Upon returning from my week at Pitt, I was shown a flyer that someone had put all around the teen section. It basically proclaimed that if you read materials about witchcraft, you're going to hell. In my horror, I stomped back to the staff room, certain that I could find a caring and understanding ear. Instead, someone actually said:
"I am personally offended that I have to work in a library that has these books. Especially the ones with the spells."
No, I'm not kidding.
Collection development for teens is not always easy. There is always consideration to what is appropriate. However, just because something offends the religious sensitivities of some people does not mean it shouldn't be in a public library.
I had to leave work because I felt personally attacked. This is the reason that teens were not coming to the library. This judgemental attitude is very upsetting. Perhaps if it had come from the pastor's wife it would be one thing...understandable...and easily dismissed. But this comment came from a librarian - and I'm very upset. This same person also told me, in nicer words, that graphic novels were inappropriate - and that upset me, too.
The truth of the matter is that teens need to have a wide array of resources available to them. Some kids actually check out witchcraft books to learn something or to do a report for school. They don't check them out and start performing spells on people!
What is most troubling is that nobody else spoke up on the side of freedom. Is it just me? Am I destined to have to move from the birthplace in order to not be burned at the stake, too? I have tried to make sure that every spiritual slant is represented in the YA section. And Wicca is a legitimate religion. So I have books on Wicca. Many of the witchcraft books are light - full of goofy stuff for teenage girls. The kids that check them out are not planning on becoming witches. They are curious.
Isn't is great that there is place in this world where teens can come and read about things that interest them?Well, not in my town...I'm so frustrated...
