Banned Books...continued

Well, it seems everywhere we look there is someone discussing censorship or banned books. Here's the latest, and again it's thanks to Marieke Hardy. The July 2010 episode of the First Tuesday Book Club (ABC tv), Marieke will review Philip Roth's book 'Portnoys Complaint'. Tune in to hear about this book and a discussion on why it was so controversial.

Banned Books in Australia

Well there's nothing like the smell of censorship in the air to get the juices flowing. Sure, maybe it's because we work in a library, but I think this is a topic many people feel strongly about. Whether it's a good ol' fashioned book burning, or the current internet filter discussions, freedom of speech and access to information is an age old issue.

The current exhibition that Art in the Library has been involved with, is titled Banned Books in Australia. It covers the three hot topics of Obscenity, Blasphemy and Sedition. We collected books from within our own library, personal copies of titles, as well as artwork inspired by the topic. The two main drivers for this exhibition are the Bibliographical Society of Australia and New Zealand's Annual conference (2010) titled "To Deprave and Corrupt: Forbidden, Hidden and Censored Texts". The second driver has been around a little longer. Back in 2006 our library was forced to remove books from our shelves and lock them in a cupboard, where they could no longer be accessed. Not even for the academic context within which they were bought. You can thank the then Attorney-General Phillip Ruddock for this. And as we sit here four years later, they are still deemed too dangerous for public consumption (even though you can access the texts over the internet).

Do we need to be protected from ourselves? Check out what our academics have written on the topic, and see what books made it to the 'Banned' list. You might recognise a lot of them from your own bookshelf or as books you read in high school or at Uni. We all have a line in the sand where our moral compass in concerned. Which item in the exhibition pushes your button? Share your thoughts on the topic, or review and critique any of the books. We'd love you to join the discussion.

So who is Art, and why is he in the Library?

Art in the Library is a program run primarily within the Baillieu library. To read the official description, check out our website. But just between us, it's great for two reasons. It gives opportunity to students and artists who want to exhibit, while also making the library a vastly more vibrant and stimulating place. With diverse mediums, and sometimes thought provoking content, it makes the Baillieu a more interesting place to study and work. Yes - let's not forget the benefits for staff too.

We are hoping this blog will give you the chance to have your say. If you liked, loved or loathed the exhibitions, here's your chance to tell us why. Or maybe, you want to join the discussion on any theme raised. We're hoping you do.

So don't be shy, you can comment anonymously. How often in life do you get to say what you think! Here's your chance to say it loud and proud.