I have a more nuanced view of “citizen collection development” than my colleagues. If people are going to have their money stolen from them for public libraries, it’s reasonable that they have some voice in what will be in them. This has nothing to do with “censorship”, as many librarians are as anxious to represent some viewpoints and not others as the most fanatical Religious Reicher is. Rather, it’s all about professional respect: “How DARE you question my judgment in adding this book to the collection! I am a PROFESSIONAL with an MLS!”

That being said, and granting that removing porn from public libraries != book burning, it’s an icky thing, and I’m glad Sarah didn’t do it.