Why are there no ratings on books?

Question

Movies have their MPAA ratings (PG, R, etc.), video games have E, T, M, etc. But what about books? I have read plenty of books that I would not want my child to read, yet a kid can walk into a library where he doesn't have to pay a dime and read any book he/she chooses! I'm pretty sure they can check them out as well, but I could be wrong.

I think these answers are getting a bit too philosophical. This isn't about parenting. My question is....what is protecting books from a rating. A rating is NOT censorship and you would be a fool to think so. Like a video game, one can not glance at a book and know what is in it that may be objectionable. I view ratings as a guide and harmless for the most part. I don't look down on other folks for letting their 10-year old play a T rated game if they feel the child is mature enough. But some of these books.... that's another story. Luckily, most children gravitate to books on their grade level, which authors write with the audience in mind.

By the way, I think the third answer is hitting on something. Books are not graphically presented, which is crazy. There are some books that would easily qualify as NC-17 if put on a screen.

OK swarr2001...so you are telling me you read every book your child reads? Come on....the dust cover? Give me a break. Does a TV preview for an R-rated movie show you all the graphic nude scenes, language, gore, etc.? How do you know it's there? By the rating, of course.

Answer 1

Here is what the American Library Association has to say about labels and rating systems:

"Libraries do not advocate the ideas found in their collections or in resources accessible through the library. The presence of books and other resources in a library does not indicate endorsement of their contents by the library. Likewise, the ability for library users to access electronic information using library computers does not indicate endorsement or approval of that information by the library.

Labels
Labels on library materials may be viewpoint-neutral directional aids that save the time of users, or they may be attempts to prejudice or discourage users or restrict their access to materials. When labeling is an attempt to prejudice attitudes, it is a censor's tool. The American Library Association opposes labeling as a means of predisposing people's attitudes toward library materials.

Prejudicial labels are designed to restrict access, based on a value judgment that the content, language or themes of the material, or the background or views of the creator(s) of the material, render it inappropriate or offensive for all or certain groups of users. The prejudicial label is used to warn, discourage or prohibit users or certain groups of users from accessing the material. Such labels may be used to remove materials from open shelves to restricted locations where access depends on staff intervention.

Viewpoint-neutral directional aids facilitate access by making it easier for users to locate materials. The materials are housed on open shelves and are equally accessible to all users, who may choose to consult or ignore the directional aids at their own discretion.

Directional aids can have the effect of prejudicial labels when their implementation becomes proscriptive rather than descriptive. When directional aids are used to forbid access or to suggest moral or doctrinal endorsement, the effect is the same as prejudicial labeling.

Rating Systems
A variety of organizations promulgate rating systems as a means of advising either their members or the general public concerning their opinions of the contents and suitability or appropriate age for use of certain books, films, recordings, Web sites, or other materials. The adoption, enforcement, or endorsement of any of these rating systems by the library violates the Library Bill of Rights. Adopting such systems into law may be unconstitutional. If such legislation is passed, the library should seek legal advice regarding the law's applicability to library operations.

Publishers, industry groups, and distributors sometimes add ratings to material or include them as part of their packaging. Librarians should not endorse such practices. However, removing or destroying such ratings—if placed there by, or with permission of, the copyright holder—could constitute expurgation (see Expurgation of Library Materials: An Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights).

Some find it easy and even proper, according to their ethics, to establish criteria for judging materials as objectionable. However, injustice and ignorance, rather than justice and enlightenment, result from such practices. The American Library Association opposes any efforts that result in closing any path to knowledge."

Answer 2

i don't even know how to think about this one...
some children are mature enough to handle some things younger ones (or even older ones) cannot... so, in some instances, censorship is null... other times it is protective. but in most of the more mature books, few kids that read them can even understand some of the words, let alone grasp what is actually being read.
so, to answer your question, i guess that's what the parents are for. depending on where you library is, would the child be able to get there alone anyway? librarians should be able to spot a child with a book that's too... graphic?... for them anyway, right? i think so... that may just be me though...

Answer 3

I'm thinking about putting ratings on mine when they get published--just so that people know what they are reading isn't offensive.

I'm not sure how effective it would be--since we are exposed to pretty much everything under the sun. (But it's not something I'm encouraging, mind you.)

However I agree: Most books these days should have *some* kind of rating--especially the Kushiel's Dart saga. But I think it's more of a social cultural thing, and the fact that publishers don't really care about "ratings" than they do with the Almighty Dollar! :0)

Answer 4

Actually usually around the front cover where the it talks about publishing and sorts it will say the RL which stands for Reading Level. It can be on the back sometimes or the title page. It shows it grade -wise. For Example, if it said RL4 that means the book is meant for kids in Grade 4 and up.

Answer 5

No. Children's books are sometimes identified by age range or grade level or lexile level, but these are simply based on a general vocabulary and syntax level. Books are not rated according to appropriateness of content.

Answer 6

Ok, you don't want to talk censorship, so here is another thought: presumably anyone who can read them can read the dust covers and know whether they are appropriate for a child or not. It is up to us to realize 'parenting' is a verb. Exercise your parenting skills and know what your child is reading, as well as watching or playing. Is that far enough from censorship?

Answer 7

I'm glad there aren't any ratings! When I was young, I routinely read books that would have been "PG-13" or "R" instead of "PG". Of course, now people tell me that I'm quite mature for my age. In addition, whereas most people delve into and love pulp fiction, because I read most of it when I was 12 or 13, I can now say I've moved beyond it. Reading books above my level made me better, and I'm not sorry. To improve your knowledge, you read. To improve your vocabulary, you read. To improve your imagination, you read. Is there a problem?
Besides, most people these days don't read. So why bother?

Answer 8

You have to do your job as a parent, and not expect some publishing house to do it for you. Supervise your child's reading, if you want to, but books must always be available to adults.
There is nothing more dangerous than knowledge - and nothing on earth worth more than the freedom to know and learn.

Answer 9

I completely agree and I have been asking myself that for ages! I think it has something to do with the graphics of seeing it, not just imagining it...

Answer 10

get a grip. We frown on censorship in this country. It has alreADY GONE TOO FAR.