See I don't have a problem with gay pride. But in a library setting I think you should keep it more on a neutral ground. Trying not to really step on too many toes in the process. I would have a problem with any kind of pride display in a library. That is just not a place to advertise/display stuff like that. It doesn't matter to me if it is gay, black, white, Christian any of it. The library is a sanctuary for all so neutral is better. Our library very rarely displays posters, unless they are related to what is going on. Like summer reading programs and such. Other than that they have wall hanging quilts everywhere. Simple, neutral and not offending to really anyone.
How would that be achieved? What you would feel is safe and neutral, books on Christianity for instance, might be threatening to others. I'm just curious where the lines would have to be drawn to ensure no one feels threatened or offended at a library. I suspect that once it was rendered neutral (neutered?) it would be a sterile place no one would be interested in visiting. The truth is the library isn't and can't be neutral. By it's very nature, a collection of information made available to it's users, it can't help but be offensive at times. I think we would do best to remember that. If we want to keep certain things from our kids attention it's our job as parents to do that. Politely call ahead and ask what displays are up. Discuss what you see with the kids. The library isn't there to protect our kids, it's to provide access to information for everyone.
Just a quick though on a related topic. Many Christian are quick to moan that Christmas displays are too secular and references to the Christian side of Christmas are increasingly non-existent. Could it not be just a tiny bit hypocritical to complain about that and then turn around and decry the display of Gay Pride banners? Should we not instead be cheering the library on and then, come Christmas, be volunteering to help out with a Christmas banner? Rights aren't specific to people with certain beliefs. They're universal. If we're going to claim them ourselves we should be celebrating when others exercise them, especially when they disagree with us.
EXACTLY!!! I think it's quite sad that some parents feel that it is horrible to expose their children to other ways of thinking. What are you afraid of, that your child may ask questions? Or, even worse, they may decide that your way isn't the right way and they want to persue their own paths in the future?
Books and content I have no problem with. Libraries should have books on everyone thing for everyone no matter the topic. But posting banners I do have a problem with. They should not display/promote one more than the others. There is way too much room to offend too many people. I would say something if I walked into a public library and there was a Christian promoting poster, Wiccan, anything. I just feel posters/displays should be kept simple.
Why? My library has posted Easter, Ramadan, Chinese New Year, "Banned Book Month", "Great Women" and "Black History Month" banners, to list a few. Should they all be banned? Should there be no mention of Christmas in the library, during the month of December? After all, not everyone approves of the Christian lifestyle... I appreciate the rotating displays. Often they draw my attention to books I might not have considered reading before.
That is a tough one, but yes. Libraries are for all and that should be kept in mind at all times. Easter, Christmas, etc is different for all so to not offend people they should not display what they believe is right. Not all believe you should post Easter bunnies and such, then others believe you should not post crosses and about Jesus. Think about it. A gay pride banner in the back of a library does offend some people. Same as if it was a white pride banner. All libraries should display poster, banners, or whatever with the fact that not everyone goes there regularly and knows they will be changed out. It could really turn people off to the library over such displays. As in the reason for this whole thread. It was her first time in that library and she was offended. Will she go back, I don't know. I never have a problem with them not displaying about holiday, or whatever month it is because as this thread shows not all of us believe the same.
For the record, I wouldn't have a problem with them in the children's section, either. I was responding to something specific. I assumed, clearly incorrectly, that "juvenile" meant "young adult" or "teen." So that's how I responded. That being said, the only reason I wouldn't want to see any of those books in the children's section would be because of the content rather than the subject matter. If they put a teen dating book in the children's section (as the OP said), then there's a good chance they also filed other books in the wrong place. A book about Wicca in the children's section is fine with me. Will my child be reading it? No. Would I talk about Wicca with them if they found it on the shelf? Yes.
Most library systems, at least around here, are government funded. Which means they have an obligation to remain neutral. All content available, but none glorified (which is what a display does).
I'd be very sad if our library became a sterile, neutral place. One of my happiest memories is of taking the kids to the library at Easter and digging through the big display of Easter picture books with them. And in any case, the Canadian government does support a number of social initiatives. If the gov't ever became involved in dictating what libraries display, I'd expect to see a lot more educational displays on the rights of minorities and a lot fewer religious displays.
Our library isn't sterile, that's for sure. There are huge, colorful displays about authors or certain books. We've got fun carpeting in the children's area. There are witty posters about reading all over the young adult section. There are usually all sorts of streamers hanging around. It's like a party happening all the time!
I think it's a sad thing when libraries can't be a place where our children aren't slapped in the face with questionable things regardless of topic. I personally wouldn't want my children to be greeted with a gay pride display when they walked in to the library. If they want to display this lifestyle, it should be in the adult section only. All that needs to happen is a little more discretion in where things are displayed in my opinion. In my part of Texas we are overall very conservative and so I've not run into this particular problem at any of our libraries. Yes, they have books on the subject, as is their right, they just wisely choose not to throw it out there for the littles to see
I think that if the dating book was in the childrens area that was a bit missplaced myself. We do not allow our kids to date one on one dating as teens, mostly because we know that dating today is like getting married was back in my parents day. its sad but true that even in churches single girls are having babies left and right. And some of these girls I have known and always said thats not how I am going to be as a teen not me! , then when in the wrong situation, alone with their beau they let their own plans change. But that aside, if the book was about waiting to date, that would be good, but still in the JR or SR high level of teaching not the children's ( I assume is 1-12 yrs old) section. The rest does not surprise me but then I do live in CA. Actualy the dating one doesnt surprise me either lol, just would not have sat with me, we get to know our librarians so we bring them a book we think does not belong in a section and they put it aside to re catalogue it.
Not everyone considers it a "questionable" thing. In my town there are plenty of children whose parents are gay. There's nothing particularly special about gay families, once you step past religious considerations. They're just like any other family. So this week could be a display on gay families. Next week we could have a display on nuclear families. The week after that could be single moms, followed by single dads. Maybe grandparents after that. It's all just children and the people who care for them. If the littles can see posters with mommies and daddies, then it's only fair they can see posters with mommies and mommies. (My mom raised me by herself, and used to do a little happy dance every time she found a picture book with just a mommy and a daughter in it - they were rare in the early seventies!)
Housemom4, I agree with you for the most part. I think what you are finding most untasteful is the way they displayed the books, am I right? It is one thing to have the books, it is another thing to push one type of book over another. Although they have a legal right to do so, I would not have liked it either. The other side to this coin is this: if they chose to display Godly Christian books in such a manner-it would offend some people. This is one reason I couldn't work in a library. I would not feel comfortable checking people out with books that are offensive to God. Yes, I know that not all people who read this stuff are doing it for pleasure, but can honestly be doing research, but I would still feel uncomfortable. As far as the teenage dating book. Yes, that is a commonly accepted norm in our society. I wish it wasn't and I applaud you for not wanting that for your kids. I think it would be different if our young men were truly maturing and taking on a manly role at a younger age and the women also. This is not the case for the most part. Society has made them out to be older children (not right, but true), and because of that most young people are not emotionally ready to date. There are exceptions, but they are rare. Plus the way people date is really not good-dating one person and then another and another with no real thought of what the consequences are of getting involved with person after person (intimate or not) can be.
This is so tricky, because I am against homosexuality, but I realize that it is not the only thing the Bible is against. We need to look at our own lives and examine them real carefully before we step over to someone else and attempt to remove the speck from their eye. For example: For years I was addicted to food (gluttony). That is a sin, a real bonafide sin! I could excuse it away. I could lie to my self and justify my actions, because it is so common and accepted, BUT it never made it anything else besides a sin. This is something that I have just recently changed in my life (March 8, 2011), after years of doing wrong and being convicted by the Holy Spirit time and time again. another example: Cohabiting without marriage: I too committed this sin. This was much longer ago, and it won't happen again. This sin is no longer taboo with most Christians. They will condemn the homosexual while they are speaking to their live in lover. HUH?! I once had a man ask me if I thought homosexuality is wrong. I told him, "Yes." I then explained what I explained above. I thought it was very hypocritical of Christians to ban "Ellen", but keep on watching shows that show people in bed together without marriage. I could go on, but... I know this is not the original subject of the op, but I can't help but go on this rabbit trail...
This is interesting. I am a very conservative Christian. But I also feel like I don't want my freedoms stomped on, and as much as I am against homosexuality, they have the same rights I do. IF this was a private business the answer would be simple, don't spend your time or money there. But this isn't your tax dollars pay for it. Therefor they have to remain neutral. I find it funny thinking back our library does it in a great way. I hadn't really thought of it before this tread. But they don't include any holidays in decor. They might have a book club reading a Christmas book in Dec. But that isn't a display, just a flyer. They have all kinds of encouraging things for reading, or trying to raise money for the library. They have private displays of art (landscapes, or whimsical kid animals) quilts, or nature/natural things.
