After Complaints, Denver PL Pulls Four Series of Fotonovelas

-- Library Journal, 8/22/2005

In response to complaints about nudity, sexual content, and violence against women., the Denver Public Library has announced it will cancel subscriptions to four of 14 series of fotonovelas, Spanish-language adult comic books. The library catalog lists 6,569 fotonovela items from 14 series. On August 4, staff pulled all fotonovelas currently on the shelves and sent them to the Collection Development Office. As of August 11, the library said in a statement, the Collection Development Office had received 2,276 items and reviewed over 400 items.

“After careful review, the Library staff has determined that the subject content of any single item is within the guidelines of the Collection Development Policy. The visual nature of single items is likewise within the guidelines of the policy. The placement of the material in adult areas of the Library buildings is also consistent with the policy. However, in looking at each series as a whole, staff has determined that four of the 14 series are inappropriate for the collection because of their consistent portrayal of sexually explicit content. The difference is between specific items and subscriptions. Therefore, the Library intends to cancel the subscriptions to El libro vaquero (Cowboy Book), Frontera Violenta (Violent Frontier), La novela policiaca (Police Novel), and El libro policiaco (Police Book). The remaining ten series will be returned to the shelves. Denver Public Library Commission president K.C. Veio also said a task force of commissioners and staff will examine the library system's collection policies and procedures, according to the Rocky Mountain News.