Collegiate Times

Recently, schools in Bedford County pulled two books from library shelves due to complaints from parents about inappropriate material.

Press over the removal of these two books has caused concern with which books are being put on the shelves of elementary, middle and high schools.

"At school, the school is responsible for what (students) are reading," said Peggy Bias, the director of Bedford Public Library.

Pulled from the high school library was a books entitled "The Making of Dr. True Love" about a sixteen-year-old black high school student who is struggling with his first sexual experience.

Derrick Barnes, author of "The Making of Dr. True Love," said he wanted to provide readers with a male perspective on relationships, specifically from an black male's point of view.

"There is not a graphic scene in the book, there isn't an actual sex scene, it's just talk," Barnes said.

However, Ryan Edwards, public relations coordinator of Bedford County Schools, said that Bedford County high schools felt it was unnecessary to promote that kind of behavior with 15- to 18-year-old students.

"There have been high teen pregnancy rates in Bedford and we have tried hard to curb that," Edward said. "We strongly suggest emphasis on young adult (reading)."Comments from readers on Amazon.com have praised Barnes for the "real hip-hop vibe and sexy undercurrent" as well as the fact that his "language is so real." The book was chosen by the Young Adult Library Services Organization as one of its 2007 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers."I want it to be real when teens read it. I want them to think that's how I talk," Barnes said.

"Totally Joe" is the title of the book recently pulled from elementary school's shelves. The book tells the story of a thirteen-year-old homosexual middle school boy who is doing a class assignment in which he has to examine his life by using the letters A to Z to represent him.

James Howe, author of "Totally Joe," has also received praise for his novel, including comments from Tolerance.org, which states that Howe helps to address the issues of "tolerance" and "diversity" in the book. "Totally Joe" was also recognized in the Association for Library Services to Children's 2006 Notable Children's Books for older readers.

Early this month, "Totally Joe" was removed from Bedford County elementary schools because the topic was assessed to be appropriate for elementary school students. "It is important for us to have information in schools that are appropriate for age groups," Edward said. Even though "Totally Joe" was removed from the shelves of elementary schools in Bedford County, Edward said the book may be moved to the middle school level where it would perhaps be more suitable.

Edwards said the policy for books held in Bedford County School libraries has recently changed.

In the past, the policy in place was that if there was a complaint, it would be submitted in formal writing and then presented to a committee where the complaint was reviewed and a decision was made. Now these decisions are made on a more individual school level.

Edwards said that they want to make it between the principal, library specialist and the person who filed the complaint to come up with a solution to the problem.

If the person who filed the complaint is still unhappy, the complaint can be forwarded to the committee for review.