Child protection or censorship? Library employees lose jobs ove...

The LXG is a masterpiece among graphic novels. The movie really didn't do it justice, IMO.

But I digress, like most of Alan Moore's work it isn't for kids.

This crazy lady has no right to decide what should or should not be on the shelves of the library. Kids can get there porn from pretty much anywhere now days so it was a waste of her time as well. Glad she got fired.

Exactly...Good point, albeit a less savory name.

Kids can easily get porn on the internet if they are left at a computer unattended for more than 1 minute.

Does that mean we make it illegal to have computers? Illegal to have computers in school? Illegal to have a porn website?

Obviously not, although I'm sure the last one would be embraced by some.

In other words, there is no reason to remove articles from the library because of this issue.

Content on the library shelves should be as liberal a viewpoint as possible. Not in the political sense but in broadest view of thought.

Excuse my graphic thought.

I say we get Hustler and Penthouse magazines in the library. If we aren't going to have any morals let's don't play around let's go all out. It's easy to blame the internet and other places on our own laziness as parents.....

Idiot. Are you trying to say that this graphic novel, which I'm sure you've never seen is the same as a Hustler magazine...Idiot.

At the very least, even if there were "pornographic" images in this graphic novel, it has a story with content far above, "and then he pleasured me with his hot rod of love"

You aren't being a lazy parent because you don't strike materials from the library, you are being a lazy parent if you'd rather do that than take the time to monitor what your child reads!

Quit trying to turn it around! Idiot.

two-cents wrote:

Exactly...Good point, albeit a less savory name.
Kids can easily get porn on the internet if they are left at a computer unattended for more than 1 minute.
Does that mean we make it illegal to have computers? Illegal to have computers in school? Illegal to have a porn website?
Obviously not, although I'm sure the last one would be embraced by some.
In other words, there is no reason to remove articles from the library because of this issue.

You aren't comparing apples to apples here. Kids can easily get porn on the internet...if they're using a computer on which porn sites are not blocked, as they are in schools. This isn't about what kids can or can't get. Kids can get lots of things that they shouldn't have. The question is should they be able to get it in the Library?
Now I don't think the graphic novel in question is porn though I've read many, including this one, that are (graphically) worse than say Playboy. And I even agree that the employee in question were wrong, not for keeping the novel from the child, but because she was keeping it from everyone, adults included. But I do think the library needs to keep this type of literature out of the hands of children unless the parents are aware they are checking it out.

I disagree with censorship, as does the Cook. BUT, children are not adults, therefor the rules don't apply (i.e. tobacco, driving privileges, alcohol) I think this lady made a good decision in a very difficult situation. After reading the article, I agree with Cook about her actions, and think the library board acted stupidly for not even having dialog. For the people that think since kids can get porn on the internet, a book is alright are missing the point. Just because something CAN be done doesn't mean it SHOULD be done. How are kids supposed to develop a moral compass if they are allowed to do everything? This lady made it clear she was worried about a particular passage in a CHILDRENS book... the issue therefor is not censorship at all, it's about what is appropriate for children. I think in issues like this, a compromise should be reached. Maybe keep the book on a restricted basis, that a child could check out,but only with express parental permission. That would take the onus of appropriateness out of the librarians' hands and put it back on parents- where it should be.

"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,"

LOL WUT

"People prayed over me while I was reading it because I did not want those images in my head," she says."

Awesome.

Good riddance.

People need to be careful what they wish for. Asking for the government or an arm of the government, such as a public library, to monitor and control what they feel is appropriate for "any" reader is a big step onto a very steep and very slippery slope.

When we hand over this type of duty to the government then they are forced to enact a set of guidelines which may have unexpected and dangerous consequences.

When you start making judgement calls about the content of any literary work and its appropriateness for any individual you end up with books being banned that should not be.

Stop expecting the government to parent your kids. Stop expecting schools to teach them morals, stop expecting the FCC to keep the airwaves clear of anything you find offensive. Get involved with your kids, monitor them and teach them the values you want them to have!

Trust me when I tell you that if you make it a responsibility of any branch of the government to determine what we should be allowed to see or read then it is not long before they also determine what it is appropriate for artists to write or draw or paint.

I understand why the girl at the library did what she did. I understand she thought she was doing the right thing. Maybe she was....but it was not her right to do so! As a public servant she is not allowed to impose herself or her sense of right and wrong on another. She is not allowed "by law" to refuse to allow anyone their "right" to check any item out of the library. Was her punishment harsh? Yes. Did she deserve to be fired for what she did? Probably not. did they have to fire her? Absolutely...she violated a basic tenant of the Constitution of the United States and she broke the law.

Every freedom we have comes at a price. The price we all share for the freedoms we have is that we must allow others the same freedom....even if we disagree with their view point or their differing sense of morality.

Be careful what you ask for. You may not be willing to pay the price that comes with getting what you "think" you want!

"Cook says she never wanted the book taken off the shelves so adults couldn't see it."

But her actions ensured that no adult could see it. She censored the book by her own actions. She had no right to do so.

She mistakenly viewed graphic novels as being "for children". Some indeed are for children. Some are for teens. And some are for adults. There is this view here in the U.S. that graphic novels and animation are for kids. Other countries view graphic novels and animation as simply a medium by which all kinds of content can be expressed.

Instead of suggesting that the section Graphic Novels be broken down and the graphic novels shelved in the appropriate sections, this woman took it upon herself to "parent" the children using the library. She's not a hero. She's stupid. Now she's out of a job and all graphic novels are still shelved together rather than in appropriate age related sections.

stackan wrote:

For the people that think since kids can get porn on the internet, a book is alright are missing the point. Just because something CAN be done doesn't mean it SHOULD be done. How are kids supposed to develop a moral compass if they are allowed to do everything?

Again...you are missing the point. I'm not saying that since kids can get porn on the internet that we should plaster pictures of sexual acts on the wall of the library. I'm saying that it is not for the library to decide what our children can and can not read...I'm saying the material should be monitored by the parent. Kids should get their "moral compass" from their parent, obviously, unless you trust the federal government to give them one!

Haha, I think it's funny that people think the government should be responsible for keeping this material from our children, and therefore generating their moral compass...our government has the most f-ed up moral compass of all!

The Mindless American wrote:

People need to be careful what they wish for. Asking for the government or an arm of the government, such as a public library, to monitor and control what they feel is appropriate for "any" reader is a big step onto a very steep and very slippery slope.
When we hand over this type of duty to the government then they are forced to enact a set of guidelines which may have unexpected and dangerous consequences.
When you start making judgement calls about the content of any literary work and its appropriateness for any individual you end up with books being banned that should not be.
Stop expecting the government to parent your kids. Stop expecting schools to teach them morals, stop expecting the FCC to keep the airwaves clear of anything you find offensive. Get involved with your kids, monitor them and teach them the values you want them to have!
Trust me when I tell you that if you make it a responsibility of any branch of the government to determine what we should be allowed to see or read then it is not long before they also determine what it is appropriate for artists to write or draw or paint.
I understand why the girl at the library did what she did. I understand she thought she was doing the right thing. Maybe she was....but it was not her right to do so! As a public servant she is not allowed to impose herself or her sense of right and wrong on another. She is not allowed "by law" to refuse to allow anyone their "right" to check any item out of the library. Was her punishment harsh? Yes. Did she deserve to be fired for what she did? Probably not. did they have to fire her? Absolutely...she violated a basic tenant of the Constitution of the United States and she broke the law.
Every freedom we have comes at a price. The price we all share for the freedoms we have is that we must allow others the same freedom....even if we disagree with their view point or their differing sense of morality.
Be careful what you ask for. You may not be willing to pay the price that comes with getting what you "think" you want!

Exactly!

The rules state that the library employees can't act in loco parentis -- so a library employee cannot stop a child from checking out a book because that employee thinks the child's parent wouldn't allow it. They can only stop the process if the child's parent specifically allows it.

All the adults in tis county should put in a request for this book.

This woman is just mad that they didn't agree with her and she "had" to read that book.

The book wasn't even in the children's section, if I read the article correctly. What a maroon.

I think we all know the type of person we are dealing with here. A hand of cards is the devil's playground and a souped-up car his dragstrip. Dancing is especially sinful. Mixed swimming can only lead to disaster. All TV advertisements are suggestive and unchaste. They may have a point with that last one.

However, as a parent, please let me decide who reads what in my house ... and butt out of my constitutional rights.

Libraries are constantly making decisions on what will be in and out of their institutions but with well-defined standards and policies. This nutbag decided on her own to apply her own misguided standards in defiance of the community. No way she should have that authority.

well i think they should have a nc-17 section and that would solve it. like they do with movies and music. i used to get carded buying cd's and renting movies. its all the same.

stackan wrote:

...This lady made it clear she was worried about a particular passage in a CHILDRENS book...

Except that it isn't a children's book. The idea that all comics and graphic novels are for kids was shot down in the '70s.

I should point out The Black Dossier is quite mild compared to Alan Moore's other work. However, his writings are no more pornographic than Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land.

Now, let me ask a question of all of you, if I might - Have any of you fair citizens ever visited the Blue Grass State? A kinder, more gentled-souled people you'll never meet and some fine distillers to boot (based on me personal experience). Now, while it seems that some conservatism does exist regarding the dissemination of the printed word, can't you feel some respect for the actions of these people?'Tisn't Larry Flint at the forefront here - it's two middle aged librarians from Jessamine County, Kentucky. These ladies took courage from the strength of their convictions and, in full view of the powers that be, did what they thought they should to protect innocents. While their tactics leave much to be desired, I applaud their courage and (what must be) faith (both in God and America) to take such actions as they did.

Some of the posts I've read regarding this issue indicate to me that there are thoughtful citizens out there (and some not so thoughtful) contemplating this. We should all hope that calm voices, steady hands and careful thought be present during the discussions to resolve this issue; these women are deserving of resolution absent rancor and prejudice. And then perhaps, the lady librarians of Jessamine County will have their “horizons” expanded (and those of their employers), their faith bolstered and their courage recognized.

One other 'ting of interest (at least to me)- the Kentucky State Motto is "United We Stand - Divided We Fall" - has a familiar ring to it....