The Management of controversial and restricted texts in the digital collections of New Zealand public libraries: An exploratory study

Abstract

Research Problem: Digital collections are a now a core offering in the collections of most New Zealand public libraries and the management of these collections presents libraries with new and unique challenges. One specific problem is how e-books can be managed when they carry an age restriction or their content contains material of a controversial nature. Traditionally such texts when purchased in hardcopy could be managed by restricting physical access to the items, labelling the items, and/or placing the items within the perceived age-appropriate collection. Indeed, the Office of Film & Literature Classification states that “If your library has restricted books or magazines, you will need to manage those items to ensure underage people cannot access them, for example, by holding them behind the counter or placing them in a restricted access collection.” (Office of Film & Literature Classification, n.d.) The wording of this advice makes it evident that the current laws were made with the intention of applying to hardcopy items only.

This study examines the legal, ethical, and technical issues New Zealand public libraries face when offering controversial and age-restricted texts in e-book format and how they have responded to these issues.

Methodology: The study has used a mixed-method approach in two separate components. The first is a qualitative series of semi-structured interviews with seven public library staff from the North Island of New Zealand. All interviewees are responsible for the management and/or selection of the e-book collections in their organisation. The second component is a focussed analysis of the public catalogues of these seven libraries, checking for the presence or absence of a list of age-restricted and controversial texts and any notable treatments of these texts.

Results: Libraries are restricted by the available technical functionality of their e-book platforms and by the requirements of New Zealand censorship law, which was perceived by interviewees to be out-dated, confusing, and not suited to digital lending. Currently there is no e-book vendor offering the ability to verify the age of the reader or modify access to specific titles, although one local vendor may be developing a technical solution to this dilemma.

The catalogue analysis and interviews revealed that controversial e-book texts are not managed in any exceptional way that differentiates them from other texts but most libraries do not have a significant number of controversial or age-restricted texts in their e-book collections. Only the two largest libraries surveyed had direct experience with managing age-restricted material in e-book format and both had been forced to remove these texts to comply with New Zealand law.

Implications: The lack of a technical solution to offer age-restricted e-books in a way that satisfies the requirements of New Zealand law means that New Zealand public libraries cannot offer age-restricted texts in an e-book format. This has impacts for the digital collections of New Zealand public libraries. Any solution to this problem can only come about as a result of technical developments by e-book vendors and/or changes to the requirements of New Zealand censorship legislation.