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London Zoo: [Closed] Alan Moore contentious in Kentucky

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  1.  (7266.1)
    Seems a librarian there can't believe The Black Dossier is available to kids.

    Now of course, it's not really a kids' book to begin with, but the librarian already had it permanently checked out prior to the 11-year-old requesting it.

    There's a double standard that you can describe in horrendous detail something shocking to all five senses, but show an image of it, and won't somebody think of the children?

    My take is if her parents are fine with her reading it, who are you to tell the borrower the nasty book will hurt her? Do your job and just run the library.
    • CommentAuthorRenThing
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2009
     (7266.2)
    Yes, but this is for the children, Brendan. THE CHILDREN.

    Not the first time this sort of thing has happened either, although the amount of WTF in the one I blogged about is just astounding.
    • CommentAuthorhank
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2009
     (7266.3)
    Reprehensible behavior for a librarian
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      CommentAuthorJeffZero
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2009
     (7266.4)
    I'll just throw an 'ugh' in here.
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      CommentAuthorJJH
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2009
     (7266.5)
    Apparently she wasn't actually a librarian, just a part time worker and full time busy body old lady
    • CommentAuthorsteevo
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2009
     (7266.6)
    What the shit does this mean?
    She didn't want it adjacent to what she calls "exaggerated comic books," like the X-Men series, and real comic books, like Spider-Man, which are so enticing to children.
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      CommentAuthorhalcyonday
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2009
     (7266.7)
    The only redeeming thing to that story is that neither of them were actually librarians - they were circ desk workers (i.e. library assistants if you're UK based like me - non- professionally qualified workers), which at least means I don't have to faceplant myself repeatedly into the keyboard while muttering darkly about people making my profession look stupid.

    Otherwise, it is a giant clusterfuck of a story, with deliberately removing stuff from circulation, abusing patron information/privacy and trying to use the 'won't somebody think of the CHILDREN!' excuse for moral turpitude. Oh, and stealing library property as I believe one of them is still holding the book, despite being fired.

    @steevo. I wish I knew. someone on one of the library blogs was pointing out that series like the X-men, you know, attempt to espouse tolerance and surely that would be a good thing? I can't work out the logic behind x-men being 'wrong' and spiderman being 'right' but then, neither of them seem to have a great grip on what I'd consider, you know, earth logic.
  8.  (7266.8)
    I worked for a library in Western Washington for a few years, and our mantra was "unrestricted access." They very explicitly refused to put limitations on internet access or limit what anyone could check out- the understanding was that parents were responsible for their children, and the Library would not presume to act as parents. That said, someone very high up in the Library System has to screen and approve an item for purchase in the first place.
    Did she steal all the R-Rated movie as well-- better grab the PG-13 ones too, just in case-- to protect the children? Them's some hefty overdue fines.
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      CommentAuthormister hex
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2009
     (7266.9)
    This is GOING to be an issue, this whole "graphic novels in libraries and OH, THE CHILDREN!" ESPECIALLY with manga, which is the fastest growing segment of the library segment. This is going to ensure me a job for life, even if that job consists of ripping copies of Preacher out of a ten year old's hands and shoving a copy ot Transmet into some gloomy emo kid's hands.

    AND THAT'S ONE TO GROW ON, MOTHERFUCKER!!!
    • CommentAuthorZombi
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2009
     (7266.10)
    The library ought to send her a copy of Lost Girls.

    Second, am I the only one who reacted to this: The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume IV: The Black Dossier? Volume IV? Didn't this show up after the two original books and before "Century: 1910"? Or am I mistaken?

    Third, they probably have a lot more explicit books laying around, which is a lot more explicit than The Black Dossier, why didn't she abuse them as well? (And yes, I will use the word "abuse" in this case)

    However, an X rating on certain books might just be what the library need to spike some interest in some of its young readers.
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      CommentAuthormister hex
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2009
     (7266.11)
    @Zombi - wait'll they find out Volume Two features homosexual death-rape.
    • CommentAuthorZombi
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2009
     (7266.12)
    @mister hex - But that was Mr. Hyde, and that is in his character.
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      CommentAuthormister hex
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2009
     (7266.13)
    @Zombi - Or maybe that ain't a problem, down Kentucky way. And to be fair, Griffin had it coming, no pun intended.
    • CommentAuthorMarty Nozz
    • CommentTimeNov 20th 2009
     (7266.14)
    Should the library worker have don't what she did? Absolutely not. Were the parents of the 11 year old wanting to check out that book asleep at the switch? Most likely. There a lot of parents letting their kids read things that they probably wouldn't approve of if they were more informed.

    If the library worker in question were smart about things she should have started a campaign letting parents know that some graphic novel it that library do indeed have mature content. Then its up to the parents to decide, and that's as it should be.
    • CommentAuthorPooka
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2009 edited
     (7266.15)
    Oh mister hex....bwaha! I would totally defend KY...but...no....no I'm not going to do that. I went to Hazard much too recently to have any sort of conviction... Did you know there was a census worker murdered here in a rather brutal way a few weeks ago?


    We're all assuming he wandered too close to someones marijuana field or meth lab.
    here


    anyway...I believe it should be up to the parents to decide if a kid reads something or not. I wasn't censored as a kid (except for really sexually explicit material...), and when it comes to my kids, if they want to read an adult level book, I read it first (usually they want to read something from my own collection so I already know the content), or I read it to them and slightly edit any scenes I don't feel comfortable with...
    Maybe all kids with a library card should have to register their parent's phone number, so that if a kid wants to check out an adult level book, the parents could be called and asked...
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      CommentAuthorrickiep00h
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2009
     (7266.16)
    If the library worker in question were smart about things she should have started a campaign letting parents know that some graphic novel it that library do indeed have mature content. Then its up to the parents to decide, and that's as it should be.
    The problem I have here is that all it takes is one trigger-happy parent to get the book pulled. When it comes to things like banning books, logic, commons sense, and communication are rarely out in force, since the point of banning a book is to control the discussion about it, to discourage communication.

    For example, I'm pretty sure it will be impossible for a Kentucky school to pull the Bible from the library, despite the fact that the Bible is full of violence, genocide, infidelity, incest, and rape. And also god harassing a guy to win a bet with Satan, and that wacky Revelations ending.
  17.  (7266.17)
    I was checking out the likes of Stephen King and Clive Barker from my library at that age (in Kentucky no less!) and at least a few girls my age (though it seemed like almost all of them by time we were around 13 or so) were using the library to get Anne Rice, V.C. Andrews, and Harlequin Romances at the same time. While it now seems shocking in our ultra defensive society to think an adolescent might read something "explicit", I also remember the library as my subversive friend in helping me become a free mind.
    • CommentAuthorMarty Nozz
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2009
     (7266.18)
    The problem I have here is that all it takes is one trigger-happy parent to get the book pulled. When it comes to things like banning books, logic, commons sense, and communication are rarely out in force, since the point of banning a book is to control the discussion about it, to discourage communication.


    Allow me to clarify my previous post: It should be up to the parents to decide whether or not their children are allowed to read certain material, NOT whether or not it is allowed on the shelves of the library.
  19.  (7266.19)
    Is this woman even a real person? Sometimes I find it hard to believe that some people actually become total stereotypes. And old, conservative Christian, nosy, busybody old biddy who doesn't want anyone exposed to the things she finds distasteful, and can't possibly understand that her opinions are not only outdated, but illegal. Put her out to pasture already.
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      CommentAuthordorkmuffin
    • CommentTimeNov 21st 2009
     (7266.20)
    Considering that one of their proposed solutions was to do something so daring as spill tea on the book, I'd say they definitely fit the stereotypes.

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