Controversy Over Erotic Best Seller ‘50 Shades of Grey’
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(Image source: NBC)
BY JASMINE BAILEY
The steamy content of “50 Shades of Grey” has sparked 50 shades of controversy since its release.
Now, libraries across the country are struggling to decide whether to keep the book dubbed “Mommy Porn” on their shelves. NewsFix reports on one library in Texas.
“If you visit a library in Fort Bend County, you wouldn't even know the books exist. See they are not stocking copies on their shelves.”
The Texas library says it just doesn’t have a high demand for the books. Which is odd since the book remains in the number one spot on The New York Times Bestsellers list.
“In April the trilogy... was issued in paperback … sending sales through the roof when the publisher printed and distributed the books widely for the first time. That enthusiasm has carried over to libraries. At many, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ … is the most popular book in circulation, with more holds than anyone can remember on a single title.”
One library in particular that felt the pressure of the demand. Brevard County Library in Florida banned the book earlier this month. WTVJ has its reasoning.
“…Brevard County libraries pulled the first of the popular trilogy saying it doesn't meet their selection criteria. A spokesman for the county says reviews considered the book to be pornographic in nature and they don't collect porn.”
But USA Today reports that after a wave of e-mails and phone calls from patrons in support of the book, the library has since changed its mind.
"Given where we are today... making the book available to library patrons would be a reasonable approach... I never want to be in a position where we appear to be censoring or banning books."
Although the Brevard County Library now allows the book, other libraries are still on the fence. A writer for Patch.com says some are dealing with the dilema by just ignoring their own policies on erotica.
“If the Alameda County Library system has rules to keep erotica off the shelves, the 50 Shades franchise must not meet the definition. The system has 48 copies in circulation, and every one is checked out. The waiting list is 260 patrons long.”
But a writer for Cinema Blend says there shouldn’t be this much controversy: it’s a public library, so give the public what they want!
“50 Shades Of Grey has every right to exist on public library shelves because it’s a book people want to read. It doesn’t matter if those people tend to be fifty-year-old [women] with kids. Their rights are worth protecting just as much as anyone else’s.”
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