Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.
Rocket your D&D 5E and Level Up: Advanced 5E games into space! Alpha Star Magazine Is Launching... Right Now!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Buttercup" data-source="post: 1134262" data-attributes="member: 990">But whose definition of appropriate are we going to use?   I manage a branch library in a large public library system.  About half a dozen times each year, I end up with a parent in my office complaining about the 'appropriateness' of something they found on our shelf.  The following is exactly what I tell them. "I'm glad you came to talk to me.  I can see that you are a concerned parent, and that's wonderful.  And I fully support your right to control what your children read.   I support it so much that I wouldn't dream of taking that right away from you.  But here's the thing.  I also support the right of every other parent who uses this library to control what *their* children read.  And sometimes, not all parents agree on what is or is not appropriate.  For example, we have a book on our shelf called Daddy's Roommate which is the story, told through a child's eyes, of his gay father and the father's new boyfriend.  Some of our patrons don't want their children to read that book, for various reasons.  But some other of our patrons want and need that book, because it reflects their lifestyle.  Now, however you might feel about the choices those other parents have made, the truth is that they pay taxes just like you do, and I do, and every other adult in this county does.  This library and its collection belong to *all* of us.  So I have to buy books that appeal to many different sorts of people.  You can find books in this building that represent every point on the political spectrum, from far right to far left.  You can find books that address opposite sides of controversial issues here.  Pro abortion and anti abortion.  Pro homosexuality and anti homosexuality.  Pro Harry Potter and anti Harry Potter.  I invite you to read the books that appeal to you, and to select the books for your children that are appropriate for you family's values.  Isn't it wonderful that we live in a free country where we can all make these decisions for ourselves?" In seven years, that has shut every one of them up.  Because it's the truth, and the truth shall set you free.</blockquote>

Verification