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List:       publib
Subject:    [PUBLIB] Children and privacy (fwd)
From:       plib2 () webjunction ! org (PUBLIB)
Date:       1999-05-28 19:22:11
Message-ID: Pine.GSO.4.10.9905281622090.9347-100000 () webjunction ! org
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Sender: "Karen Traynor" <traynor@midyork.lib.ny.us>
Subject: Children and privacy



>From: Gounaud <FFL@compuserve.com>
>To: plib2@webjunction.org
>Subject: [PUBLIB] children and confidentiality
>>If the Columbine killer's parents had intervened much more in their
>children's privacy, lives could have been saved.  But if the parents had
>asked the local librarians to help them investigate what their kids had
>been reading or accessing on the unfiltered computers, or checked what had
>been going through their computers at home, ALA-minded librarians would
>have been the first to condemn the "snooping" as a breach of the children's
>"rights".


This is the first time I have heard libraries blamed for the Columbine
incident.  I find this an extreme simplification of a very complex issue,
and an insult to both parents and libraries.

We had an interesting issue at our library this week.  One of our staff was
processing orders and discovered that her own teenage daughter had ordered
through ILL a book on Witchcraft/Wicca.  The mother, a devout Christian,
panicked, and deleted her daughter's request and returned the book.

She later came to me and other library staff and confessed what she had
done.  We all discussed what we, as library professionals and parents,
thought was the best way to handle this situation.

If her mother had not been a library employee, she would not have seen the
book until her daughter had it at home.  We suggested that rather than send
the book back, she should pass it on to her daughter, says something like "I
was surprised at your choice in books, and I would love to discuss this with
you after you read it."

The final solution was that the parent went home and discussed the situation
with her daughter.  Her daughter said that she was just interested in the
subject, wanted to explore other ideas, other ways of belief.  The mother
explained that she had panicked, that her religious beliefs are strong and
she wanted her daughter to have the same faith that  she did.  They had a
great talk, and each came away reassured. The daughter knows she can talk to
her mother about things, even if her mother doesn't agree with them, and the
mother knows her daughter will feel comfortable in the future exploring new
ideas without condemnation.  I don't think we have a case of a future wiccan
convert on our hands, but rather a young lady who will accept her families
faith willingly, and with an educated heart, not because it was imposed on
her.

IMO, this is a much better approach to parenting than to covertly spy on
your children and rely on other people, librarians or teachers or anyone,
to tell you what your children are doing.

Karen Traynor, Library Director, MLS, ALA member
Sullivan Free Library
519 McDonnell Street
Chittenango, NY 13037


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