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1 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Democratic convention update: Moro, Moran, Talbert for interim ... Food Bank hosts Community Pie Social ... Nimbus marks 45 years in same location ... Democratic convention update: Moro, Moran, Talbert for interim ... Food Bank hosts Community Pie Social ... Nimbus marks 45 years in same location ... LETTER TO THE EDITOR Letter to the editor, Aug. 12 Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 12, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Aug. 12, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Censorship is wrong As a professor and librarian with a master's degree in library science, I would like to point out that what OSF Executive Director Cynthia Rider and others have done by initiating a boycott of the Shakespeare Books & Antiques bookstore is censorship. Censorship is defined on the American Library Association's Intellectual Freedom and Censorship page as follows: "Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that certain persons — individuals, groups or government officials — find objectionable or dangerous. It is no more complicated than someone saying, 'Don’t let anyone read this book, or buy that magazine, or view that film, because I object to it!' Censors try to use the power of the state to impose their view of what is truthful and appropriate, or offensive and objectionable, on everyone else. Censors pressure public institutions, like libraries, to suppress and remove from public access information they judge inappropriate or dangerous, so that no one else has the chance to read or view the material and make up their own minds about it. The censor wants to prejudge materials for everyone." Banned books displays are vehicles by which libraries, bookstores and other entities point out materials that have been challenged in the past for the edification of others. It is not much different than a Shakespeare play that challenges an audience's sensibilities when using a female in a typically male role. A banned books display is not a shrine for the best of human behavior. It is a display that begs us to ask, "Why?" OSF, led by Cynthia Rider, Bill Rauch and some individuals who feel offended by a censorship display, really need to ask themselves, "Why?" To question the display is a good thing because it creates the dialogue. To seek censorship is wrong. Dale Vidmar Ashland DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Aug. 12, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501