Banned Books Week Day #8

The ALA Banned Books Week has a variety new challenges this year that caused my eyebrows to raise.

"The New Joy of Sex " by Alex Comfort

"Challenged at the Nampa, Idaho Public Library (2005) along with seven other books because “they are very pornographic in nature and they have very explicit and detailed illustrations and photographs which we feel don’t belong in a library.” The library board approved policy changes that restrict children’s access to any holdings that may fall under the state’s harmful to minors statute and barred the library from buying movies rated NC-17 or X." Books Challenged & Banned 2008-2009, Robert P. Doyle

and

"The Joy of Gay Sex" by Charles Silverstein and Felice Picano

"Challenged at the Nampa, Idaho Public Library (2005) along with seven other books because “they are very pornographic in nature and they have very explicit and detailed illustrations and photographs which we feel don’t belong in a library.” The library board approved policy changes that restrict children’s access to any holdings that may fall under the state’s harmful to minors statute and barred the library from buying movies rated NC-17 or X. The book was relocated to the director’s office (2008) and it was eventually restored to the collection (2008). Challenged in the Lewis and Clark Library in Helena, Mont. (2008) due to objections over its content. The book has been in the library’s collection since 1993. The library director accepted the recommendation of the library’s collection review committee that the book be retained in the collection. Restricted minors’ access in the Topeka and Shawnee County, Kans. Public Library (2009) because a group contended that the material is “harmful to minors under state law.” Books Challenged & Banned 2008-2009, Robert P. Doyle

As an erotic romance author, I thought these were appropriate books to end this week with.

Today, I'm at the Collingswood Book Festival, stop by the Romance Unlimited booth and we can chat about my books, books in general, or Banned Books Week.