[Libs-Or] books banned in Oregon state prisons?

[Stephanie Lind]

I'm not sure about an official list for prisons or jails, but do know that the following are prohibited in the Washington County jail library:

Hardbacks - can apparently be used as weapons
True crime, violent sex, graphic nudity, and certain character series: i.e. Hannibal Lecter and Lisbeth Salander

Stephanie Lind
Program Supervisor for Outreach & Youth Services
Washington County Cooperative Library Services
stephaniel at wccls.org<mailto:stephaniel at wccls.org> | 503-681-5090
wccls.org<http://www.wccls.org/>| Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/wccls/>|Twitter<https://twitter.com/wccls>

From: Libs-Or [mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us] On Behalf Of Heidi Florenzen
Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2017 1:30 PM
To: Libs-Or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
Subject: Re: [Libs-Or] books banned in Oregon state prisons?


There was such a list of subjects when I worked at one of the correctional institution libraries in Oregon in the early 90s.  It was developed for security purposes.  Certain types of books were not allowed.  Books describing bomb making, for example, were not allowed. This was state-wide.  Specific titles of fiction could also be restricted for these reasons. Books were not banned just because they included sex or violence.  We had a widely varied collection of popular fiction.  The librarians at our facility were not involved with creating these lists but were required to keep these books off our shelves.



I remember Salman Rushdie's Satanic Verses was on the list at the time because it might cause riots.  And at our institution an Anne Rice novel was not allowed at our library because the subject of the book was at our institution.



I would imagine the practice of a banned list has continued.






Heidi Florenzen <hflorenzen at hermiston.or.us<mailto:hflorenzen at hermiston.or.us>>
Assistant Director
Hermiston Public Library <http://www.hermistonlibrary.us>
235 E Gladys Avenue
Hermiston, OR 97838
(541) 567-2882

________________________________
From: Libs-Or <libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<mailto:libs-or-bounces at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>> on behalf of Trott, Garrett <GTrott at corban.edu<mailto:GTrott at corban.edu>>
Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2017 1:01 PM
To: Libs-Or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us<mailto:Libs-Or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us>
Subject: [Libs-Or] books banned in Oregon state prisons?

Is anybody aware of a list of titles that are not permitted in Oregon state prisons (i.e. for prisoners)?  Does such a list exist?  Is it up to each and every facility to determine what they allow and do not allow?

Thanks,

Garrett Trott
Librarian
CORBAN UNIVERSITY
5000 Deer Park Drive SE
Salem, Ore.
Voice -- 503-589-8116
Text/SMS -- 503-551-7690
Fax -- 503-375-7196
gtrott at corban.edu<mailto:gtrott at corban.edu>
Web Site: www.corban.edu<http://www.corban.edu>


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