Libraries responsible in light of parental abdication?

[jmc_bks]

Deep breath. Inhale. Hold. Exhale.

Parents are offended because erotic romance is in the library, corrupting the minds of young readers? Courtesy of SBTB.

WTF? Is it the public library’s job to monitor what your children read? No – it is YOUR job. The public library is a holding place for many, many books that aren’t appropriate for children. Hell, for some books that aren’t appropriate for some adults. If you don’t want your children checking erotica out, then maybe you should pay attention to what they are selecting. 

Here's the thing -- my mother had NO idea what I was checking out of the library.  Would she have nipped my romance reading in the bud if she had known some of the stuff found in the local library?  I don't know.  And in retrospect, some of the stuff I read was perhaps not appropriate for a 13 year old.  But that wasn't the library's fault.  

Comments

[dogzzz2002.livejournal.com]

Heck, I was horribly embarrassed to buy romance novels for most of my 20's because of the covers. Can't imagine being a teen and trying to check out an erotic novel. My ears would have singed off!

Now, in this day and age, how hard would it be for the teen to read free erotica on the internet without anyone knowing any better. I'm pretty sure any of her friends who have heard about this have already shown her the way.

CindyS

[jmc-bks.livejournal.com]

My library has moved toward self-check out. Unless you have a fine to pay, a reserve to pick up, or want the security device removed from a DVD, you check yourself out...so clinch covers no longer get comments from librarians. Except my local librarians are quite tactiful -- never got a comment or even an eye roll.

Y'know, I was wondering about that kid's internet usage. Her mom was in an uproar about Zane, but there's much, much worse stuff to be found online. Does she monitor that, too?