What's in your library?

[Sir Knight]

WHAT'S IN YOUR LIBRARY? . . The mother of a fifth-grader at John Hill School in the suburban New Jersey town of Boonton (http://www.boonton.org/schools/schools/jhs/jhs.htm) is refusing to let her son return the book he checked out of the elementary school's library, a 1977 copy of Petersen's Guns of the World: The Complete Collectors and Traders Guide. "I told the school to charge me for it, it's not going back to the library," Robin Barroso told the New Jersey Daily Record (http://www.dailyrecord.com/news/articles/news3-Gunbook.htm), explaining that she was concerned the reference book would inspire violence like that last week at Red Lake, Minnesota. "I know my son's not going to do it, but I don't know that somebody else's son is not," Barroso said.

[Rink]

Um its not her property to do with as she pleases, its public property hence she should be fined over this and it should be confiscated from her or she be made to pay for another copy of the exact same book.

As for the book I dont think a 'Complete Collectors guide to guns of the world is gonna 'incite violence' in young kids, thats abit asinine to think that, and its highly condescending to think kids cant figgure out the difference from a book inciting violence from that of a collectors guide.



This woman stole a public book from a library its not her business to keep such a thing.

[Wolfcounsel]

There is NO shortage of dumbasses.:flushlib.

Is somebody putting something in the water supply that turns dumbasses extra dumb?

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Okay, putting my bull's eye target on ... here's my 2 cents.


First, if the lady is willing to pay for the book, so be it, she can keep it.

Second, this should get out into the media -- pro-gun people should advertise this in the local community, and I will GUARANTEE within days, they will not ONLY have a replacement for this book in the library, but a whole new stock of related type books will poor in from concerned gun-loving library patrons ... in the community, and beyond.

I'll tell you why I feel this way. I worked for our local library. I TOO came across a book that I did NOT feel was appropriate -- it was in the young children's section (wish I could remember the title), and it was a book whose sole purpose was to bash men, setting up a mentality for lesbianism. I was enfuriated, and I took this book to the head librarian who said if the County Library System had approved the book, there it would stay in the young children's section. Needless to say, that book NEVER made it's way back onto the shelves (I didn't steal it ... I hid it in the library. If they find it, the Lord Himself will have to guide them to it.) The fact is though, had I not worked there I WOULD have taken the book, and gladly paid the cost NOT to have it put back on the shelf.

But we all KNOW if the story gets out -- as has been proven by many, many stories/cases in the media -- there will be an outpouring to help rectify the situation. If I had been demonstrative of my disgust over the book I found, and other people would have become aware ... especially feminists and lesbians, I'll bet you dollars to donuts the amount of books of this nature would increase in volume at the library exponentially.

Okay, hit me with your best shot! LOL

[Wolfcounsel]

There is a difference between a lesbian book in the children's section, and a book of firearms in the library. Is something missing here in this comparison? Everybody wants equal treatment of their beliefs?

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

There is a difference between a lesbian book in the children's section, and a book of firearms in the library. Is something missing here in this comparison? Everybody wants equal treatment of their beliefs?

Wolf, I'm sorry, I don't udnerstand your post. Maybe I should elaborate a bit more on mine, and it will clarify what I was trying to say.

The library, and I use the knowledge from when I worked for our local county library system, bans nothing, censors nothing. There has been a HUGE fight about internet content at the library, restricting computer usage, etc. They library systems do not believe in censorship of anything -- so it would be natural to find both books ... the one on guns, and the one promoting lesbianism to young children .... in the library.

To me, what was at issue was this woman's "taking" of the book from the library to prevent others from checking it out / reading it. The library will accept donated books -- I donate books ALL the time, and most of the time it can be done branch specific. In otherwords, I take my books and ask that they be housed at my local branch library, and they are. This woman thinks her actions were magnanimous -- taking the book to prevent others from using it to do violence. Her actions were merely stupid. As I pointed out, if her actions were made public, there would be such an outpouring of related type books, she would have a hard time "buying" all of them after removing them from the library. In addition, the library can buy more books for the "cost" of the one she took, because they buy at bulk, so she did even more to defeat her purpose if the library chooses to replace the book from her imposed "fee."

If I have misunderstood your post, please let me know.

[Wolfcounsel]

You made it seem like you and the woman did the right thing, both of you keeping the books from the public. Both books belong in the adult section, not kept from the public. I would have told the boss where to shove that lesbian book, and then quit. The anti-gun weenie needs to spend some time in jail for stealing.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

You made it seem like you and the woman did the right thing, both of you keeping the books from the public. Both books belong in the adult section, not kept from the public. I would have told the boss where to shove that lesbian book, and then quit. The anti-gun weenie needs to spend some time in jail for stealing.

I understand where you're coming from. But the library makes exceptions for missing books -- it allows you to pay for their replacement. I do not mean to imply that either actions (mine or hers) were right, and apologize if I did so. There is in place a procedure, though, within the library system where-by if you have a book you cannot produce and return, you are given the option to pay a "fine," which is usually the "cost" of the book, and all is set right. If this system is obeyed, and she paid the fine, that doesn't make her actions right, but they are within the realm of what the library itself will allow.

I say, let her have her tiny moment of noble spirit -- then plaster the story all over the place where good pro-gun people can see it. The library will receive like-books from every corner imaginable. Let her "buy" all of THEM and keep them out of the library! She will soon see the fruitlessness of her actions, and move on. And as an added bonus, the library will acquire -- FOR FREE -- like-type books in support of the pro-gun stance.

[Wolfcounsel]

I understand, Home.:cool:

[Sierra]

Here's the down side of the outcome you envision Homeschoolr.I'm afraid you are expecting far too much common sense from the officials involved. Given the zero tolerance attitude towards firearms practiced in most Liberal areas, and yes New Jersey certainly qualifies as one of those; here is what is most likely to happen. There will be a review by the Library Committee followed by a decision by the worthy group to remove not only that particular book, but all reference material related to firearms from the library shelves.

Sound farfetched; don't bet on it. Just this week in Salem Oregon a picture of a an Oregon Marine on duty in Iraq was removed by the Principal of his old high school. The picture was one of several that illustrated what former school graduates had been doing since leaving school. What was her reason for removing the picture? It seems the Principal felt the picture of the Marine with his rifle might encourage some student to obtain a firearm. Crazy huh but that’s not all the Principal also said she was unsure what punishment the student (the Marines kid sister) and her teacher would receive for putting up the picture! So tell me in light of this sort of state sponsored lunacy; can we trust these people to do the right thing?

[UnkHiram]

I am willing to bet the NRA would be willing to donate a replacement copy of the book to the Library, which is completly beside the point. This Woman "STOLE" a book from the Library because she disapproved of its contents. This type of action cannot be condoned, One Person does not have the right to CENSOR what everyone else reads, so long as the material has been aproved by the local board and not deemed obsene by the Supreme Court. The Familes rights to use the Library should be revoked and she should be billed for the book. If I was the local Paper editor I would also put a photo of her in it, with the words "Don't Trust this Woman in your Library or BookStore she STEALS Books."

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

You may be right Sierra, but all of my instincts say not, and I'll tell you why. I, as part of a concerned parents group, have been struggling with the Library System regarding the availability of internet access and porn within the library. They are ADAMANT against censorship of any kind -- even reasonable restrictions. This self same debate has been raging below the radar in this country for a few years now.

I have never known, and here I am relying solely on first hand experience -- which could be faulty, I admit -- our local library system (our county is quite large) to turn down ANY books. I have personally donated Christian books, and books against the mainstream of ideas (homeschooling, domestic women, etc.) I believe the libraries are entities unto their own. I frequently worked with librarians when I was "in the system," and still do as I volunteer at ours (matter of fact, I will be leading 4 programs during the summer). Librarians are vociferous defenders of public access to any type of literature, without restriction. They will turn on liberal as quickly as conservative, if they try to broach that belief. At least that is my experience.

Unk, as long as everything happened within the realm of what the library accepts, it's not considered "stealing" by the library. She may have taken the book, but she did pay for it. Again, I say let her have it -- her stupidity will be shown for all it's glory when book after book comes rolling in when the pro-gun advocates (NRA members) find out about it. NOBODY but NOBODY mobilizes like conservatives to a cause when it's just.

Of course, I allow room for my position to be incorrect (I was wrong once, but that was under anesthesia, so I don't count it, LOL :D )

[UnkHiram]

Unk, as long as everything happened within the realm of what the library accepts, it's not considered "stealing" by the library. She may have taken the book, but she did pay for it. Again, I say let her have it -- her stupidity will be shown for all it's glory when book after book comes rolling in when the pro-gun advocates (NRA members) find out about it. NOBODY but NOBODY mobilizes like conservatives to a cause when it's just.

Of course, I allow room for my position to be incorrect (I was wrong once, but that was under anesthesia, so I don't count it, LOL :D )

Homes

As much as I hate to disagree with you, I have too. When you take something that does not belong to you it's Stealing. My Comments stand.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Homes

As much as I hate to disagree with you, I have too. When you take something that does not belong to you it's Stealing. My Comments stand.

That's okay, people disagree with me all the time, LOL. Weren't we just talking about this the other day ... deja vu all over again, :D .

Just one more small comment (didn't think I'd shut up that easy didja? LOL) She can't be prosecuted for "stealing," because she paid the library for the unreturned book. I don't know too many theives that willingly pay the person they robbed for what they took. Again, just my take on it :smirky: .

[UnkHiram]

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That's okay, people disagree with me all the time, LOL. Weren't we just talking about this the other day ... deja vu all over again, :D .

Just one more small comment (didn't think I'd shut up that easy didja? LOL) She can't be prosecuted for "stealing," because she paid the library for the unreturned book. I don't know too many theives that willingly pay the person they robbed for what they took. Again, just my take on it :smirky: .


Never said a word about "Prosecuted" her for stealing the book, However I am very much in favor of "Persucuting" her:smirky: .

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Never said a word about "Prosecuted" her for stealing the book, However I am very much in favor of "Persucuting" her:smirky: .

Touche', my friend! :thumb:

[Sir Knight]

... I worked for our local library. So did I :thumb: from December 1974 until August 1986 -- it appears we have something in common :)

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

So did I :thumb: from December 1974 until August 1986 -- it appears we have something in common :)

You are more bona fide than I, Sir Knight :smirky: , as I "worked" there less than a year. However, I have volunteered for several years now, in an official capacity. http://www.freeconservatives.com/vb/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Sierra]

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You may be right Sierra, but all of my instincts say not, and I'll tell you why. I, as part of a concerned parents group, have been struggling with the Library System regarding the availability of internet access and porn within the library. They are ADAMANT against censorship of any kind -- even reasonable restrictions. This self same debate has been raging below the radar in this country for a few years now.


I hope you are right HomeSchoolr, but Liberals get silly when guns get involved. There is a pecking order among these people when it comes to what is wheat and what is chaff. For example The women's rights groups like N.O.W. will gladly excoriate any man for womanizing while in public office; unless that man happens to be a Liberal icon ala Bill Clinton. Like wise while Liberals love the spoken word it may not extend to those words that strengthen or underscore Conservative principles, chief among these being anything to do with the Second Amendment

[Rink]

In some places holding a book till its overdue or stealing it and never returning or reimbursing the book's cost can be a crime, punishment is a record and fine.