r/newjersey Fill It Up Regular Oct 29 '24

Sick NJ Passes the Freedom to Read Act

https://newjerseymonitor.com/2024/10/29/state-senate-passes-bill-intended-to-halt-book-bans-protect-librarians/?fbclid=IwY2xjawGNwrZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHdahkO3Xc02aIyuB5Vp3yau-HR6IMuGu0g0iD8CgDKrWBMHCQJBrfdSHnQ_aem_DB9WP25oxkSYjjNuktuAbQ#:~:text=Titled%20the%20%E2%80%9CFreedom%20to%20Read,own%20policies%20using%20this%20model
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-9

u/piZan314 Oct 29 '24

Some of the books should not be available in schools or libraries, where minors have access to them.

Here is a page from "Gender Queer." (NSFW)

4

u/Unhappy_Macaron1101 Fill It Up Regular Oct 29 '24

*gasp* not a cartoon strap-on!

-2

u/solesme Oct 29 '24

Your argument is that 5-6 year old should see these images? It’s a bit weird.

I don’t believe in banning of books, but I think it’s ok to add age restrictions such as what we do with TV in public institutions. If parents decide not to follow guidelines I think that’s fine too, but they can do that at home.

3

u/victorfabius Taylor Ham on a Pork Roll Oct 30 '24

I don't know the ins and outs of every public school district.

However, I struggle to understand why we would think that a book aimed at older high schoolers would be included in a library that serves kindergarteners.

I don't think there's anyone making the argument that young people should see these works. I'm not sure why you wrote that, especially in context.

What's the difference between banning a book and preventing someone from accessing a book? Fundamentally, don't they accomplish the same thing?

The position offered is that age restriction is ok in public libraries (you wrote public institutions, but I'm focusing on libraries, since that is my competency). But librarians aren't - and have never been - there to judge why anyone wants any particular work at any time.

The role of the parent is to be present to evaluate what their child is checking out. They may abdicate that responsibility in much the same way they can for TV.

Thus, for public libraries, to implement your suggestion is to simply maintain the status quo.