Local Libraries Can't Keep Steamy Novel On Shelves

If you're looking for a copy of the steamy trilogy, Fifty Shades of Grey, don’t bother going to your local library. 

“Nobody in the county has it on their shelf,” said Sandra Collins, executive director of in McCandless. 

Although public libraries in several states have banned the book—some say it is either too sexually explicit or too poorly written—that’s the not case here. There are currently 192 copies shared among Allegheny County libraries with 1,342 hold requests.

“I think people are more interested because of the hype, rather than it being good literature," Collins said.

Director Helen Palascak said the more than 1,300 hold requests in the county is the highest she's ever seen. She said Harry Potter books had maybe 900 to 1,000 holds.

Upper St. Clair Library has eight copies of the book—all are checked out and there are 30 hold requests.

"That's a lot for us," said Palascak.

The library also has a sound recording of the novel that has 34 hold requests.

Palascak calls the book a light romance that is certainly an easy read, perhaps a good beach read. She thinks a book like The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, which has graphic rape descriptions, is more controversial.

"Given the demand (of 50 Shades of Grey), that's what we're here for. To supply the reading needs of the community," she said.

The novel, by British author E. L. James, tells the story of a love affair between naive college student Anastasia and Christian, a billionaire with a taste for sexual dominance.

Click here to check the number of copies and status of books at all the Allegheny County libraries.

Have you read Fifty Shades of Grey? If so, is it worth all of the hype? Tell us in the comments.

Stay in the loop and get all the Upper St. Clair headlines delivered to your email inbox. Click here to sign up for the Patch newsletter.

Follow Upper St. Clair Patch on Facebook and Twitter.