Gutman on Censorship

I just read an article by author Dan Gutman in SLJ on Censorship and the role of the author, the parents, the librarian, and the teacher. And it made me wonder-- what about the role of the administrator?

I have been blessed to have a supportive administrators who understand that kids explore life through books--reading about things does not mean they want to do them-- the reader lives vicariously through the book-- and sees the consequences of that character's choices. Of course he thinks about what would happen to him if he was in the same situation. Don't we all?

We can't keep kids from growing up by censoring what they read. We are the safe haven--the school library--where they go to find information and trust that we are at least trying to understand them and the world they live in.

Since one of our many goals in the library is to help kids find their way in the world, offering them a choice in what they read--and for some that means cutting edge fiction that drives them to read--or entices them to read--or makes reading cool; for others humor, or graphic novels, or fantasy--is of the utmost importance. If the library becomes obsolete to teens, we lose the opportunity to guide a new generation of leaders.

Let's guide them now, while we have them, and trust them to make choices in their own reading.