Harry Potter Books return to Library Shelves

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This news was taken from Yahoo News: It deals with J'K. Rowling's Books and Christianity.

Potter' Books Return to Library Shelves

By CARYN ROUSSEAU, Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Harry Potter (news - web sites) series is back on library shelves in the Cedarville School District, following a federal judge's order to give students access to the popular books about the boy wizard.


A secretary at the rural school district said Friday that superintendent David Smith instructed librarians to take the books out of a back office and return them to shelves. The school board voted Thursday night not to appeal the federal court order, which was issued Tuesday.


Cedarville Mayor Beverly Pyle, who was at the school board meeting, said she was tired of the issue.


"I just wish it would go away," Pyle said. "I am a Christian ... but I grew up watching 'Bewitched.' I can see both sides."


The board drew wrath from national free-speech groups for its June decision to require students to obtain parental permission to check out the books. The 3-2 decision, which overruled a decision by the district's library committee, came after a parent complained about the books.


The books written by British author J.K. Rowling (news - web sites) have been assailed by some Christian groups for their themes of spells, sorcery and magic. The American Library Association says the books were the most frequently challenged of 2002, but rarely did those challenges lead to restrictions or bans.


Plaintiffs Billy and Mary Nell Counts said they feared their daughter, Dakota, would be stigmatized if she were identified as someone who read books the district considered "evil." More than 190 million copies of the novels have been printed in at least 55 languages and have sold in more than 200 countries.


The fifth book in the series, "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," is due June 21.