The F-Word: What to Do When Cussing Appears on the Printed Page

A 10th-grade English teacher received an advanced reader’s copy of a novel, and she’d like me to purchase it when it’s available. While thumbing through her copy, I spotted the F-word on one of its pages. Now I’m worried about buying the book for our school library. What would you suggest?

You first need to read the entire book. Right now, you’re doing what many censors do—taking a word or phrase out of context. I hope the teacher has read the entire novel, since she’s so eager for you to add it to your collection. If she hasn’t, encourage her to finish the book.

After you’ve both had a chance to consider its literary merits, then you can have an informed and thoughtful discussion. But before you read the book, be honest with yourself. Because of the F-word, will you be searching for a flaw in the book so you can justify not purchasing it? If that’s the case, then it’s already doomed. On the other hand, suppose you read the book and discover it doesn’t have much merit. Then you need to ask yourself two things: Is the novel comparable in literary quality to most of the others in our collection? Will the story appeal to students? If the answer to both questions is “yes,” then you should purchase it. By the way, I bet there are already a number of excellent works of literature in your collection that contain the F-word.

I work in a branch of a very large public library system, and I don’t know much about children’s books. What do I tell homeschooling parents who object to us having books on certain topics, such as human reproduction, in our collection?

Let those parents know that you’re thrilled they use your library for their children’s educational needs. Then, explain that the library’s mission is to serve the learning and recreational reading needs of the entire community. Most public and many private schools teach human reproduction in science and health classes. And many parents turn to the library for materials to help them engage in good conversations about sex and sexuality with their children. The library is all about giving people choices. Although homeschooling parents can determine what their kids read and learn, they can’t impose their views on others.

Make sure to keep “reconsideration forms” on hand in case some homeschooling parents want to make a formal complaint. Just remember to treat them the same way you’d treat other patrons who complain about materials in your adult collection. If you still feel uncomfortable dealing with parents of homeschoolers, ask your director of children’s services to visit your branch and offer an appropriate workshop for you and your colleagues. An opportunity to do a little role-playing may help you feel more comfortable.

Our school library serves students in grades 7–12, but some of our books are too mature for seventh and eighth graders. I want to preserve students’ freedom to read, but I worry that a book like Toni Morrison’s Beloved might get into younger students’ hands. Would it be OK if I set up a section of the library that’s strictly for high school students?

That’s not a good idea. I grew up in a school that served students in grades one to eight, and the library was a combination school/town library. I went there every afternoon after school and often during the summer, and I checked out whatever I wanted to read. I don’t remember a section for “adults only” or one labeled “for mature readers.” It just wasn’t an issue.

Over my long career, I’ve learned that children will put down books they aren’t ready for. The great majority of seventh and eighth graders won’t be interested in reading Beloved. But some kids will, and they should be allowed to read it. A restricted area of the library isn’t the answer. Students almost always gravitate to the “forbidden.” The best thing to do is to encourage students to quit reading books that don’t interest them. Most of your younger students won’t make it past the first chapter of Beloved. They’ll be more intrigued by your young adult titles. Think about this: How do you judge the maturity level of a book? There are many YA novels that deal with subjects and themes as challenging as those in Morrison’s works.