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2:05 p.m., July 8, 2003--“In the Shadow of the Wizard: Literature Challenged, 1900-2000” is the theme of an exhibit that opens Tuesday, May 27, in the Information Room of the Morris Library. The display, which includes literature that has been challenged by groups or individuals because of its references to sorcery, wizardry, incantations, spells and witchcraft, runs through Oct. 3 and is free and open to the public.

Graphic by David Fithian

Every year, there are hundreds of formal challenges to materials found in library collections, made by individuals or groups asking that certain materials be removed from either school libraries or public libraries, a Morris Library spokesperson said.

Typically, materials that are challenged are believed to contain harmful ideas, troubling information, sexually explicit material, violent themes or magical episodes. The concern that these topics may be inappropriate for the age level of the intended audience has prompted removal of books that contain such topics as alcohol, rebellion, death, sex, violence and witchcraft.

Books about the supernatural have been the most common targets because the accounts are believed to be too violent for impressionable minds or because they allegedly glorify magic and the occult.

“The request to remove a book from a library made by individuals because they do not like the book (and often have not read it) affects the First Amendment rights to all to receive information,” Susan Brynteson, the May Morris Director of Libraries, said.

Featured authors include Roald Dahl and J.R.R. Tolkien. All items in the exhibition are from the collections of the University of Delaware Library.

Margaret Ferris, an associate librarian in the Acquisitions Department, is curator of the exhibition. Michael Gutierrez, an assistant librarian in the Morris library, is co-currator of the exhibit.