Uni bookshop
censors itself
BY Michael
Roston. Singapore. April 3, 2000
A BOOK by Think Centre director James Gomez has been taken off the bookshelves
the National University of Singapore Cooperative Society Book Store in
an apparent act of self-censorship.
The store had earlier order 50 copies of the Self-Censorship: Singapore's Shame for use in a political science post-graduate seminar on public policy by Dr Emil Bolongaita.
The book was deemed unmarketable by Co-op staff, although it placed a second order of 20 copies after its initial order of 30 copies.
After James Gomez's book with its conspicuous yellow-cover was removed form the shelves of the university's bookshop, it initially remained available on an ask-only basis.
This policy meant that while the book was available, it could only be found by asking staff sitting at the information counter in the back of the store. There, behind the desk, a stack of the books was placed on another shelf, spine-side facing inward.
Some weeks after this policy was implemented, the university's official bookstore returned all their remaining copies of the book to the publisher.
Meanwhile, across campus, a sundry goods shop selling everything from candy and cold drinks to peanuts and postcards has a poster announcing the sale of the book.
Presently the book is available in some selected newsstands throughout the island.
When the Co-op bookstore was asked why it withheld this title from its customers they delayed, and ultimately declined comment.