• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Gays and Public Libraries

Charlie Monoxide

Wag
Charlie Monoxide
Joined
Jul 8, 2003
Messages
2,760
I'm real proud of my little North Ontario hometown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pembroke,_Ontario).

Yes, it's like something out of Twin Peaks, but at least they're doing the right thing when it comes to it's Public Library and the complaints of a single individual. (http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/weba...?contentid=355294&catname=Local+News&classif=)

Should gays and lesbians STFU and get their own library or should gayfriendly books be stocked in a public library?

As a youth, I spent a lot in time in this library. It's kinda neat that it was rumored that Frank Lloyd Wright may have had a hand in it's design. Dang, if it don't look Wrightish.

Charlie (we were helpless, helpless, helpless) Monoxide
 
Charlie Monoxide said:
I'm real proud of my little North Ontario hometown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pembroke,_Ontario).

Yes, it's like something out of Twin Peaks, but at least they're doing the right thing when it comes to it's Public Library and the complaints of a single individual. (http://www.thedailyobserver.ca/weba...?contentid=355294&catname=Local+News&classif=)

Should gays and lesbians STFU and get their own library or should gayfriendly books be stocked in a public library?

As a youth, I spent a lot in time in this library. It's kinda neat that it was rumored that Frank Lloyd Wright may have had a hand in it's design. Dang, if it don't look Wrightish.

Charlie (we were helpless, helpless, helpless) Monoxide
Click to expand...

I'm not understanding the question. What are gay friendly books and what does stfu stand for?
 
LibraryLady said:
I'm not understanding the question. What are gay friendly books and what does stfu stand for?
Click to expand...

"gay friendly" books often means books that mention homosexuality, but don't say that all homosexuals are going to burn in hell. In this case it appears it also covers "how too" guides on some sexual practices and some erotic fiction.
STFU stands for Shut The Fornication Up (or words to that effect).
 
Interesting article, and some interesting quotes from the mayor.

Mayor Jacyno was not at the meeting, but in commenting later said he had given the complainant the option of writing to the library board, but the person told him she wanted him to write "because he is the mayor."

He said the library operates at arm's length from city council.

"There can't be any perceived political interference," he said. "But she said she would like me to write the letter, which I did and which I have every right to do."

He said his personal feeling on the board's policy is that it protects the democratic right to freedom of speech.

"But does this have to extend to small children?" he asked. "Don't children have the right to experience some years of innocence?"
Click to expand...
Yes folks, that's right, Mayor Jacyno actually used the 'Won't somebody think of the children??' argument. It appears that learning that people do different things in the privacy of their own bedrooms will somehow destroy the innocence of children.
He said the supervision of children may be the responsibility of parents, but he can recall children being in the adult sections of the library.

"The parents may be looking at another subject," he said. "Those materials should be moved to a spot not at the eye level of children."

He admitted that he had not checked to see if explicit materials were at the eye level of children.

"I'm not the watchdog of the library," he said.
Click to expand...
Then, in keeping with this thread, STFU and let the library do their job. :)
 
My response to the "won't somebody think of the children" argument is "where are their parents, and why aren't they watching their kids?"
 
Ripley Twenty-Nine said:
Yes folks, that's right, Mayor Jacyno actually used the 'Won't somebody think of the children??' argument. It appears that learning that people do different things in the privacy of their own bedrooms will somehow destroy the innocence of children.
Click to expand...

Libraries are, and should be, scary places. I'd be worried if a library didn't have books that offend and challenge sensibilities.

Stupid mayor.
 
He noted that in the past, the listing of "sex" in the library catalog referred those interested in reading about the topic to the librarian.
Click to expand...
Smart librarian; that's a great way to get dates.
 
TragicMonkey said:
My response to the "won't somebody think of the children" argument is "where are their parents, and why aren't they watching their kids?"
Click to expand...

Parents should escort their kids even at the library?

But anyway, it all looks like a non-issue to me:

"These books are definitely not in the children's department," he said. "Children are the responsibility of their parents and legal guardians, not the responsibility of staff. They give a service, they are not their parents. Our staff is quite astute in not letting children check out materials unsuitable for them. We have a responsibility to service all people. It's up to the individual who comes into the library whether they wish to access any books."

Coun. Lowe told the group that when children are in the adult sections of the library they must be accompanied by an adult.

"We also have R-rated movies which are not checked out by anyone under 18," she said. "They account for approximately five per cent of the collection."

She added that "the mayor didn't have all the facts when he wrote the letter that way."
Click to expand...
 
And Charlie Monoxide misrepsented the facts, too.

"anal pleasures and health, erotic sexual pleasures for adults and topics that deal with gay and lesbian subject matter."
Click to expand...

The complaint was about all forms of explicit sexual material, not just gay material.
 
LibraryLady said:
I'm not understanding the question. What are gay friendly books and what does stfu stand for?
Click to expand...

All I know is that who ever wrote that article reporting about it, was an even worse writer than I am. I read it and had no idea what the actual item was that was supposed to be inappropriate for a library.
 
Luke T. said:
Parents should escort their kids even at the library?
Click to expand...

People should know what their kids are doing, especially in public. In this day and age, who lets their little kids wander around in public on their own? And if the kid is old enough to be left alone, then he or she is old enough to handle being "exposed" to the horrors contained within the sinister pages of library books. It's not like public libraries typically contain hardcore, or any, pornography. I say, if any eleven-year-old has the patience to skim through Andre Gide's The Counterfeiters looking for what constituted "naughty bits" a hundred years ago, that eleven-year-old has earned the right to read them unhindered!
 
ponderingturtle said:
So letting kids run around the in the section that is not the childrens library is the librarys fault?
Click to expand...

Yes. It is a government institution.

The alternative is that a parent follow their 12 year old around the library and look over their shoulder at what they are reading. Sound sensible or reasonable to you?
 
How many public libraries have an extensive collection of sex manuals for any persuasion? Or are they talking about the works of Jean Genet or something like that?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom