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[CCBC-Net] Higher Power of Lucky
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From: Leslie Hauschildt <lhauscht>
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 14:41:54 -0700
Dave - Thanks for the questions/comments....outrage is a bit strong for me personally, but you are right, a public librarian can come from a different place than a school librarian. It was good of you to remind us of that. That being said, I hope we can take this discussion as evidence that we need to support each other - in a time or place where a school librarian is being frightened/forced into taking noteworthy literature off his or her shelves - that's the time for postive action as Dave noted. Positive action like reasoned commentary that a librarian can use when being challenged - commentary that can supply the logic why that word is actually a word that works with the story, or why just one word is not enough to ban an entire book, or even why it might have been nicer or easier if the word hadn't been there, but the book itself is worth much more than the word. A listserv like ours can be a resource for a librarian needing support to find that reasoned commentary..... I stick to my original points, however, in thinking about what the big picture is and why it is important.
Leslie Hauschildt Head, Children's Information Services Evergreen Library, Jefferson County Public Library 5000 Highway 73, Evergreen, CO 80439 303-674-0780 x2 lhauscht at jefferson.lib.co.us
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of David Richardson Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2007 1:13 PM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: [CCBC-Net] Higher Power of Lucky
I'm just curious. How many people who have been outraged here are school librarians or teachers? How many, as a school librarian or teacher, have faced a challenge to their decision? How many have been called into their principal's office on a Monday morning to face angry parents? How many have been told by the principal that this is an election year, and the school board doesn't need the negative press , so just take the book off the shelf?
How many have had to make the decision feed the kids and have insurance, or do what you know is personally disagreeable to you?
How many have read NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? (It's catagorized as fiction. Sadly, it's not)
How many have changed a word (or words) for an editor because you were told it wouldn't be put under contract if you didn't? Did you stand your moral ground or did you change the word?
The mission of a public librarian is different from a school librarian.
Public libarians don't lose their jobs over a challenge. They have a large support system. For a school librarian, often they have little support (even from the principal or school board).
When I hear these comments from librarians, I hear fear, not ignorance. Maybe it's because I've been there. It's nasty. It's ugly. It can be dangerous. And it affects every decision you make from that point on.
Are there librarians out there who are making this choice for personal reasons? Sure. And shame on them. But I'll bet there are many, many more who are making their decisons because they are afraid of the consequences. Or they know they have a limited budget, and as soon as a parent questions it, their principal will pull it off the shelf, wasting precious money.
Perhaps, instead of condemning these individuals for their decisions, maybe we need to work toward changing the situations these people are in who have to make such a choices.
Angry words aren't the answer. Positvie action is.
keep writing, dave r
_________________________________________________________________ Find what you need at prices you'll love. Compare products and save at MSN(r) Shopping. http://shopping.msn.com/default/shp/?ptnrid=37,ptnrdata=24102&tcode=T001 MSN20A0701
Received on Sun 18 Feb 2007 03:41:54 PM CST
Date: Sun, 18 Feb 2007 14:41:54 -0700
Dave - Thanks for the questions/comments....outrage is a bit strong for me personally, but you are right, a public librarian can come from a different place than a school librarian. It was good of you to remind us of that. That being said, I hope we can take this discussion as evidence that we need to support each other - in a time or place where a school librarian is being frightened/forced into taking noteworthy literature off his or her shelves - that's the time for postive action as Dave noted. Positive action like reasoned commentary that a librarian can use when being challenged - commentary that can supply the logic why that word is actually a word that works with the story, or why just one word is not enough to ban an entire book, or even why it might have been nicer or easier if the word hadn't been there, but the book itself is worth much more than the word. A listserv like ours can be a resource for a librarian needing support to find that reasoned commentary..... I stick to my original points, however, in thinking about what the big picture is and why it is important.
Leslie Hauschildt Head, Children's Information Services Evergreen Library, Jefferson County Public Library 5000 Highway 73, Evergreen, CO 80439 303-674-0780 x2 lhauscht at jefferson.lib.co.us
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of David Richardson Sent: Sunday, February 18, 2007 1:13 PM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: [CCBC-Net] Higher Power of Lucky
I'm just curious. How many people who have been outraged here are school librarians or teachers? How many, as a school librarian or teacher, have faced a challenge to their decision? How many have been called into their principal's office on a Monday morning to face angry parents? How many have been told by the principal that this is an election year, and the school board doesn't need the negative press , so just take the book off the shelf?
How many have had to make the decision feed the kids and have insurance, or do what you know is personally disagreeable to you?
How many have read NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH? (It's catagorized as fiction. Sadly, it's not)
How many have changed a word (or words) for an editor because you were told it wouldn't be put under contract if you didn't? Did you stand your moral ground or did you change the word?
The mission of a public librarian is different from a school librarian.
Public libarians don't lose their jobs over a challenge. They have a large support system. For a school librarian, often they have little support (even from the principal or school board).
When I hear these comments from librarians, I hear fear, not ignorance. Maybe it's because I've been there. It's nasty. It's ugly. It can be dangerous. And it affects every decision you make from that point on.
Are there librarians out there who are making this choice for personal reasons? Sure. And shame on them. But I'll bet there are many, many more who are making their decisons because they are afraid of the consequences. Or they know they have a limited budget, and as soon as a parent questions it, their principal will pull it off the shelf, wasting precious money.
Perhaps, instead of condemning these individuals for their decisions, maybe we need to work toward changing the situations these people are in who have to make such a choices.
Angry words aren't the answer. Positvie action is.
keep writing, dave r
_________________________________________________________________ Find what you need at prices you'll love. Compare products and save at MSN(r) Shopping. http://shopping.msn.com/default/shp/?ptnrid=37,ptnrdata=24102&tcode=T001 MSN20A0701
Received on Sun 18 Feb 2007 03:41:54 PM CST
