Banishment from a public library?

[lifeandliberty]

"Banishment" from a Public Library?
August 20, 2005

I recently received a letter from a local Public Library that was not unexpected. Over the years I have sought to educate the public with regard to the murder of the preborn. Public libraries are a great place to disperse information.

In most Public Libraries you can find books with graphic nudity, perversion, introductions to the sodomite lifestyle and the like. The American Library Association will let most anything pass as "good literature" and they raise their voice against "censorship" if ever a "prudish" individual questions a selection in the collection of literature on their shelves.

The ALA opposes any restrictions on access to pornography in public libraries--even for children.

Here is the the letter I received.
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Mr. Green:

On Friday, August 12th, a library staff member observed you inserting anti-abortion cards in several books in the Young Adult section of the Powhatan County Public Library. These cards have also been found throughout the Adult collection, the Front Display Case, the Meeting Room hallway and the Men's bathroom.

Library policy forbids soliciting, campaigning and petitioning in the Library and in and around Library entryways. Furthermore, materials placed in public display areas must be suitable for viewing by all ages. No materials may be distributed to the public without the Library Director's approval.

Failure to comply with library policies will result in banishment from the Powhatan County Public Library.

Sincerely,
Kim Armentrout
Library Director
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I must say that this is the first threat of banishment I have ever received. I wonder if I had brought pornography into the library, would I have received the same letter.

Let me explain.

Some time ago I approached the Library Director to ask why there were no internet filters on the computers that were available for public use. Many Public Libraries are notorious for making internet pornography accessable to their patrons.

I heard several of the same excuses that I had heard before at other Public Libraries.

"It's not a problem here" and "filters are too expensive".

I even offered to pay for the filtering software. Ultimately, the truth seems to be that many Public Libraries just simply don't want to place any limits on the internet pornography that can be accessed on their computer screens.

As I looked through this particular library, I saw books with photographs of graphic sex that had been approved by the Library Director.

I saw books in the Young Adult section that encouaged young girls to have their preborn babies killed and even provided contact information for abortion providers.

The items that are "suitable for viewing by all ages" in this library are clearly not items that would make it onto lists of most people.

So here I stand, with the threat of "banishment" hanging over my head. What are my options here?

1. I could just forget about the murdered preborn and the command to speak out on their behalf. I could simply hang out with the children at the Library looking at the porn in their books and on their computers. This would be acceptable to the ALA and I probably wouldn't receive any threatening letters.

or

2. I could just go on speaking out on behalf of my King wherever that may be. This may not be nearly as acceptable to those who stock the bookshelves but I think it is the better of the two choices.

I encourage you to stand against the flood of sin that seeks to overwhelm the young people in your community. You can make a difference for good. Though you may find yourself "banished", there will be a place prepared for you if you remain faithful to your King.

http://www.lifeandlibertyministries.com

 

[Muad'Dib]

A public library is public for a reason. You cannot filter the books that go through there. If you are successful, what is to stop people from demanding religious books be removed from a public library? You open the door to those who would sensor religion. And then when all the sensoring wars are complete, the service of the library will have ceased to be useful. Let's be honest here, if a parent is not bothering monitoring the books their child is getting, then I think it is safe to say they are not instilling their children with the correct morals anyway. You will have made no difference in preventing children from gaining access to such things.

I can understand why you did what you did. I think abortion is horrible, and we should make every effort to stop it. But I think you chose an illogical way to go about it. Like I said above, if these children don't have proper parents monitoring what they're reading, how much attention do you think they'll pay to your cards anyway? There are better and more productive ways to oppose abortion. Besides, I'm sure you wouldn't like people slipping planned parenthood cards into a library's religious books. If you would not approve of the opposition doing such things, than you know you've gone about it the wrong way.

The internet thing I'm much more sympathetic to. Children should not be able to access pornography on a library computer. There must be a way to pursue this legally. The libraries around where I live have such filters. There is no excuse for public libraries not to.

 

[matt]

Keep on keepin on. Ask God for his guidance and he'll let you know what you need to do.

 

[peace4all]

who would look at porn at a library computer?

It isnt really that possible, and if it is, Who is that stupid?

 

[KnarfKS]

who would look at porn at a library computer?

It isnt really that possible, and if it is, Who is that stupid?

I would say kids that are between the ages of 8-14. It is very easy to find on the internet and they are dumb enough to look at it in public. There is of course the weirdos too that might just do it for kicks.

 

[peace4all]

man, kids got brave.

I wasnt even brave enough to look at home unless i knew everyoen was gone!

 

[Lyric's Dad]

What you are doing in placing those cards is good. Keep on doing it. Who cares what the library says? Sometimes the path of God is against the path of the world system, in fact, it is most of the time.

 

[NeedHim]

Something on the comment of who would like at porn in public.

it can happen un-intentionally, in few cases.
Such as you type in .org instead of .com. There are some websites set up to where those last three letters of the URL can make a world of difference. All it takes is once for the curiosity of someone to be stirred then they are hooked. Filters and/or parental blocks would help detour these problems.
This has not happened to me, thankfully, but I have heard of it happening to others.

 

[Quath]

I would opt for self-censorship. Maybe have the filtering software there and let people log in with their Library ID to activate it or not. (Then have the computer clean out the cache when you log out.)

Personally, I find that most filters filter out stuff I want to see that is not porn such as reproduction and religious issues.

Quath

 

[peace4all]

Ya, i have been to many a site that turns otu to be porn by mistake

most people go to http://www.whitehouse.gov, and are fine. the last 3 letters, altered, well. arg..

Also, a simple google image search, a few weeks ago of "noose" lead me to porn (now it is fine again so dont worry)

 

[Muad'Dib]

What you are doing in placing those cards is good. Keep on doing it. Who cares what the library says? Sometimes the path of God is against the path of the world system, in fact, it is most of the time.

Do you really believe this is the most sensible way to go about this Lyric? Not only will the cards be ineffective and get him/her kicked out of the library, but they open the door for the opposition to do the same. I wouldn't want to have to see pro-abortion advertisements every time I open a book, or expose kids to that sort of advertising. If you wouldn't want the opposition doing it, it's safe to say it is not the correct path for you.

 

[lifeandliberty]

A public library is public for a reason. You cannot filter the books that go through there. If you are successful, what is to stop people from demanding religious books be removed from a public library?

Actually, this is incorrect. Every book that comes available for a library is either approved or disapproved. All books are filtered.

Let's be honest here, if a parent is not bothering monitoring the books their child is getting, then I think it is safe to say they are not instilling their children with the correct morals anyway. You will have made no difference in preventing children from gaining access to such things.

Whether or not a parent is doing their job properly have nothing to do with my tax dollars providing that child with immoral material.

I can't stop a sinful person from sinning but I am commanded to show them their sin and call upon them to repent.

 

[Carrot]

I can't stop a sinful person from sinning but I am commanded to show them their sin and call upon them to repent.

As opposed to skulking around library shelves, slipping cards into books, have you considered actually talking to the young girls about the dangers of pre-marital sex and abortion? Perhaps you could try waiting in the Young Adults section until a young girl starts looking at one of those despicable books and then warn her against straying into a sinful life. You might even be able to help her find her way back to Christ.

 

[lifeandliberty]

I can't stop a sinful person from sinning but I am commanded to show them their sin and call upon them to repent.

As opposed to skulking around library shelves, slipping cards into books, have you considered actually talking to the young girls about the dangers of pre-marital sex and abortion? Perhaps you could try waiting in the Young Adults section until a young girl starts looking at one of those despicable books and then warn her against straying into a sinful life. You might even be able to help her find her way back to Christ.

What you suggest may be something someone could do who has alot of time on there hands. I don't. I talk to young girls about the dangers of pre-marital sex and abortion every day. That is what our ministry is about. Check out our website. http://www.lifeandlibertyministries.com

Placing cards in applicable books gets the message to the intended audience. It works very well.

 

[Muad'Dib]

Actually, this is incorrect. Every book that comes available for a library is either approved or disapproved. All books are filtered.

But not by you and me. That's why I told the person, "you cannot filter" the books. They can't, they don't have the authority. I'm not saying it's fair, but that's the fact of the situation.

Whether or not a parent is doing their job properly have nothing to do with my tax dollars providing that child with immoral material.

Material you deem immoral may or may not be what I deem immoral. That's the problem.

I can't stop a sinful person from sinning but I am commanded to show them their sin and call upon them to repent.

Correct, I would expect nothing less. However, don't forget that when you or I look for sin, the place we'll always find it is in the mirror.