A few of you were interested in hearing a follow-up as to whatever became of the offending book I’d run across at our local public library. So here I am, finally writing an update… maybe it’ll be a post sufficient enough to break the last month of blogging silence around here and jump-start some writing vibes for me! I do have so much to write about, just lacking time and sufficient brainpower I think! Heh.
Anyways, after speaking with the librarians the first time, and being told that the matter would be looked into, following up a second time (as I’d mentioned in the comments section of prior linked post), and then upon inquiring about the matter a third time, I was informed by our librarian that the book had indeed been permanently removed from circulation! Whhoooo-Hooo, success!
The librarian then explained to me that she’d knowingly just pulled it for the reason of it’s being “dated” and “too old/worn out”, since to have pulled it because of a patron’s complaint (in this case, mine) would have been a much more involved process that wouldn’t even had necessarily been able to keep it off the shelf as the method she chose has done. She said that I would have had to read the book in its entirety and then submit a formal, written complaint that would have then been brought before a board for review- which she said can be a long, drawn out process.
I told her that I didn’t really care what reason she gave, and that I am just thankful to have it removed, as are many other local parents! So I guess that the moral of this story would be to not underestimate the reach of your own voice. Be vigilant, be respectfully polite (thereby hopefully making your librarians and neighbors your allies) and be encouraged- as am I- that one person can make a difference.
Now… for anyone new to this story, please go and read my original post, “livid in the library”, before you go thinking that I’m some sort of book-burning, thought-censoring fascist… I assure you I am NOT! I’m just against p**n residing in the children’s section of the public library, and I’m thinking hoping that you’d probably agree that *this* book is particularly inappropriate for our childrens’ shelves.
Yeah Beth!
Three cheers for the Happy Homeschoolin’ Mom’s Book-Burning Thought-Censoring Club!
Way to go Beth! I was wondering about that. I’m still bothered by the other s*x ed books in the children’s section though. They just have no place there IMO. I was wondering if I should say something to one of the librarians but I would have 6 or 8 books to complain about! Then it occurred to me that I hadn’t even considered what my children might stumble across in the fiction area. All of a sudden, I saw every book I ever read in junior high that I know I shouldn’t have. Those books are still on the shelves I’m sure. And some of the stuff now is even worse!
(Are you familiar with TTYL and TTFN?) I’m definitely going to keep a better eye on my kids in the library from now on. I’m also going to focus more on building a good home library, so maybe we won’t have to make so many trips to the public library. I sure wish we had a Living Books Library in our city.
By the way, do you know the name of the librarian who permanently pulled the book you found? It sounds like she’s on our side
Yea, Beth!
Yippee!! You read so much about bizarre cases where libraries seem to actually be pushing that sort of thing that you sort of half suspect there to be enemies to our children everywhere. I kinda forget that it is the extreme which makes news and that most places are still concerned about the well-being of children over whatever it is they think they are defending in promoting that kind of thing.
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I came over from The Post and just wanted to say “good for you!” I had this crushing feeling in my heart as I read your post (thinking of what I would do and to be honest the first thing that came to my mind was the trash can). I am relieved to hear how you handled it, but still so grieved about the worldly influences that tease and tempt our children every chance they get.
.-= Michelle @ Delightful Learning´s last blog ..Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve and The Fall =-.
Praise God for that victory!
Michelle,
Hi, thanks for hopping over to read my follow-up, and for your comment. Actually, my hubby said that if the librarians didn’t take care of it, that was “plan B”, to check it out and trash it! LOL Yes, it truly was a jolting reminder of how very on the prowl the enemy is. I’m so thankful that our kids are in the hands of an Omniscient God. This Mama can rest in knowing that.
Susan,
Amen!
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