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Ban for 'risque' library calendar
A CHEEKY calendar showing semi naked library staff has been censored – because it is "too risque".
Eleven workers at Blackpool's Queen Street library – nine women and two men – stripped off to raise cash for charity.
But horrified library bosses banned it from going to the printers after seeing the saucy proofs.
One worker today branded council bosses "killjoys" and said: "It's ridiculous. They're tasteful and nothing like you would see in a lads' magazine. The money raised was to go to charity. Whoever has decided it can't be printed is a killjoy."
The Gazette has seen copies of the pictures, but has also been barred by the photographer from publishing them.
So we contacted The Gazette's Face of 2006 – model Jade Slusarczyk, above – to create some library themed poses of our own.
Images show semi-naked staff's modesties hidden behind copies of Beethoven, newspapers, a date stamp and book shelves.
The most risque picture shows one woman worker covering herself with a thin strip of microfilm.
The calendar was to be sold to raise cash for the Mayor's chosen charities.
However, library bosses today insisted the calendar had only been shelved with the most "inappropriate" images re-shot in the New Year – even though it would go on sale late.
Paul Marland, principal library manager, told The Gazette: "We were happy to support the calendar idea but there was maybe too much of a lack of clothing. We ended up with a number of images which, on closer examination, we felt were a little too risque.
"The concern was that if staff were seen in a certain way it would detract from the production. We don't want to be down on staff enthusiasm, but one or two pictures were inappropriate.
"Some of the images may be used in a future calendar and the idea has not entirely been abandoned."
A spokeswoman for Blackpool Council said: "We are talking to library staff about ideas to move this forward early in the New Year and in principle are very supportive of this fund raising concept.
"The council is definitely not banning this calendar but just rethinking a few of the images and incorporating ideas other staff may have."
Paul Parton, of the RNLI, which was one of the charities set to benefit from the calendar, said: "We rely on donations so being one of the Mayor's charities has given us brilliant publicity.
"I thought Calendar Girls was a really good film and if these pictures have been done tastefully I think it's a great idea."
Blackpool Mayor Allan Matthews said: "I think it's a great fundraising idea to have some good harmless fun like this while raising money for my charities."
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Weather for Blackpool
Monday 13 February 2012
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Temperature: 4 C to 8 C
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