Presentation with Anna Mickelsen for the NYLA Public Libraries Section Spring Conference

1. Full-Frontal Shelving
Erotica in the Library
Anna Mickelsen, Springfield City Library, MA
Kristi Chadwick, Emily Williston Memorial Library
Easthampton, MA

3. Erotica vs. Pornography: What's the
Difference?
pornography (n.)
1: the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual
excitement
2: material (as books or a photograph) that depicts erotic behavior and is intended to
cause sexual excitement
3: the depiction of acts in a sensational manner so as to arouse a quick intense
emotional reaction <the pornography of violence>
erotica (n.)
1: literary or artistic works having an erotic theme or quality
2: depictions of things erotic from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary

4. Erotica vs. Pornography: What's the
Difference?
From Amazon forum: "When does Erotica turn into Porn?"
"Erotica turns into porn when there is not an HEA (Happily Ever
After)."
"I think the classification of erotica vs. porn is simply sex with plot and
character development vs. sex without any plot and character
development."
"Some people think erotica is a better class or writing and description
than pornography, while others feel they're too similar to define."
http://www.amazon.com/When-Erotica-turn-into-Porn/forum/Fx3L4CJOU55BMQG/Tx2YBS2XMCS9ORJ/1?_encoding=UTF8&asin=1416580956

5. Perception
One person's erotica is another person's porn.
http://benefitpoint.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/e-p-l-in-
islamic-finance-perception-what-is-it/

6. You Have What in the Library?
Image via www.internetevolution.com

7. What Do You Mean, I Already Have It?:
Reviewing Your Collection
Subject headings
● "Erotic stories"
● "Erotic fiction"
● "Erotica"
● OverDrive:"Erotic Literature"

8. Combined Catalog Searches From 22 New York
Public Library Systems

9. *Excludes OverDrive results

10. 19541748-1749
1928 1973
Classic Titles
1977

11. Romantic Times: http://www.rtbookreviews.com/genre/erotica
Library Journal: http://reviews.libraryjournal.com/tag/e-originals/
Just Erotic Romance Reviews: http://www.justeroticromancereviews.com/
Rainbow Reviews (LGBT): http://www.rainbow-reviews.com/
Social media:
http://www.goodreads.com/genres/erotica
http://www.librarything.com/tag/erotica
Finding Titles to Add: Reviews

12. If you don't
think patrons
are borrowing
erotic titles, you
may not be
looking at the
right shelves.
Mrs. Duffee Seated on a Striped Sofa,
Reading Her Kindle, After Mary Cassatt
via Flickr cc license Mike Licht,
NoltionsCapital.com

13. Ordering Erotica through OverDrive's
Content Reserve

14. OverDrive Content Reserve
Subject term: "erotic
literature"
Actual subject term, will
show over 90% of erotic
titles available
OverDrive Content Reserve
Subject term: "erotic
romance"
Not listed as subject term in
record.

15. Digital Publishers of Erotic Titles
Available to Libraries*
● Ellora's Cave
● Carina Press (Harlequin)
● Spice
● Total E-Bound Publishing
● Dreamspinner Press (M/M)
● X-Cite Books
● Andrews U.K.
● Cleis Press
● Constable & Robinson
● Red Sage Publishing *Currently in OverDrive

16. Please do not try any new sexual
practice without the guidance of an
experienced practitioner. Neither
the publisher nor the author will
be responsible for any loss, harm,
injury, or death resulting from use
of the information contained in
this book.
Used with permission.
--Club Shadowlands front material

17. ● Appeal factors
● Reader's Advisory ("How hot do you like it?")
● Read for yourself!
● When is this trend going to end?
Let's Talk Fifty Shades

18. 1983 2012

19. November 2012April 2012

20. Promoting Your Collection
● Bookmarks
● Displays
● Book groups
● Readings
● Librarian sneak attacks

21. Must-Haves:
● Up-to-date collection development policy
● Support from supervisors/Board for collection
development in this area
● Request for Reconsideration Form and training
for staff
Dealing with Pushback

22. "Within the month after the ALA Annual Conference ended, Immediate Past-president Sarah Ann
Long received some 700 letters protesting the inclusion of a program titled "Erotica in Libraries,"
sponsored by the Alternatives in Print Task Force of SRRT."
"700 Letters Protest Erotica Conference Program." American Libraries Sept. 2000: 8. Gale Power
Search. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.
"The Northwest Florida Regional Library -- which serves Bay, Gulf and Liberty conties -- ordered
the popular book [50 Shades of Grey] last month after it shot to the top of the New York Times
Best Seller list and was featured on national television. The books never made it to the shelves,
however, because by the time they arrived, many libraries were barring the book."
"Bay County library reviewing controversial book." News Herald [Panama City, FL] 30 May 2012.
Gale Power Search. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.
"...where public libraries are going begging financially, she [Dunneback] would have us use
scarce resources to purchase marginal materials instead of meeting more legitimate collection
development needs? I don't think so. If users want access to this genre they can utilize
interlibrary loan while our collection development money will be used for other, more important
uses."
Boyer, Harold N. "Pushing erotica." Library Journal 1 Apr. 2013: 10. Gale Power Search. Web. 29
Apr. 2013.

23. "It’s never been
easier to satisfy
patrons’ desire for
this hot lit."
-Katie Dunneback, "Erotica:
Full-Frontal Shelving", Library
Journal, Feb 15, 2013

24. Thank You!
Anna Mickelsen
amickelsen@springfieldlibrary.org
Twitter: @helgagrace
Kristi Chadwick
kchadwick@cwmars.org
Twitter: @booksnyarn