library users to read, seek information, and speak freely as guaranteed by the First Amendment. A publicly supported library provides free and equal access to information for all people of that community. We enjoy this basic right in our democratic society. It is a core value of the library profession. The current laws and regulations relating to censorship in Americaare illustrated in more detail by the American Library Association intheir Intellectual Freedom Manual. This text advocates what is in manyways a moral duty to avoid censorship. The manual examines the LibraryBill of Rights and various other statements made by the American LibraryAssociation, all the while reiterating the belief that all forms ofcensorship must be opposed. According to the manual, censorship stiflesdemocracy (1996, xiv), libraries ought to be 'centres foruninhibited intellectual inquiry' (1996, xvii) and librarycollections must be as diverse as possible. These are worthy objectivesbut they are generalised. Potentially, they may result in an abdicationof responsibility towards many vulnerable library users. The book isdismissive of any recommendations to implement restrictions. Forexample, it claims that demands for restrictions in order to protectchildren or to reduce the proliferation of pornography or to avoidgiving offence to certain sectors of society are 'excuses' toinitiate a 'return to more conservative times' (1996, xv).Furthermore, the introduction of 'sweeping anti-pornography'or 'antigay' 'rights legislation' would only'limit the availability of constitutionally protectedinformation' (1996, xv). It must be acknowledged that the tone of the book is not entirelybombastic and some concessions are made. While it argues thatprofessional librarians need take no action (1996, 21), parents arefully entitled to restrict the reading of their own children. However,for the most part, the tone the text adopts towards any would be censorsis unyielding and sometimes almost patronising: 'The censor may notunderstand that a request that certain works be labelled or restricted,if fulfilled, would lead to an abridgment AN ABRIDGMENT. An epitome or compendium of another and larger work, wherein the principal ideas of the larger work are summarily contained. When fairly made, it may justly be deemed, within the meaning of the law, a new work, the publication of which will not infringe the copyright of the of the rights of other libraryusers' (1996, 242). This book gives an insight not only into acertain aspect of American culture, but also into the danger of allowinga mandate against authoritarian control to become equally dictatorial. If the Intellectual Freedom Manual truly represents the views ofthe American information sector then arguably, their approach toavoiding censorship has been carried to some extremes. However, it mustbe acknowledged that though it may be the manifestation of the dominantauthority, other voices also emanate from America. In contrast to theIntellectual Freedom Manual, the professional code delivered by theAmerican Society for Information Science and Technology is markedly mildand moderate, if overly generalised. It 'urges its members to beever aware of the social, economic, cultural and political impacts oftheir actions' and to 'inform their employers, clients orsponsors of any circumstances that create a conflict of interest'.Evidently, though the injunction to avoid censorship is prevalentthroughout America, some information sectors are rather more rigid inits interpretation than others. The Australian Library and Information Association, theInternational Federation of Library Associations, the American LibraryAssociation, and the American Society for Information Science andTechnology are all reputable professional associations. Many of theirpublications have provided considerable assistance to their members.However, relevant literature reveals that certain aspects of these codeshave frequently been subject to scathing criticism. Indeed, this paperalso submits that the statements made in the ethical codes underexamination are far too sweeping and fail to account for the fact thateach type of library has different priorities and perspectives anddifferent forms of pressure are brought to bear upon each of them. Eventhe Intellectual Freedom Manual, which is a treatise comprising a fewhundred pages rather than a succinct, one-page code, is sorely lackingin detail or depth. Therefore, the codes and statements can be of littleuse to librarians in the workplace who find themselves in a situationthat is in any way complex. It is because complicated situations ariseso frequently that noted critics such as John Thawley censure ALIA andits brother organisations quite severely, arguing that the codes ofpractice are in desperate need of 'fine tuning' (1997, 132). Overall, at least in Australia and America, if the sources citedhere can be taken as representative of the general situation, it wouldseem that little regard should be given to written ethical codesrelating to censorship. Many librarians and library workers seekspecific instruction that takes account of complex situations while thecodes, statements and manuals offer bland generalisations or thesimplistic sim��plism?n.The tendency to oversimplify an issue or a problem by ignoring complexities or complications.[French simplisme, from simple, simple, from Old French; see simple rigidity of fundamentalism. As a result, quite often andquite rightly, they are dismissed entirely. As the following sections ofthis review will demonstrate, individual libraries and even individuallibrarians are often required to make unilateral decisions with regardto censoring their collections. The Internet The Internet is a technological marvel that has altered the natureand practices of libraries around the world. Where once libraries werepatronised only by readers and traditional researchers, many now uselibraries solely for Internet access See how to access the Internet. . Though many of these users arescouring the web for research information, there is also a heavy demandfor social networking See social networking site. social networking - social network facilities (Australian Library and InformationAssociation 2009, 14). However, as informative and socially engaging asthe Internet can be, it is also notorious as a medium for pornographyand other materials that are considered by many to be both objectionableand harmful. For this reason, in many public libraries, children underthe age of twelve are excluded from Internet use (Australian Library andInformation Association 2009, 13). In many instances, even adults arenot granted an unrestricted licence to browse the World Wide Web. On thecontrary, Internet filters are employed as a censorship tool in manypublic libraries (Gorman 2000, 94). In view of the fact that exclusions and filters are a clearviolation of the injunctions of several professional codes to avoidcensorship, it is perhaps surprising that in the literature underdiscussion, no great furore has ensued. On the contrary, not one ofthese texts or articles challenges the ideologies prompting thewidespread use of filters. In various ways and to various degrees, allendorse the notion of a moral obligation to protect the public,particularly its younger members, from harm. Michael Gorman The name Michael Gorman or Mike Gorman may refer to: Michael Gorman (librarian) (b. 1941), the English librarian Michael A. Gorman, a modern politician in North Carolina Mike Gorman, American basketball player and sports commentator simplystates that it is sometimes necessary 'to make smallaccommodations' to the forces pressing on a librarian 'inorder to preserve the greater good of the library and its users'(2000, 92). David Wilson David Wilson may refer to: David Wilson, Baron Wilson of Tillyorn (born 1935), British administrator, diplomat and Sinologist David Wilson (sportsman) (born 1967), Australian rugby union footballer and cricketer David Wilson (swimmer), Australian swimmer is in accord, arguing that the prevalence andnature of the Internet has prompted a 'changed focus of ourcensorship laws' (2008, 697) and libraries are obligated to protectthe 'public good from injury' (2008, 697). The tone of NielsPors' article is flatly emphatic and not open to argument:'Libraries have always been filtering institutions' and'everybody acknowledges that giving access to information on theInternet is a phenomenon qualitatively very different from building acollection' (2001, 311). The more vociferous Irina Trushina goesfurther, and gives extreme examples of the dangers of free access inorder to illustrate her arguments. She writes: 'Very few librarianswould feel satisfied when assisting teenagers in finding some Webresources detailing suicide techniques or romantic death stories'(2004, 418). Still fewer would endorse the notion of providing anaspiring terrorist with information on 'feasible homemade bombtechniques' (p. 419). However, hyperbole hyperbole(hīpûr`bəlē), a figure of speech in which exceptional exaggeration is deliberately used for emphasis rather than deception. aside, Trushina'sarticle, like the others under examination, cogently argues the casethat no law or regulation can be absolute. Once again, the point is madethat official injunctions against censorship are in dire need of someflexibility. Overall, it would seem that at least some aspects of censorship inmodern times are much less controversial than others. Certainly, theliterature under discussion in this section suggests that the Internetis often regarded as an absolute and perfectly acceptable exception toall official mandates against censorship. Librarians are perceived asbeing not only collectors of information but also as protectors ofpeople. If they were to neglect this role, the image of the professionwould be tarnished. Practicalities of Information Ethics Information ethics it is the field that investigates the ethical issues arising from the development and application of information technologies. It provides a critical framework for considering moral issues concerning informational privacy, moral agency (e.g. The Broad View Whatever the rights and wrongs of the situation, in practical termscensorship is often represented as impossible to maintain and ultimatelyineffective. The authors of 100 Banned Books. Censorship Histories ofWorld Literature are unashamedly un��a��shamed?adj.Feeling or showing no remorse, shame, or embarrassment:una��sham forthright on the subject: 'Whenyou look back over the centuries of censorship and see the incrediblerange of books and authors whose works were suppressed, you can only bestruck by how absurdly ineffective and useless it has been in the longrun' (Karolides, Bald and Sova 1999, xi). Building from thispremise, a reader of 100 Banned Books may conclude that there is nosustainable ethical argument in favour of censorship because ethics aresubjective, bound to particular cultures and subject to change. 100 Banned Books examines an extensive range of literature writtenover a period of centuries, all of which has been suppressed at sometime by various bodies on political, religious, sexual or socialgrounds. It emphasises the argument that the judgements prompting suchcensorship are inescapably skewed. Furthermore, the act is futile.Literature deemed to be unsuitable for public circulation by aparticular cultural authority at a particular point in time is almostinvariably in��var��i��a��ble?adj.Not changing or subject to change; constant.in��vari��a��bil resurrected and even lionised at a later time by anothercultural authority with a different view. Works such as Flaubert'sMadame Bovary, now considered a classic, were once the subjects of courtcases. Intermittently, the authorial tone is subtly mocking of allcensors. In the view of this work, not only are many censors hopelesslyblinded by cultural prejudice, they also display a patent lack ofunderstanding with regard to the literature itself. For instance,amongst many varied examples, the book highlights the splendid irony ofcertain authorities banning both Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird mockingbird:see mimic thrush. mockingbirdAny of several New World birds of a family (Mimidae) known for their mimicry of birdsong. The common, or northern, mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) can imitate the songs of 20 or more species within 10 and Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry huckleberry,any plant of the genus Gaylussacia, shrubs of the family Ericaceae (heath family), native to North and South America. The box huckleberry (G. brachycera) of E North America is evergreen and is often cultivated. The common huckleberry (G. Finn on the specious spe��cious?adj.1. Having the ring of truth or plausibility but actually fallacious: a specious argument.2. Deceptively attractive. grounds that they were racist when both books, though admittedlycontaining some objectionable terminology, are dedicated to theeradication of racism. 100 Banned Books is in many ways a polemic po��lem��ic?n.1. A controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine.2. A person engaged in or inclined to controversy, argument, or refutation.adj. . Not once in the courseof its many pages is an opposing perspective so much as considered.However, whether or not one accepts all or any of their arguments, itcannot be denied that Karolides, Bald and Sova have researched theirchosen subject with admirable thoroughness. This fact alone allows thestudy a place amongst the landmark publications regarding the censorshipof literary works. Public Libraries The matter of practicalities can present particular problems whenpresented to public libraries of the modern world. Kim Moody'sarticle 'Covert Censorship in Libraries: A Discussion Paper'is considerably narrower in focus than 100 Banned Books. It alsopresents an interesting contrast to the Intellectual Freedom Manual.While the latter is adamant that censorship must always be avoided, ineffect, Moody's article demonstrates the incompatibility of theprohibition on censorship and its practical application. As Moodyargues, officially the library and information profession is opposed tocensorship, but battling manifestations of it, particularly when theyappear in their more covert forms, is 'difficult and complex'. Moody gives many examples of unavoidable censorship in publiclibraries. Some forms she views as desirable, others as regrettable. Shereiterates and subtly endorses well-known ethical arguments advocatingthe removal of 'racist, sexist, homophobic', and'anti-semitic' materials from public libraries. Coupled withthe ethical argument is the prosaic fact that an avoidance ofcontroversy is often the only practical course open to a librarian.However, while librarians may be obligated, both practically andethically, to distance the public from certain materials, other forms ofcensorship may do the public a disservice. Sadly however, they areequally unavoidable. Moody goes on to describe some of the ways in whichmany libraries are compelled to bow to pressure from funding bodies,such as the government, by removing certain items from publiccirculation. The most insidious forms of censorship she describes areself-censorship and inappropriate cataloguing. Self-censorship isgoverned by the prejudices and preferences of individual librarians.Although this stance is not always consciously adopted, it oftendetermines which books are purchased for the library and which books arepromoted within it. Quite often, many books of value are overlooked inthis process. Similarly, items that are labelled or cataloguedinappropriately are likely to escape the attention of researchersinvestigating the area to which they truly belong. There is much to be admired in Moody's article. There is noobvious indication of prejudice and her work is clear and concise withinsightful and wide-ranging ideas. Most significantly, Moody offers awealth of practical experience garnered from various quarters tocounterbalance the rather idealistic notion propagated by severalprofessional organizations that censorship can and should be opposed inall cases. Indeed, at the essence of this article is practical advice.This article transports the reader from the relative security ofstraightforward and uncomplicated professional codes to the minutiae mi��nu��ti��a?n. pl. mi��nu��ti��aeA small or trivial detail: "the minutiae of experimental and mathematical procedure"Frederick Turner. ofeveryday life in the library. School Libraries Traditionally, the primary purpose of a school library is tosupplement the school curriculum (Kirk 1990, 2). In practice though, thepolicies of school libraries have evolved considerably and like publiclibraries, school libraries seek to satisfy many of the information,leisure, cultural, and social needs of the children they serve. However,though there are routine exceptions as demonstrated by Moody'sarticle, in a public library, librarians are frequently able to justifythe inclusion of materials under challenge (Credaro 2001, 1). Thisrelative security might account in part for the tone of Moody'sarticle which is seemingly without prejudice Without any loss or waiver of rights or privileges.When a lawsuit is dismissed, the court may enter a judgment against the plaintiff with or without prejudice. When a lawsuit is dismissed without prejudice or emotive force. Incontrast, a multitude of books have been removed from circulation inschool libraries, particularly in primary schools. Indeed, the subjectof censorship in school libraries has frequently given rise to virulentand often conflicting arguments. A librarian who also holds the position of school teacher mustbalance the professional imperative to avoid censorship with a duty ofcare. Some argue that such a librarian might be said to be acting inIoco parentis and therefore, introducing some form of censorship mightbe to act 'in a more ethical manner than a professional associationwhich tries to pretend that its members can stand aside from engagementwith real ethical dilemmas and merely apply some simple rules'(Brophy 2003, 229). Others such as Jennifer Cram are distinctlycontemptuous of what has been called 'the fear or anxiety about thepublic uttering or writing of particular words' coupled with'the erroneous belief Noun 1. erroneous belief - a misconception resulting from incorrect informationerrormisconception - an incorrect conception that people, particularly if young, will berecruited to the lifestyle and behaviour depicted in the book'(Cram 1996, 91). Still others claim that to withhold information fromburgeoning young minds is to do them a grave disservice. A prominent example of the literature against censorship in schoollibraries is 'Selection or Censorship: Libraries and theIntelligent Design Debate' by Michael and Connie O'Sullivan.The O'Sullivans are unequivocal in their argument that there havebeen instances in which censorship has retarded the intellectualdevelopment of children, an act they depict as morally wrong. As theirprincipal example, they cite a case from 1999 in Kansas in which thestudy of evolution was removed from the school science curriculum andbooks pertaining to the subject were removed from the library. This wasdone in deference to pressure groups who were demanding that afundamentalist approach to creationism creationismor creation science,belief in the biblical account of the creation of the world as described in Genesis, a characteristic especially of fundamentalist Protestantism (see fundamentalism). be the only theory taught to thestudents. As the O'Sullivans phrase their view of the issue,advocates of creationism, a 'so-called new scientific theory',have unfortunately been 'successful in their attempts to underminethe teaching of legitimate science in the science class' (2007,201). The O'Sullivans believe, as do many, that school librariesought to house materials supporting both sides of controversial issues(2007, 202). Though it does not necessarily detract from detract fromverb 1. lessen, reduce, diminish, lower, take away from, derogate, devaluate verb 2. the writers'argument, the O'Sullivans' article, like many of the othertexts germane to the issue of censorship in school libraries, is adocument of passion rather than reasoned argument. However, ascontroversial as this subject is, the belief that librarians owe anethical duty to their young readers and that the questions of censorshipplay an integral role within that duty has not been called intoquestion. Both armies seek to elevate the welfare of children, one byoffering the variety of protection that preserves innocence and theother by imparting what they view as a comprehensive education. Libricide The most extreme form of censorship is libricide, which is definedas the deliberate destruction of a library and its contents with thespecific purpose of preventing access to certain information and modesof thought. Much of the literature devoted to describing the practice oflibricide is principally designed to impact upon the emotions of thereader. Vivid imagery is their keystone. As James Raven writes in LostLibraries: 'When books burn, drown or are carted off as war booty War booty is a term used in international law to describe militarily useful property seized from an enemy in a time of war. Combatants are permitted to seize such property as is necessary to conduct a war, such as food, transportation, communications, weapons and fuel. ,the images are often indelible' (2004, 8). Similarly, LucienPolastron inverts the famous quotation from Heinrich Heine This article is about the poet; for the mathematician, see Heinrich Eduard Heine.Christian Johann Heinrich Heine (December 13, 1797 – February 17, 1856) was a journalist, an essayist, and one of the most significant German romantic poets. : 'Wherethey burn men, they will eventually burn books' (2007, 190). In thevast majority of this literature, censorship is portrayed as an evilresulting in irredeemable loss to every society's store ofknowledge and culture. One of the most comprehensive texts on the subject is RebeccaKnuth's Libricide. The Regime-Sponsored Destruction of Books andLibraries in the Twentieth Century. The form of censorship described inthis book is not undertaken merely to obstruct freedom of access toinformation, it is designed to prevent freedom of thought. Knuthinvestigates the mass destructions of books and libraries performed byseveral totalitarian regimes including Nazi Germany and China'sCultural Revolution. Her most recent example is Iraq's invasion ofKuwait The Invasion of Kuwait, also known as the Iraq-Kuwait War, was a major conflict between the Republic of Iraq and the State of Kuwait which resulted in the 7 month long Iraqi occupation of Kuwait[4] in the early 1990s. As Knuth assesses the motivations behind eachcase, it becomes clear that her primary goal is to highlight the powerof the written word and to evoke a sense of tragedy when that power isdestroyed. In her view, books, 'by their very existence andcoexistence with the entirety of the world's print literature,support individualism, pluralism, creativity, rationalism rationalism[Lat.,=belonging to reason], in philosophy, a theory that holds that reason alone, unaided by experience, can arrive at basic truth regarding the world. , freedom ofinformation, critical thinking and intellectual freedom' (2003,236). Therefore, the destruction of books is seen as an imperative inmost totalitarian regimes in order to 'homogenise nationaldiscourse' (2003, 54). In Knuth's view, this process alwaysentails great social and political damage. Knuth's book is specifically designed to promote anunderstanding of the 'twentieth century's plague of bookdestruction' in the fervent hope that readers will 'takeactive steps to protect the common cultural heritage of the world'(2003, vii) and prevent any cases of libricide in the future. This ideais undoubtedly meritorious mer��i��to��ri��ous?adj.Deserving reward or praise; having merit.[Middle English, from Latin merit , though perhaps overly ambitious. Like theIntellectual Freedom Manual and much of the literature pertaining tocensorship in school libraries, the tone of Libricide is not so muchacademic, by which is meant detached and coolly analytical, as almostpassionate. However, Knuth's book differs from the IntellectualFreedom Manual in that it does not reiterate a single ideal, all thewhile ignoring or rejecting the political and social implications. Knuthfreely confesses that her own 'national, cultural, political andsocial prejudices' are reflected in her work (2003, xii). This isinevitable and for this reason, she argues that it is necessary toanalyse the motivations behind specific cases of censorship bydestruction in some depth before unilaterally condemning anyone whodisposes of a text as a vandal and a destroyer of civilisation. The sheer detail included in Knuth's descriptions ofhistorical events and the accompanying extensive referencing giveevidence of careful research and considered arguments. Many of the ideasand arguments presented in the book are not only instructive, wellinformed and often challenging but also, as a result of the book'spassion, they are not to be swiftly forgotten by the general circle ofreaders. This book draws attention to the heavy responsibility restingupon the shoulders of many information workers. It stipulates that booksand other sources of information can be powerful commodities and greatcare must be taken in their dissemination. Interestingly however, contemporary opinions on the subject oflibricide are not uniform, any more than the literature examined in theother sections of this review is entirely free of controversy. Knuthacknowledges discrete cases in which the burning of books is notnecessarily wrong. Other writers go further in their challenge to thepremise that burning books is invariably evil. Melinda Harvey poses apertinent question: 'Could it be that the destruction of books issometimes a positive act, and, occasionally, a necessary one?'(2009, 5). The burning of books can be cathartic cathartic(kəthär`tĭk): see laxative. . For example, when atotalitarian regime collapses and books propagating the propaganda ofthat regime are destroyed, the intention is to liberate the minds of thepeople, not to subjugate sub��ju��gate?tr.v. sub��ju��gat��ed, sub��ju��gat��ing, sub��ju��gates1. To bring under control; conquer. See Synonyms at defeat.2. To make subservient; enslave. them. Harvey's measured tone presentssomething of a soothing contrast to the other texts discussed in thissection. It also demonstrates an astute capacity to view the premisethat burning books is always wrong, something that has become almost atruism, from a differing point of view. Voices such as Harvey'sought to be heard in any arena but particularly in one as controversialand emotionally charged as extremist censorship. Conclusion In conclusion, as demonstrated by the literature rising fromvarious scholarly mediums including the publications of professionalorganisations, articles in online academic journals, newspaper articles,and historical studies, there are multitudinous forms of censorshipranging from the fanaticism of book burning to the comparativelyinnocuous cases of inappropriate cataloguing. It is also clear thatattitudes towards the practice of censorship and the ethical questionsincumbent upon it differ in equal measure. Censorship in schoollibraries is an issue often subject to unbridled passion andcontroversy. All of the contenders however, believe themselves to beacting in the best interests of the children. In contrast, Moody'sarticle and the articles relating to censoring the Internet constitute apragmatic acceptance of the inevitability and even the desirability ofsome censorship in public libraries. 100 Banned Books is equallypragmatic, if rather more dogmatic, in its exposition of the futility ofcensorship. Two forms of extremism are examined in this review--theextremist censorship described in Libricide and the extremist methods ofavoiding censorship displayed by texts such as the Intellectual FreedomManual. Both texts however, depict censorship as a moral affront. Just as the arguments surrounding the subject of censorship areoften diametrically di��a��met��ri��cal? also di��a��met��ricadj.1. Of, relating to, or along a diameter.2. Exactly opposite; contrary.di opposed, so too does the scholarly quality of thetexts under examination in this review differ considerably. This is inspite of the fact that, without exception, all purport to be primarilyacademic in nature. It is clear that some studies have been researchedwith greater assiduity as��si��du��i��ty?n. pl. as��si��du��i��ties1. Persistent application or diligence; unflagging effort.2. Constant personal attention and often obsequious solicitude. Often used in the plural.Noun 1. than others. Furthermore, bias, even bigotry, isevident in many of these works. The arguments contained within thesetexts are often valid but many writers fall prey to unbalanced emotionand seek actively to vilify their opponents, an act highly likely to bedetrimental to scholarship. As Stuart Macintyre argues: "The objectof war is to vanquish the enemy. The duty of the scholar is to seekunderstanding. Adversarial intolerance is inimical inimical,n a homeopathic remedy whose actions hinder, but do not counteract those of another. Also calledincompatible. to the principle ofacademic freedom" (2004, 9). Debate is often healthy; acrimony ac��ri��mo��ny?n.Bitter, sharp animosity, especially as exhibited in speech or behavior.[Latin crim isalmost invariably destructive. However, the charge of being unscholarlycould not be sustained against every publication included in thisreview. Others, though not uncommitted to a particular argument, striveto be comprehensive, and gently refute opposing opinions with reasonedand accommodating discussions. The subject of censorship in libraries is likely to remain a siteof controversy. It is hoped that in this arena, many voices willcontinue to be heard. Perhaps there will never be a decisive conclusion.It may even transpire that ongoing, constructive debates and discussionsare the best possible outcomes. They are a testament to the purposelydynamic nature of the library and information environment which strivesunceasingly to seek, test and employ new and creative methods ofimparting information. Of course, this review is not exhaustive and it is submitted thatan investigation into the opinions and arguments of the general publicwith regard to censorship in libraries, an area of the subject hithertoneglected, would reward academic scholarship. At this juncture however,regardless of the strictures espoused by some high-profile professionalcodes, it would seem that at least some forms of censorship in thelibrary sector are often perceived as both inescapable and ethicallysound. Therefore, at least in this country, it is generally felt that aheavy responsibility rests upon the shoulders of library workers tofulfil their duty of care towards vulnerable readers by shielding themfrom materials that may be harmful, all the while being careful not tothwart their right to access a great variety of materials in theinformation society that is modern Australia. Manuscript received March 2010. References American Library Association. 1996. Intellectual freedom manual.(5th ed.). Chicago and London: American Library Association. American Library Association. 2009. Statement on IntellectualFreedom. http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/intfreedom/index. cfm(accessed September 26, 2009) American Society for Information Science and Technology. 2004.ASIS&T professional guidelines. ASIS&T. http://www.asis.org/AboutASIS/professional-guidelines.html (accessed March 19, 2007) Australian Library and Information Association. 2009. Internetaccess in public libraries survey 2008. http://www.alia.org.au/advocacy/internet.access/internet.access.survey.2008.pdf (accessedJune 1, 2010) Australian Library and Information Association. (n.d.). Statementon professional conduct.http://www.alia.org.au/policies/professional.conduct.html (accessedMarch 19, 2007) Brophy, R 2003. The role of the professional in the informationsociety. In Challenge and change in the information society, ed. S.Hornby and Z. Clarke, 217-230. London: Facet. Cram, J. 1996. Fear of words: Censorship and public libraries.Australasian Public Libraries and Information Services See Information Systems. 9, no. 2: 91-95. Credaro, A. 2001. Double Jeopardy double jeopardy:see jeopardy. double jeopardyIn law, the prosecution of a person for an offense for which he or she already has been prosecuted. In U.S. : Censorship in school libraries.http://wwwgeocities.com/koalakid_1999/PAPERS/censorship.htm (accessedFebruary 28, 2007) Gorman, M. 2000. Our enduring values: Librarianship in the 21stcentury. Chicago and London: American Library Association. Harvey, M. 2009. War on books: The history of libraries is also thestory of their destruction. The Australian Literary Review, May 6. p. 5. International Federation of Library Associations. Free Access toInformation and Freedom of Expression. 1-21. http://www.ifla.org/V/press/pr990326.htm (accessed August 30, 2009) Jansen, S. 1988. Censorship: The knot that binds power andknowledge, Oxford: Oxford University Press, Karolides, N. J., Bald, M. and Sova, D. B. 1999. 100banned books,Censorship histories of world literature New York New York, state, United StatesNew York,Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of : Checkmark Books, Kirk, J., Poston-Anderson, B. & Yerbury, H. 1990. Into the 21stcentury, Library & information services in schools, Sydney: RobertBurton Robert Burton may refer to: Robert Burton (scholar) (1577-1640), English scholar and cleric, author of The Anatomy of Melancholy Robert Burton (statesman) (1747-1825), North Carolina delegate to Continental Congress Robert T. , Knuth, R 2003, Libricide: The regime-sponsored destruction of booksand libraries in the twentieth Century. Westport, Connecticut Westport is a coastal town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, in the United States. The 2004 population estimate was 26,644.The town is as affluent as other expensive Fairfield County towns, boasting a per capita income of more than $70,000. andLondon: Praeger. Macintyre, S. 2004. Past shrouded in polemics. The Australian, July5 p. 9. McCormick, J. & MacInnes M. eds. 1962. Versions of censorship.New York: Anchor Books. Moody, K 2004. Covert censorship in libraries: A discussion paperThe Australian Library Journal http://eprints.qut.edu.au/archive/00003071/01/censorship_discussion_paper.pdf (accessed March 19,2007) O'Sullivan, M. & O'Sullivan, C. J. 2007. Selection orcensorship: Libraries and the intelligent design debate. Library Review56, no. 3: 200-207. Polastron, L. X. 2007. Books on fire: The tumultuous story of theworld's great libraries. London: Thames & Hudson. Pors, N. O. 2001. Misbehaviour MISBEHAVIOUR. Improper or unlawful conduct. See 2 Mart. N. S. 683. 2. A party guilty of misbehaviour; as, for example, to threaten to do injury to another, may be bound to his good behaviour and thus restrained. See Good Behaviour. 3. in the public library: Internet use,filters and difficult people. New Library World 102, no. 9: 309-313. Raven, J., ed. 2004. Lost libraries The destruction of great bookcollections since antiquity. New York: Palgrave Macmillan Thawley, J. 1997. Improving ALIA's policy statements. TheAustralian Library Journal 46, no. 2: 125-135. Trushina, I. 2004. Freedom of access: Ethical dilemmas for internetlibrarians. The Electronic Library 22, no. 5, 416-421. Wilson, D. 2008. Censorship, new technology and libraries. TheElectronic Library 26, no. 5: 695-701. Dr Fiona Guthrie has a background in both literature andlibrarianship. In 2007, Fiona was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy at theUniversity of Queensland The University of Queensland (UQ) is the longest-established university in the state of Queensland, Australia, a member of Australia's Group of Eight, and the Sandstone Universities. It is also a founding member of the international Universitas 21 organisation. for a thesis entitled 'The NineteenthCentury in the Recent Australian Imaginary'. In 2002, she wasgranted a Master of Philosophy at the same institution for a morefocused study entitled 'Ned Kelly and Australian Identities:Selected Representations 1880-2001'. In 2009, Fiona was awarded aMaster of Applied Science A professional Master's degree. It is conferred far more widely in the Commonwealth of Nations than in the US.Abbreviations include: MASc, MAppSc, MApplSc, M.A.Sc. and MAS. (Library and Information Management) fromCharles Sturt University Charles Sturt University (CSU) is an Australian multi-campus university in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. It has campuses at Bathurst, Albury-Wodonga, Dubbo, Orange and Wagga Wagga. , and she is currently working at the StateLibrary of Queensland The State Library of Queensland is a large public library provided to the people of the State of Queensland, Australia, by the State Government. Its legislative basis is provided by the Queensland Libraries Act 1988. . FIONA DUTHIE This paper has been double-blind peer reviewed to meet theDepartment of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research (DIISR DIISR Department of Innovation Industry Science and Research (Australia)) HERDC HERDC Higher Education Research Data Collection requirements.