Racy video to remain for now at Rogers Public Library
Posted on Wednesday, October 18, 2006
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/bcdr/News/41037/
ROGERS — “ Basic Instinct” has been checked out 22 times since the library added the racy, donated VHS tape to the library’s collection in December, but the movie’s fate now rests with the seven-member Rogers Public Library Board.
Library patron Nieves Egelkraut on Sept. 19 requested that the unrated director’scut edition be withdrawn from the library’s offerings, comparing the Academy Award-nominated video to pornography. On Tuesday night, she told the library board she worries that a teenager will check out the movie.
Library Director Judy Casey said parents can give permission for their children to check out videos — all videos — by checking a box on the children’s library-card applications. If the parents check “ no, ” the computer will not allow videos to be checked out using the child’s library card.
But much of the trouble lies in rating the 1992 video, which stars Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone. The Motion Picture Association of America controls the rating of movies, and slapping on a rating for the unrated film may welcome a lawsuit, Library Director Judy Casey said.
The library added information to the inside of the video’s case, and board member Sean Keith read the movie cover that announces cut scenes “ too hot to be shown” in the original version. Staff members and board members suggested labeling the film with “ Rated R in the original release, ” “ sexual content” or separating the movie based on genre. Casey said she will present several options at the board’s November meeting.
Until then, the movie will remain on reserve for board members and staff members.
After the meeting, Egelkraut, originally from the Philippines, said she respects the board members’ opinions but still thinks some rating should be put on the video.
Reference librarian Robert Finch, who oversees the library’s audio-visual collection, said the movie was added because it was the 10 th highest-grossing film of 1992, was nominated for two academy awards, has award-winning actors, was given three out of four stars by Leonard Maltin’s 2007 Movie Guide and is rated in the Top 100 Film Noir Movies by the American Film Institute.
“ This is one of the movies I’d be hard-pressed not to add, ” he told board members. The Fort Worth Public Library and the St. Louis Public Library include the director’s-cut edition in their collections, according to a staff-directed search of library databases.
Board member Scott Greear said he was not prepared to withdraw the movie from the collection. Greear said after the meeting that this is the first withdraw request he has heard in his eight months on the board.
Casey said patrons can ask the library staff to allow or deny permission for their children to check out movies. She said some parents have changed their children’s status several times.