Greenville Public Library Considers Censorship Of Alan Moore’s ‘Neocomicon’

The Greenville Public Library Board of Trustees have come under fire from The National Coalition Against Censorship, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund after the board decided to hear a challenge regarding Alan Moore’s Neocomicon (Avatar).

The book which has come under challenge in Greenville, SC public libraries contains sexual acts and language for which one parent issued a challenge.

In a statement regarding the possible removal of the book a letter sent to the Library Board of Trustees reads:

“Removing the book because of sexual content not only fails to consider the indisputable value of the book as a whole, but also ignores the library’s obligation to serve all readers, without regards to individual tastes and sensibilities.”

A patron objected to the book after their teenage daughter checked it out of the library’s adult section. The teenage girl however was given an adult library card which ultimately allowed her to check out adult themed books.

The groups opposing the challenge warn that the books removal could lead to First Amendment implications.

Alan Moore is the acclaimed author of the graphic novels Watchmen and V for Vendetta both of which have been turned into Hollywood action movies.

The groups opposing the challenge call Mr. Moore “one of the most influential and acclaimed authors in both the graphic novel category and the larger literary culture.”

The book Neonomicon is being called an “essential work by an author who is indisputably a master within his field.”

Do you think Neonomicon should remain on the library’s shelves under its adult section filing?