Books

1 readers

1 users here now

founded 10 months ago

MODERATORS

communick@metacritics.zone

In the battle over books, who gets to decide what's age-appropriate at libraries? (www.npr.org)

submitted 9 months ago by Neighborhood339@alien.top to c/books@metacritics.zone

89 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Interesting article from NPR.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] Jynx_lucky_j@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Then you can present your case to the Library Board of Directors, a group of local civilians appointed by the local government to oversee the library and it's operations, at one of their regularly scheduled public meetings.

Present your case and if they board believes that there may be validity to your case they will launch an investigation. If the investigation finds that the librarians are not properly following the library's collection polices, the librarians responsible will be reprimanded, or in extreme or repeat cases they can recommend the local government fire the offending librarian. Or if they find the librarians were following the library's collection policy correctly, but the policy is flawed then the board can rewrite the appropriate sections of the policy.

[–] the_pedigree@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

It is unfathomable that there is ever an actual case where this is appropriate. Unless the librarian is putting Madonna’s “Sex” in the children’s section nobody’s idiosyncrasies should rule the day. Those parents who have that inclination should reassess or at the least just focus on sheltering their own children rather than rabble-rousing

[–] Jynx_lucky_j@alien.top 1 points 9 months ago

I agree, but the procedure is in place and they have a right to access it.

I'm the Library Director at my library, and if after talking to me about their issue they are still unhappy and want to take their complaint to the next level, I tell them the time and date of the next Board meeting and tell them that I will make sure they are on the agenda.

I've only had 1 person actually show up to the meeting. And in that case the Board determined that we had followed the library collection policy accurately, that the policy was sound, and that no further action would be taken. (It was Harry Potter btw, way back in the "These books promote witchcraft" days).

But honestly the vast majority of the time I'm able to resolve the issue just by talking to them. Most people just want to be heard and validated so telling them they we will be reevaluating the book, and if appropriate we will relabel it and move it to a more appropriate location is enough to put an end to it.