Comments on: An SJCPL Librarian Responds to Mishawaka’s Ban http://tametheweb.com/2008/03/19/an-sjcpl-librarian-responds-to-mishawakas-ban/ Libraries, Technology and People Sun, 12 Oct 2008 16:51:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Rico Suave http://tametheweb.com/2008/03/19/an-sjcpl-librarian-responds-to-mishawakas-ban/#comment-1596 Rico Suave Sat, 22 Mar 2008 16:09:53 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/2008/03/19/an-sjcpl-librarian-responds-to-mishawakas-ban/#comment-1596 It is not about teens, per se; however, it is about teens (young adults) that have absolutely no respect for the library, for other patrons, or for anyone who they view as "figures of authority." I have no problem with teens using myspace. The problem I have is with teens that are seeking to do nothing more than use myspace (free computers) and could care less about the rest of the library/patrons. THOSE teens do not wait patiently for their turn to use the computers, no - since they have no interest in any other part of the library, they use their "waiting" time to run all over the place and cause all kind of disturbances. The public library I work for does not do enough to have separate areas for teens. I believe that if the teens that come to my public library had their own separate space where they were simply allowed to "be teens," then their wold be much less friction, for lack of a better word, between the adults and youth. What I mean by "allowed to be teens," is not simply just setting up an out of the way area where there are no rules. I view it more as an area where rules are still enforced, but some tolerance is allowed, knowing that young adults behave differently with one-another in a social setting. It is not about teens, per se; however, it is about teens (young adults) that have absolutely no respect for the library, for other patrons, or for anyone who they view as “figures of authority.”
I have no problem with teens using myspace. The problem I have is with teens that are seeking to do nothing more than use myspace (free computers) and could care less about the rest of the library/patrons. THOSE teens do not wait patiently for their turn to use the computers, no - since they have no interest in any other part of the library, they use their “waiting” time to run all over the place and cause all kind of disturbances.

The public library I work for does not do enough to have separate areas for teens. I believe that if the teens that come to my public library had their own separate space where they were simply allowed to “be teens,” then their wold be much less friction, for lack of a better word, between the adults and youth.

What I mean by “allowed to be teens,” is not simply just setting up an out of the way area where there are no rules. I view it more as an area where rules are still enforced, but some tolerance is allowed, knowing that young adults behave differently with one-another in a social setting.

]]> By: anon http://tametheweb.com/2008/03/19/an-sjcpl-librarian-responds-to-mishawakas-ban/#comment-1595 anon Fri, 21 Mar 2008 21:36:29 +0000 http://tametheweb.com/2008/03/19/an-sjcpl-librarian-responds-to-mishawakas-ban/#comment-1595 thank you for posting this - I work in a library where the director has stated that it is her -goal- to get rid of the teens, and repeatedly stated that she hates teens. Without them, the library is deadly quiet - 4 staff to 2 patrons quiet, yet the director and the other library staff prefer that situation to the slightest disturbance. As the new young adult librarian, I apparently wasn't kicking them out quickly enough (trying to work with them to create a more tenable situation), and so a "bouncer" was hired. And now we have 5 staff to 2 patrons. Sigh - but this post gives me a bit of hope and some fodder for thought about creating a situation where the space can be shared. thank you for posting this - I work in a library where the director has stated that it is her -goal- to get rid of the teens, and repeatedly stated that she hates teens. Without them, the library is deadly quiet - 4 staff to 2 patrons quiet, yet the director and the other library staff prefer that situation to the slightest disturbance. As the new young adult librarian, I apparently wasn’t kicking them out quickly enough (trying to work with them to create a more tenable situation), and so a “bouncer” was hired. And now we have 5 staff to 2 patrons. Sigh - but this post gives me a bit of hope and some fodder for thought about creating a situation where the space can be shared.

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