The Associated Press has learned that some libraries in at least three states are removing the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy from shelves after concerns about its material arose.
The primary worries which apparently warrant removal are over the storyline and, according to librarians, the poor reviews.
Quotage:
Libraries in Wisconsin, Georgia and Florida have all either declined to order the book or pulled it from shelves. Other states may soon follow.
“It’s semi-pornographic,” said Don Walker, a spokesman for Brevard County, Fla., where the library put 19 copies of the book on the shelves then pulled the novel after reading reviews about it. Some 200 notices had to go out to people on a waiting list to read it.
Librarians in at least four Florida counties have declined to buy the book — even though hundreds of people have requested it. Reasons range from not having the money to poor reviews.
“It doesn’t suit our community standards,” said Cay Hohmeister, director of libraries for Leon County — where Florida’s capital, Tallahassee, is located.
Article Continues BelowIn Gwinnett County, Ga., a suburb northeast of Atlanta, all 15 library branches will not carry the book.
“We do not collect erotica at Gwinnett County Public Library. That’s part of our materials management collection policy. So, E L James’ three books in the trilogy fit that description,” said Deborah George, the county library’s director of materials management.
No matter what the subject, Hypable doesn’t believe banning books does any good for society. We’re sure the library has romance books in its system that may get close to some of the material found in Fifty Shades.
The Associated Press goes on to note that not all libraries in the aforementioned states were banning the book.
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