However, for now, the controversial and limited material available in digital format remains problematic for New Zealand's public libraries. Understand the strategies used by New Zealand public libraries to manage digital resources that are restricted or considered controversial. What are the current legal, ethical and technical issues New Zealand public libraries face when offering controversial and restricted texts in digital format.
Greenlandic (2009) research on the classification of controversial picture books in New Zealand public libraries used an interview-based qualitative approach to understand why a particular group of texts received a particular classification. This strategy was used by one library in Mill's research on censorship challenges in public libraries in New Zealand (Mills, 2015, p.57). Balls (1998, p.26) survey of censorship challenges in New Zealand public libraries found that 72% of respondents had experienced censorship challenges in some way.
Research Design Sample
Restricted text is of particular interest to this study because libraries are required by law to restrict access to the item to those over a certain age. Although there is now no age restriction in New Zealand, Into the River was the subject of a highly publicized censorship challenge, receiving an age restriction of R14 and being temporarily banned from sale or delivery. The text is rated R18 in New Zealand, so how access to this item could be managed was of particular concern.
It is rated R13 in New Zealand, so the cataloging and access restrictions are of interest.
Data Collection
If it is available in e-book format, the technical aspects of how to restrict access to this item can be problematic for libraries. This text was chosen because it contains controversial content such as sex, drug use, crime and profanity, but is aimed at a teenage/young adult audience. It has also been adapted into a film and musical, meaning that it is well known in popular culture and may therefore be a likely inclusion in the library's collections.
Data Analysis
Theory
Limitation and Assumptions
14 The ability to find willing and available interview subjects and limitations on resources such as time and money also imposed limitations on the sample size. Limited resources also dictated that interview subjects could only be from the North Island of New Zealand. Collectively the interviewees in this study used all available e-book platforms in New Zealand, so it is assumed that their.
The qualitative interview aspect of the project was based on respondents self-reporting their organizational processes and policies, as well as their personal behaviors and beliefs. These responses are assumed to have been provided honestly and without bias or ulterior motives. The identities of the organizations and individuals in the study remained confidential to encourage honest responses.
Some of the questions asked in the interview component of the project were of a specific technical nature and there was a possibility that not all interviewees would immediately know the answers, especially regarding the potential technical features of their e-book platform (e) . In an effort to obtain accurate answers, the interviewees were provided with a core set of interview questions prior to the interview so that they could gather information to answer these questions if necessary.
Results
Catalogue analysis
It contains 15 elements of the story and contains no substantive warning or indication of the reader's intended age. Library F has a description that gives the reader a strong indication of the type of content the library would contain. Library G put tags (keywords) on their file, but these did not allude to the sexual content of the text.
Library A used no subject headings, while Library B used ten different subject headings, none of which allude to the book's controversial content, except perhaps the title "Bullying - Teen Fiction." Seven of the ten titles include the term "teen fiction," which may be an attempt to indicate the intended age of the text. In doing so, he identifies which aspects of the content made it controversial (sexual relations between teenagers, sexual exploitation, drug use, criminal activities, violence and the use of profanity).
The catalog entries for both titles made no reference to an age restriction in any form, had no official rating label affixed, contained no access restrictions, or evidence of attempts to verify the reader's age. It is possible that both libraries do not know the grades that apply to these texts. It is also possible that these libraries interpreted the age restriction to apply only to the print edition of the title.
However, some records were more detailed than others and more overtly attempted to point out the controversial nature of the text. Two of the recently published texts, Into the River and Fifty Shades of Grey, contained the most complete and detailed catalog descriptions and were notable for attracting the most attention to.
Interviews
Some of the same interviewees who had erotic romance fiction in their ebook collections also stated that their ebook collections currently do not contain texts that they believed would attract a censorship complaint, implying that they do not view erotic romance as the kind of text that would provoke censorship complaints. One interviewee described their understanding of the technology as a "blunt tool" and another believed that the access restriction could not be applied at the title level. The inability to restrict access to specific titles or verify the age of the library patrons who read ebooks has had some impact on the ebook collections of the surveyed libraries and is one factor in the general lack of age-restricted texts in their catalogs.
When discussing the removal of the R18 American Psycho ebook from their collection, one interviewee stated that the technical inability to restrict access to the text was the main reason for removing the text, but they also felt how "important" the text was. However, one of the largest libraries surveyed also adopted two unique strategies that in some cases enabled it to offer e-book titles that were or were currently age-restricted in New Zealand. Second, the library was able to avoid age restrictions in some cases because the original rating technically applied to a particular edition of the text.
They stated, "The library must be conscious of checking whether they have any restricted material, and this applies in both print and digital formats". An interviewee from one of the largest libraries surveyed also stated that the majority of their e-book collection was "popular fiction types, basically because they want to publish well". However, several interviewees noted that there were a number of other factors that would also be taken into account when assessing such a request, and the controversial nature of the text would not always be the main consideration.
Even if a title was identified as having a restriction using these resources, in some cases it was still unclear which edition of the text the rating applied to. Only one library did not have a collection management policy and two were in the process of updating their policy at the time of the interview.
Conclusions
25 censorship complaints and self-reported not having any controversial or restricted texts in their e-book collection. All libraries with a collection management policy had included mention of the concept of intellectual freedom. This was often in conjunction with a statement by LIANZA, the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), or both.
There were also differing views among those interviewed on the extent to which digital and e-lending required self-assessment at the policy level. The larger organizations, in particular, preferred to keep their policies at a high level to avoid the pitfalls of describing and considering every format they collect in policies, and had other forms of documentation to explain the specifics of digital lending. grab. Other libraries were of the opinion that digital collections should either be given their own consideration at policy level, or should receive a greater discussion than is currently the case with their collection.
Two interviewees had a "wait and see" approach to e-lending and the extent to which it should be considered in policy. They recognized the increasing popularity of e-lending but could not be sure that this would be a trend that would continue and therefore reserved judgment on how it should be dealt with in library policy.
Recommendations
Areas for future study
28 http://www.lianza.org.nz/sites/default/files/lianza_standing_committee_on_e-. content_and_e-lending__e-book_issues_paper.pdf. 2009) Libraries, censors and self-censorship. Exploring their knowledge and views on promoting intellectual freedom in the library. Retrieved March 23, 2016, from http://www.classificationoffice.govt.nz/public/information-for-librarians.html Film and Literature Classification Office.
Bibliography
Retrieved from International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions: http://www.ifla.org/publications/key-issues-for-e-resource-collection-development-a-guide-for-libraries. An analysis of the relationship between book reviews and the inclusion of potentially controversial books in public libraries. Retrieved from http://www.digitalbookworld.com/2013/3-simple-censorship-rules- can-safeguard-self-published-ebooks/. Community standards in New Zealand public libraries: an exploratory study.
Appendices
Interview Questions
- books
Have any of the items in your digital collection been the subject of a censorship challenge or complaint. Have you ever had to remove an item from your digital collection due to content, rating or a censorship complaint. How would you respond to a customer who suggested that you purchase an e-book that contained controversial material (assuming the item was available through your current platform, and you had the budget available to purchase the item) .
Can you think of items in your digital collection that your customers would consider controversial? Do you have any other general thoughts on managing limited and controversial texts in digital format?
Participant Information Sheet
Participant Information Sheet
Participant Consent Form
Participant Consent Form
