Banning Books

Book banning continues to be a hot topic, if not a problem, in a variety of public and school libraries. There should be guidelines as to what is appropriate for various age levels and preclude materials that are prurient or salacious just for the shock value. Parents and taxpayers should have an informed voice in policies that are being created or revised. However, should a high-school student who can join the military at the age of 17 (with parental consent) be restricted in what he or she can read? Should a 16-year-old, able to hold a job, be told what he or she can read? Banning books or restricting reading materials is a double-edged sword. Yes, we want to keep minors safe but how far should public and school libraries go? When is banning harmful or self-defeating? I grew up in a…