Should Libraries Loan "50 Shades of Grey?"

Call it mommy porn, call it bad writing, call it whatever you want. E.L. James’s “50 Shades of Grey” trilogy is undeniably a mega-bestseller. More than 10 million copies of the books have been sold so far. But not everyone wants to pay for their literary titillation.  

The "New York Times" wrote May 23 that the popularity of “50 Shades of Grey” has forced libraries around the country to take a look at their rules on erotica, and some librarians have banned the trilogy.

If the Santa Clara County Library system has rules to keep erotica off the shelves, the 50 Shades franchise must not meet the definition. The system has 148 copies in circulation, and every one is checked out. The waiting list is 348 patrons long, according to Gilroy community librarian Lani Yoshimura.

The three copies are loaned out and five more have been ordered to meet demand. Looks like you'll have to jump in line for your risqué reading, that is, if you don't want to pay for it.

Have you read “50 Shades of Grey?” What do you think - worth the hype? Is it suitable material for the Gilroy Library's shelves?

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