A CALIFORNIAN CONTROVERSY:
MANGA BOOK BANNED FROM LIBRARIES

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Paul Gravett writes:
Apparently a Californian mother had become so aghast that her 16-year-old-son was able to check out a copy of Manga: 60 Years of Japanese Comics from a library (which includes, as part of its survey of the totality of manga history, depictions and descriptions of the adult side of the genre) that the County Supervisor has ordered the book pulled from the local libraries under his control.

The controversy unfolds in the following articles reprinted below:
Daily Press - 12 April, 2006
Bill Postmus Press Release - 13 April, 2006
Desert Dispatch - 13 April, 2006
American Library Association - 14 April, 2006
Ethics & Compliance Officer Appointed - 14 April, 2006
Publisher Harper Collins Responds - 24 April, 2006
Daily Press - 25 April, 2006
Barstow College To Carry Banned Book - 2 May, 2006

Further reading:
Reactions To The Ban
Letters To Bill
Bill Responds

Daily Press
by Miguel Gonzalez, staff writer
Good Grief, Charlie Brown!
Family Stunned By Porn Comics At Library
12 April, 2006

VICTORVILLE — When 16-year-old Matt Jones checked out a book from the Victorville public library entitled, Manga: Sixty Years Of Japanese Comics, he got a real eyeful.

The book, which is shelved next to Charlie Brown and other comic books, contains some X-rated cartoons depicting graphic sexual acts, including sex with animals.

"I like Japanese cartoons, but I did not expect to see those images and I returned the book the next day," Matt Jones said.

His mother, Cynthia Jones, was horrified.

"I've strived to keep this stuff away from my children," she said. "To find out that my children could check out pornography out of my local library has really shocked me."

Cynthia Jones, who considers herself and her two kids devout Christians, wrote a letter to the county library system asking them to remove the book.

To Jones' surprise, the county wrote back saying she was the only person complaining about the book and it would not be removed.

"This is a book that is available for any under-age kid to check out. If the library refuses to remove it they should at least restrict who views the book," she said.

County Library Collection Development Coordinator Nannette Bricker-Barret said that it is not up to the library system to determine what under age members should view.

"It is the parents' responsibility since the library does not act as a parent," Barret said. "It is the library's responsibility to offer a broad spectrum of materials, not to exclude materials."

Parent Tamara Innis, who visited the Victorville library on Tuesday, considered the images deserving of a restrictive rating.

"They do it with music, why not with a book with pornographic content?" she wondered.

Barret said that since the book was purchased about a year ago, it has been correctly placed in the adult collection.

"Library policy affirms the American Library Association's Library Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read and Freedom to View statements," she said.

And even though the book was placed in the adult section, so were other cartoon books such as The Hulk, Calvin & Hobbes and Peanuts, Jones said.

"That represents a wide variety in the full spectrum of comics," Barret explained.

To date, the book, which is also available in local branches in Barstow, Apple Valley and Hesperia, remains free to check out to any card carrying patron in good standing, regardless of age.

Matt Jones said the book was misleading since most of the X-rated material is located toward the back pages.

"It starts with normal cartoons and as you turn the pages it gets very freaky," the 16-year old said.

That situation could change soon in Victorville since on July 1, the city will take over for the county in running the library.

"We will look at the current inventory and work to ensure a proper atmosphere at the library," Victorville spokeswoman Yvonne Hester said.

In the countywide system the library has 13 copies of the book, which has been checked out approximately 128 times since it was bought in May of 2005.

Jones said she will continue to request the restriction of the book and any others that could affect children.

"Many children in spring break are visiting that library and parents should be concerned."

Because of the explicit nature of the cartoons, the Daily Press has decided not to post the images on the Web site.

Press Release: News From The Office Of Bill Postmus
Chairman Of The Board Of Supervisors
San Bernardino County
13 April, 2006

Postmus Orders Book Containing Obscene Comics Removed From County Libraries

San Bernardino -- San Barnardino County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Postmus has ordered a book containing obscene images removed from the County Library system. The book, which had been checked out from the Victorville Branch library, describes the history of Japanese comics and contains reproductions of pornographic cartoons depicting sex acts, including sex with animals.

At Postmus' request, the County Administrative Office verified today that the book has been removed or is no longer available at any of the county's libraries.

Although the book in question was not located in the children's section of the Victorville library, it was on a shelf next to other books including comics popular with children. The issue was brought to Chairman Postmus' attention as a result of a complaint by a concerned parent, whose 16 year-old son had checked out the book and informed his mother of the inappropriate content.

"That book is absolutely inappropriate for a public library and as soon as I was made aware of it yesterday, I ordered it to be removed immediately," Chairman Postmus said today.

As a County's chief executive, Supervisor Postmus also called for the San Barnardino County Library System to draft a plan to protect children from inappropriate books and other materials that may currently exist in the county library system.

"I have directed our County Library System to research and report back to me regarding what methods the county may employ o better control which materials are available to be checked out by children," Postmus said. "We also need to take a closer look at what kind of material is appropriate to be purchased with taxpayers dollars."

Desert Dispatch
by Miguel Gonzalez, staff writer
Postmus Orders Adult Comics Removed From Libraries
13 April, 2006

Following an article that ran in the Desert Dispatch and the Daily Press, First District Supervisor Bill Postmus on Wednesday ordered county libraries to remove a Japanese comic book that contained pornographic cartoons.

The book Manga: Sixty Years Of Japanese Comics, became the subject of controversy after Victorville resident Cynthia Jones' 16-year-old son told her the book contained illustrations of sexual acts and sex with animals. The book was found to also be available in branches located in Hesperia, Apple Valley and Barstow.

Along with the order for removal of the book, Postmus also called for officials with the county library to draft a plan to protect children from similar books.

"This book is absolutely inappropriate for a public library and as soon as I was made aware of it, I ordered it to be removed," Postmus said.

The book was on a shelf next to other comic books popular with children.

Postmus, who serves as chairman of the Board of Supervisors and executive officer of the county, directed county libraries "to develop a method for protecting children, by creating a method for controlling which books are available to be checked out by children."

Upon hearing of the removal of the book, Jones said she could not believe the news.

"That's awesome!" Jones said. "I think Mr. Postmus is showing with his actions that he really cares about his community and the children."

The access to X-rated material in local libraries had become an issue of concern to some elected officials who earlier in the day questioned county library policies.

"I am worried that they don't have an adequate screening process," Hesperia Mayor Tad Honeycutt said. "I am sure there is something we can do to evaluate the content of some books."

Victorville Councilman Bob Hunter said that come July 1, when the city takes over the library from the county, many policies will be changed.

"I want the city library to be a family-friendly place," Hunter said.

The councilman was quick to say he does not believe in censorship of books, but was also clear to point out the need to protect underage library members from explicit content.

"When the city takes over we are not just going to look at books, but movies and Internet filters that could also pose the same threat," Hunter said.

A visit to the local Victorville library showed that besides the book in question other materials, such R-rated movies and other explicit books are available to check out to underage patrons as young as 16.

Jones said that when she started her campaign to restrict the book, she never thought the issue would be settled in such a quick manner.

Calls County Librarian Ed Kieczykowski were not returned Wednesday.

Apple Valley Councilman Rick Roelle said sexually graphic material does not belong in a public library in the first place.

"They don't have any educational value. The county should enforce the obscenity laws that we have in California," he said.

Postmus' spokesman David Zook said the 13 copies of the book in question would be removed from all county branches, including Apple Valley, Victorville, Hesperia and Barstow.

American Library Association
San Bernardino Removes Explicit Manga Book after Challenge
14 April, 2006

Prompted by a request from a Victorville, California, parent to consider the appropriateness of Paul Gravett's Manga: 60 Years of Japanese Comics, the San Bernardino County Library decided to remove 13 copies from all its branches April 12.

SBCL Director Ed Kieczykowski told American Libraries that "99% of the book is perfectly okay, but there are a couple of pretty graphic scenes, especially one showing sex with a big hamster, that are not especially endearing to our community standards." He said that after seeing those pages, it was hard to defend keeping the book on open shelves, adding that it was a "telling fact that only 20 public library systems in the state owned the title" despite getting very positive reviews.

Victorville resident Cynthia Jones had written to the library and the county supervisor's office in early April requesting the title be removed after her 16-year-old son checked it out, the Victorville Daily Press reported April 12. "I like Japanese cartoons," Matt Jones told the paper, "but I did not expect to see those images and I returned the book the next day."

Kieczykowski told AL that the library brought County District Supervisor Bill Postmus in and made him a part of the review process. "It was a real educational experience for him on the mechanics of reconsidering a book," he said. "We took him through the challenge request, we showed him the book reviews, showed him the book, and made him a part of the entire process."

Kieczykowski added that adult patrons who want to read the book would have convenient access through interlibrary loan from the neighboring Riverside County system.

News From The County Of San Bernardino
County Hires Experienced Ethics & Compliance Officer
14 April, 2006

An attorney and private consultant with years of experience in creating and operating ethics and compliance programs has been selected by the County of San Bernardino to serve as the county's first Chief Compliance & Ethics Officer.

Marcia Sage, who currently serves as managing director of San Diego-based Ethics & Compliance Consulting, begins her work for the county on Monday, April 17.

Ms Sage will be charged with developing, implementing, and monitoring an effective compliance and ethics program for the county organisation, as well as promoting awareness and understanding of positive ethical and moral principles consistent with the county's mission and values. The Board Of Supervisors created the position to report directly to County Administrative Officer Mark Uffer and to work closely with Mr Uffer and the board on a daily basis.

"Filling this position is a vital component of the county's ongoing effort to maintain the public's confidence and sustain the highest level of accountability," said Board Of Supervisors Chairman Bill Postmus.

Since 1999, Ms. Sage has launched and oversaw three separate ethics and compliance operations. She advised clients on the design and implementation of ethics and compliance programs, including development of government policies, ethics codes, employee communications, staff training and compliance oversight.

"Clearly, Marcia Sage is well-qualified to take the County of San Bernardino's ethics program to the next level and create for the county what we hope will be the best program of its kind in the state," Mr Uffer said. More...

Publisher Harper Collins Responds
24 April, 2006

Manga:  Sixty Years of Japanese Comics, has been available for the past two years without an issue.  It is a thorough look at the diversity and history of the format from 1945-present.  Removing the title from library shelves in San Bernardino County implicates the First Amendment rights of readers in that community and is a classic instance of censorship.  As a publisher, we are dismayed that a county library would deny its reading public access to one of the few English-language histories about Japanese comics -- a topic that is currently of great public interest.  We urge the County to reconsider.

Daily Press
By Miguel Gonzalez, Staff Writer
Postmus urged to keep comic book in libraries
25 April, 2005

VICTORVILLE — Two weeks after ordering the removal of a comic book that contained pornographic material, First District Supervisor Bill Postmus is being urged to keep the book on library shelves.

Postmus has received a letter from the National Coalition Against Censorship, a New York group composed by 50 national nonprofit organizations, in which he is accused of censoring a "critically acclaimed book."

"To remove a book about the history of the genre of Japanese comics just because it contains a section on erotic comics is comparable to removing an encyclopedia because of an entry on erotic practices," NCAC Director of Arts Svetlana Mintcheva said.

The American Civil Liberties Union is one of the lead members of this coalition. The book Manga: Sixty years of Japanese Comics, became the subject of controversy after 16-year-old Matt Jones of Victorville told his mother the book contained illustrations of graphic sexual acts and sex with animals. The book was found to also be available in branches located in Hesperia, Apple Valley and Barstow.

Along with the order for removal of the book, Postmus also called for officials with the county library to draft a plan to protect children from similar books.

Monday, the supervisor said the book will remain off the shelves of the county library. "A cartoon depicting a person engaged in a sex act with a giant hamster doesn't belong in a San Bernardino County library. And our tax dollars shouldn't be used to pay for it either," he said. "That's simply what this is about," Postmus said.

Mintcheva said that her organization believes this to be a classic case of censorship. "The removal of the book was clearly based on objections to its content, which is impermissible under the First Amendment," she said. "As the Supreme Court said in Board of Education v. Pico, the Constitution does not permit 'officially prescribed orthodoxy', which limits what people may read, think, speak, or say."

Postmus disagreed. "There is no doubt in my mind that the decision to remove the book was the right thing to do. As a public agency, the county has an obligation to protect the public, especially children."

Asked if the coalition is considering legal action against the county, Mintcheva said her hope is that the supervisor decides to protect the rights of all readers. Mintcheva said the coalition will continue to monitor the case, while Postmus said he will continue to ensure that tax dollars are not being used to purchase what he described as "filth."

The Desert Dispatch, Barstow, CA
Barstow College to carry book banned by library
2 May 2006

The Barstow Community College library will display copies of a controversial book that has been removed from the shelves of the San Bernardino County libraries.

The book, Manga: 60 Years Of Japanese Comics, was ordered off the library shelves April 12 after complaints by First District county Supervisor Bill Postmus.

"Our feeling is that we would like to see the book returned to the shelves of the county libraries," Kyri Freeman, librarian at the Thomas M. Kimball Library at the college.

The book was yanked from the county library shelves after a 16-year-old Victorville boy told his mom that the book contained sexual illustrations.

Freeman said she and many librarians believe the book did not go through an appropriate process before it was banned.

"In effect, we feel it was an act of censorship and not appropriate," she said.

Freeman said she has not seen the book, but noted the book is a scholarly look at the history of a wildly popular form of Japanese graphic novels.

Once known as comic books, graphic novels are no longer ten-cent Captain Marvel, Superman or Donald Duck stories told in drawings. Modern graphic novels take on many forms and many are published for adults.

Manga is said to represent 40 percent of everything published in Japan, a country that is known for its avid readership of magazines, books and newspapers. Manga run the gamut from girls' and womens' comics, and those depicting violent samurai, disturbing horror and apocalyptic science fiction, and issues of censorship and protest, according to a Web site by Paul Gravett, the author of the book that has become the local focus of controversy.

Although the college library will celebrate Banned Library Week in September, the Manga book will be on display before that. Copies of the book were ordered recently and the display will probably be in place before the end of the month, Freeman said.

The book is something that might have already been in the library's collection, Freeman said. "It's the type of book we would get to fit in with our collection development policy," she said.

The college will be offering a class on graphic novels and other books in the near future, she said.

Freeman also pointed out that the film V For Vendetta was based on a graphic novel.

Freeman said books and other materials available at the college library are primarily for students and faculty. Members of the public can come into the library and view the books, but not check them out. Children are allowed in the library only if accompanied by a parent or guardian, she said.

Although the Manga book cannot be checked out at the county library branches, a link to the county library's Web site allows a viewer to purchase the book for $24.95.

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