Today I went downtown to my library's central branch. I'm a frequent patron and have never encountered any disaggreable incident. Today, however, the security guard kicked me out of the children's department because I wasn't with a child, stating that the branch is concerned about pedophiles and has implemented a policy that no adult be allowed to sit and read in the children's department unless he is with a child.
Realizing that the guard was only doing his job, I immediately took the elevator upstairs to speak with the director. He was out of the office, as was the head librarian. I was thus resigned to speaking with the third chain of command. She listened as I expressed my discontent, basically stating that the library had its policy completely backwards. Rather than prohibiting adults without kids, they should prohibit kids without adults.
Not only am I a writer with very genuine intentions for being in that department, but I am also a county taxpayer directly funding the facility. More so, I am certain that my civil liberties afford me the right to sit wherever I choose in such a public building without regard to my race, sex, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or absence of a child on hand.
The lady with whom I spoke was very polite and understanding, even taking time to write down my concerns to pass along to her supervisors. She took my number and said someone would give me a call. There was no call on my voicemail upon my return home five hours later, however. I'm curious if I ever get the call.
She went on to assure me that they would look into the policy and see if any provisions can be made. Personally, the only provision I see is that parents be held more accountable for their own children. The library isn't a daycare. This isn't a private afterschool program. It's a public library. If they're that concerned over kids being kidnapped, perhaps they should hire an extra security guard to monitor that one section, rather than endorsing a policy of profiling and exclusion. Better yet, how about if parents actually stay with their children and assist them in picking out books and using the computer instead of dumping them to the care of the librarian while they run next door to Macy's.
I left, stopped at a restaurant for lunch and immediately penned an op/ed piece to submit to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. They will definitely get the scolding of their life.
Oh, by the way, while I was enjoying my stack of picture books, I was constantly distracted by two librarians standing at the desk gossiping louder than a busted manifold. I almost cleared my throat and asked them to lower their voices. Sheesh, I tell you. If they have nothing better to do than stand around griping about other employees, then surely they have time to keep an eye open for the likes of me.
Idiots!
Realizing that the guard was only doing his job, I immediately took the elevator upstairs to speak with the director. He was out of the office, as was the head librarian. I was thus resigned to speaking with the third chain of command. She listened as I expressed my discontent, basically stating that the library had its policy completely backwards. Rather than prohibiting adults without kids, they should prohibit kids without adults.
Not only am I a writer with very genuine intentions for being in that department, but I am also a county taxpayer directly funding the facility. More so, I am certain that my civil liberties afford me the right to sit wherever I choose in such a public building without regard to my race, sex, creed, religion, sexual orientation, or absence of a child on hand.
The lady with whom I spoke was very polite and understanding, even taking time to write down my concerns to pass along to her supervisors. She took my number and said someone would give me a call. There was no call on my voicemail upon my return home five hours later, however. I'm curious if I ever get the call.
She went on to assure me that they would look into the policy and see if any provisions can be made. Personally, the only provision I see is that parents be held more accountable for their own children. The library isn't a daycare. This isn't a private afterschool program. It's a public library. If they're that concerned over kids being kidnapped, perhaps they should hire an extra security guard to monitor that one section, rather than endorsing a policy of profiling and exclusion. Better yet, how about if parents actually stay with their children and assist them in picking out books and using the computer instead of dumping them to the care of the librarian while they run next door to Macy's.
I left, stopped at a restaurant for lunch and immediately penned an op/ed piece to submit to the Atlanta Journal Constitution. They will definitely get the scolding of their life.
Oh, by the way, while I was enjoying my stack of picture books, I was constantly distracted by two librarians standing at the desk gossiping louder than a busted manifold. I almost cleared my throat and asked them to lower their voices. Sheesh, I tell you. If they have nothing better to do than stand around griping about other employees, then surely they have time to keep an eye open for the likes of me.
Idiots!
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