No one wants to be told what they can and cannot do — especially teenagers. A generation of people who have been through more in their short period of time living than every other generation at their age, teenagers have been told since they were children that they need to help change the world for the better. They have been given a huge burden to carry but are still not trusted enough to decide what they are allowed to read.
Despite what many lawmakers may believe, teenagers are mature enough to make decisions on what content they indulge in. The Alabama Public Library Service Board of Trustees voting to cease funding to a public library in Fairhope, Ala. because it did not comply with complaints regarding “inappropriate” books in the teen section of the library, is only going to make teenagers in Alabama find these books, or similar type of content, elsewhere.
Books rated “teen” are rated this way because they may contain mature themes, potentially triggering content and somewhat harsh language. These qualifications for what decides if a book is “teen” have been agreed upon by many and are considered a standard.
Everything included in these books is appropriate for teenagers as it is what they will see all around them, whether it is from their friends, families or other media intake. If they don’t feel comfortable with reading something, they will simply not read it. Teenagers are mature enough to be able to decide what they are and are not comfortable reading.
Teenagers also have various interests when it comes to what they read. Personally, the interests that I had in high school include horror, dystopian and fantasy. Each of these genres included slightly more mature content but was never truly graphic in a way that I could not handle.
I don’t believe that the library should have to comply with this law as it was only doing what libraries do — allowing people of all ages and backgrounds to read content that interests them. If they have trouble finding books that work for them, there are librarians there that can help them find appropriate books to read.
Not only this, but the defunding of a library that is sharing books other than just the ones that lawmakers deem “controversial” is only going to hurt the public further. Libraries also contain nonfiction books, kids’ books, movies and more.
All of this to say, it is wrong to take away from sources of unlimited information just because some people don’t agree with the content being targeted at certain audiences. Everyone should be able to decide what information they want to receive without being controlled by others.
rcassio@ramapo.edu
Featured photo courtesy of Alabama Political Reporter
