Philip Pullman's 'The Golden Compass' has some parents worried

I'm sick and tired of teachers coming into the library and telling students that they can't check out certain books because they're not the appropriate reading level. Isn't that censorship? By the way, my principal loves Accelerated Reader. How can I convince her that students should be free to make their own reading selections?

This issue is a big problem in many of our nation's schools, and I get numerous emails about it. Here are some suggestions to help do away with restrictive labeling: (1) Don't put a limit on the number of books that students can check out at any one time. (2) A teacher may instruct her class to only take out books on their reading level, but you can get around that by encouraging kids to take out additional titles of their choice. (3) Don't put reading level stickers on your books—it encourages labeling. (4) Begin a student book club that meets before or after school, and be sure to introduce its members to all types of books. (5) Find a teacher who's willing to “step out of the box” and suggest that the two of you conduct an experiment. Introduce students to books that interest them and that are supposedly too difficult for them. After the kids have read these titles, talk to them about the books, and invite your principal to the discussion. My bet is that your students will change your principal's mind about free reading.

What do you think of Joyce Carol Oates's books? Should they be censored in school libraries?

The word censored makes me twinge. I assume you're talking about a high school library, which should offer a wide range of adult and young adult titles. If your school or district has a selection policy and Oates's books meet its guidelines, then there shouldn't be a question about the appropriateness of her books in your library. Most middle school students aren't ready for Oates, and I doubt that they'd even care if her titles were available. They have other adolescent concerns and interests on their minds. My high school students, on the other hand, liked Oates's works, so I included them in our collection. Remember that libraries are about choice. That's the message that we should always deliver to students, parents, and school officials.

The recent controversy over Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass has caused some of our middle school parents to call me. They aren't asking me to remove the book; they simply want to know if they should allow their children to see the film version.

Since the movie arrived in theaters last month, by now this may be a moot point. But I want to address this question because parents often ask librarians to judge the merits of books, movies, and other products for young people. It's our role to serve our young users and their parents, but it isn't our role to “be” the parent. The best way to answer such a request is to simply say, “I can't make that decision for you. I can tell you that readers of fantasy love Pullman's books.”

At a nearby middle school, a parent has challenged E. L. Konigsburg's Silent to the Bone (S & S/Atheneum, 2000) because of its sexual content. I'm a middle school librarian, and although I haven't read the book, it's in our collection. I'm worried: What should I do if parents begin asking me why we offer the novel?

You should start by reading the book. It's very difficult to defend a title you haven't read. Of course, no librarian can read every title in their library, but I think it's wise to read any book that has been challenged in a nearby school district. Censors have a way of spreading the word, and the media loves to help them. Silent to the Bone is an intriguing story that most middle-school students love. I suggest that you ask your students to read the book, and lead them in a discussion of it. The publisher has a discussion guide for this book on its Web site (www.simonsays.com). The guide hits the issues dead-on.