Shannon Jacobs wrote:

> The reason I said I was looking for a Japanese library with "attitude"
> in the slangish assertive sense was because most of them clearly seem
> to avoid controversial English books.

Oh. I thought you were complaining about their attitude in not putting your
book on the shelf. As a Brit, I am still not always quite sure what
Americans mean when they use the word "attitude".

> In this particular library, the policy is to recycle excess books (from a
> shelf near the entrance), and someone presumably did take the book.

Well that's OK, then, isn't it? The book went to someone who wanted it. What
more could you ask? I thought you were peeved because they'd merely chucked
it out.

> However, as I mentioned in the original message, I discussed this
> specific book with the librarian. Actually I discussed it with several
> of them, but longest with the most senior librarian. The impression
> I received was that he recognized the book, both for it's significance
> and controversy, and he seemed to be quite explicit in saying that
> the controversial nature did not detract from its importance, and
> that the library wanted to offer all perspectives.

Well, some misunderstanding, perhaps.

> The failure of BushCo's campaign against terrorism is an important
> international problem with significant impact on life here in Japan.

That's as may be, but there really, really isn't any point in trying to use
donations to a library as a lever to get them to grind your axes. Libraries
are never going to let their policies become the prerogative of a member of
the public, no matter how many books he/she donates.

> there's a new used book store with a lot of English books in
> Takadanobaba. Actually not new, but relocated from Shibuya.
> Can't recall the name.

The Blue Parrot.

> I still remember the feisty all-viewpoints no-censorship attitude
> of the libraries I knew back in the States, and it's one of the things
> I miss.

Well, but it's still not clear that this was censorship. In fact, given the
groundswell of anti-war sentiment in Japan I think it unlikely that the
library would have felt the need to censor this book. It's more likely a
misunderstanding, or perhaps someone - a member of staff, even - saw a
chance to bag it as an "excess" book.

--
John
http://rarebooksinjapan.com