BANNED BOOKS: WEEK STREESES RIGHT TO READ WHAT YOU LIKE

Freedom of choice is being celebrated by librarians and pro-choice literature advocates this week in honor of Banned Books Week.

Each year the American Library Association and other groups designate a week to promote "the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them."

The majority of the books the ALA defends have been challenged, which means there has been an attempt to ban or restrict them. A successful challenge results in a book being banned.

Banned Books Week supporters says that while the desire to protect children from inappropriate sexual content or offensive language is commendable, only parents "have the right and the responsibility to restrict the access of their children -- and only their children -- to library resources."

Cape Girardeau Public Library has set up table displays, bookmarks and banners in recognition of the week. Some 50 books in the youth services department that have been challenged or banned from American libraries are on display and available for checkout.

A similar adult books display was recently dismantled, but the books remain available for checkout.

The library doesn't place any restrictions on books checked out, said Candy Heise, the library's adult services coordinator. "If a person is under legal age, their parent has to sign for them to get a library card. What we say is that at that point, if you sign for your child to get a library card, it's up to you to decide what that child will check out."

The library has a written policy for the purchase of materials, and patrons may register any complaints with librarians, said Heise. Complaints are registered by filing a form called a citizens' request for reconsideration of library materials with the library director. The complaint is then reviewed to check for compliance with the library's purchasing policy.

"The library director tries to resolve it with the complainant," said Heise. "All requests are also heard by the library board of trustees."

Book banning also is a popular topic on the Internet. The Internet Public Library web site has received several challenges to links it provides. Librarians at the site also complain that some site-blocking software and proposed web site self-rating are new types of censorship that would be detrimental to Internet users.

"It's important to state that not all of the site-blocking programs block out unrated sites," say Internet librarians. "Some allow the user to define what is prohibited. But the fundamental principle behind site-blocking remains the same -- that it's easier to take access to information away than to educate children and young adults about what is appropriate."

There is no site-blocking software on Cape Girardeau Public Library computers because the same user policy that governs printed materials is followed, said Heise. Parents must sign an agreement allowing children under 18 to gain access to the Internet and must be present with children in the sixth grade or younger who use the computers. However, parental guidance is not required for children in the seventh grade or older.

"Our policy says there may be objectionable material out there, and the terminals are visible from the reference desk," said Heise. "We don't use filters here because that process is so new and its very imperfect."

Although Internet filters aren't used on library computers, books are available for interested readers. Parents who are considering purchasing site-blocking software may check out books providing research and comparisons so they can be informed before they make any purchases, Heise said.

The Internet Public Library web site: (http://ipl.org/about/bannedbooks.html)