I definitely agree. A parent's rules with their child is their business. I had something similar happen in the elementary school I worked in and the parent wanted the book pulled from the shelf. That's where it becomes a problem. I informed the parent that if she does not want her daughter reading the book that is her choice, but I will not be pulling the book from other students. Freedom of information!

When it comes to teen books/age appropriate books, maybe there should be some kind of policy put into place by the AASL/ALA? It is a reasonable issue that frequently brought up. If a parent says their child cannot read a certain book, should we enforce that? Or should we let the child take out what they want since it is a "free country?" I'm sure most parents would agree that they have the final say in what their child does/does not do, but as a librarian, I know I never want to tell a student no if they want to read a certain book. 

On Thu, May 14, 2015 at 11:16 AM, Chin, Debbie <chind@newmilfordps.org> wrote:

I am an elementary school librarian and when this issue comes I tell that parent that our policy is if their child brings home a book they deem inappropriate or unacceptable, the child is certainly welcome to return it for another.  I also believe it is the parent’s responsibility to have the conversation with their child about what books their child can or cannot bring home.  I agree that as librarians, we cannot police, nor should we want to, the reading choices of the children.  That is the parent’s job. 

Debbie

 

From: CASL-L [mailto:casl-l-bounces@mylist.net] On Behalf Of KRISTINE P. EMOND
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2015 9:27 AM
To: CASL-l@mylist.net
Subject: [CASL-L] parent

 

Hi everyone,

 

Seeking advice.  This morning a parent of a one of my frequent library users/big reader's dad apparently brought into the main office all the books his daughter has taken out here and says he no longer wants her reading these books.  Two were Gayle Foreman's and two were Elizabeth Scott's YA romance.  In my eyes, these are your typical teen romance/love stories and fairly tame reading considering what's out there.  The secretary field his argument and request and told him to reach out to his daughter's assistant principal.  I would like to get my feet on the ground with this because I am not interested in policing my 1800 students' book choices and I'm not setting a precedent.  Thanks!!

 

 

 

Kristine Emond

Library/Media Specialist

East Hartford High School

East Hartford, CT 06118

 

"You can be too rich and too thin, but you can never be too well read or too curious about the world." - Tim Gunn


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Lauren Hunt
Library Media Specialist
Mathewson Elementary School
Mathewson Library Media Center