Library Book Circles - keep the Really Bad Books out of circulation - Page 2

[sagira]

Wow.. and I didn't think that was such a bad idea. Then again, I've always been told that I think somewhat outside the box. I can see, though, why the other posters thought it was wrong and that wouldn't have been my personal choice or method.

I'm also a bit upset that I see misinformation and books on the shelves at my library that are not good parenting (not just my opinion, but can be proven). It always gets me frustrated that Dare to Discipline by Dobson is still there. And yes, I have felt good about borrowing it once so it's not on the shelf. But I did read it. In fairness, I wanted to know what he advocated or said. Basically, I thought he was a bit short of demented, and really sorry that that book was on the shelves. No books on AP, a few on gentle discipline. I was glad to see Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline there.

But.. here's what I was thinking for a solution to this dumbing down of our new mothers. Buying our local library a subscription of Mothering and some books mentioned in our Gentle Discipline section and good attachment parenting books. This way we can still influence, but in a more positive way. Instead of all at once, I'm going to ask my husband to give the library a gift in my name for (each) Christmas.

Cheers,

[Oh the Irony]

[QUOTE=Kincaid
I think adding cards is wrong too! I would be STEAMED to find opposing viewpoint cards in a gay parenting book, for example.[/QUOTE]

yeah, i would too in that case. things that are racist, sexist or anti-gay would be upsetting. but that upsets me everywhere...

There are no bad books.

[nycapmom]

The difference is, in the case of Ezzo, his advice is extremely dangerous and puts the lives of babies at risk. We aren't talking about a difference in opinion or eating style (vegetarian, etc) but medical facts that all mothers deserve to know.

I vote for the cards...

[Kincaid]

Originally Posted by nycapmom

The difference is, in the case of Ezzo, his advice is extremely dangerous and puts the lives of babies at risk. We aren't talking about a difference in opinion or eating style (vegetarian, etc) but medical facts that all mothers deserve to know.

I vote for the cards...

There are some herbal books on the shelves that could be called "dangerous" from a medical persepctive. Ditto for some natural therapies. Or what if someone with cancer picked up an natural therapy book and decided to follow it instead of a medicalized approach to cancer treatment - and they died. Should those books have warning cards?
Here is a good one... what about medical organizations who consider it a "proven fact" that not vaccinating is dangerous? What if they put warning cards inside issues of Mothering?

I guess to me it boils down to - who gets to decide what medical/childraising/lifestyle facts are valid and which are invalid? The FDA? A government appointed body? A group of concerned citizens?

I agree with your sentiments totally, and am not flaming you by any means! HUGS! Just that imagine what would happen to us if the powers that be decided to protect OUR vulnerability for us... or decided that we were in a weak position as new mommas and stepped in... these terms we are using in this thread are scary to me. I think we should be careful of patronizing attitudes toward other mommas out there Cause when the conservatives do it to us, it is oppression!

[DaisyRose]

Originally Posted by nycapmom

The difference is, in the case of Ezzo, his advice is extremely dangerous and puts the lives of babies at risk. We aren't talking about a difference in opinion or eating style (vegetarian, etc) but medical facts that all mothers deserve to know.

I vote for the cards...

That's how I feel about Ezzo, too. I don't just keep Ezzo books out of circulation, I destroy them. Rip them to shreds and drop the remnants in the recycling bins, usually located very conveniently right beside the photocopiers.

[nycapmom]

Ok Kincaid, you go me with the vax analogy

I'll think on this and come back when I have a moment...

[nym]

Originally Posted by DaisyRose

That's how I feel about Ezzo, too. I don't just keep Ezzo books out of circulation, I destroy them. Rip them to shreds and drop the remnants in the recycling bins, usually located very conveniently right beside the photocopiers.

Oh my goodness!

You destroy books? You think you have the right to destroy books because of what you believe?

[phathui5]

Daisy,

If you throw the Ezzo books away while you're still inside the library, it isn't stealing. (Though I'm sure it is vandalism and other "bad" things)

[dharmamama]

Originally Posted by DaisyRose

That's how I feel about Ezzo, too. I don't just keep Ezzo books out of circulation, I destroy them. Rip them to shreds and drop the remnants in the recycling bins, usually located very conveniently right beside the photocopiers.

Hmmm, what are you teaching your kids when you do this? "If I don't believe in it, it must be destroyed"? Not to mention the fact that those books DON'T BELONG TO YOU, so it's not up to you to decide what to do with them.

How about writing a well-researched and documented letter to your library board, explaining why you are opposed to those books? I don't agree with libraries censoring books, but if you were to express your opinion and your library were to find a way to address your concerns, that would be a heck of a lot better than DESTROYING things.

Namaste!

[onlyzombiecat]

I would try taking a positive approach and maybe put up a notice at the libarary for a positive parenting discussion group, request more positive parenting books, etc.

[maya44]

Plain and Simple:

Censorship is WRONG!

Ask for other books, ask for AP lectures at Library. Write letters/articles to local papers about your concerns. All good democatic ideas.


Once you start destroying books you are in the same place as Nazis and Terrorists.

DON"T GO THERE!

[cmb123]

Originally Posted by sagira

Buying our local library a subscription of Mothering and some books mentioned in our Gentle Discipline section and good attachment parenting books. This way we can still influence, but in a more positive way.

Yes, yes, yes!!! If you want the Mothers in your area to be exposed to more gentle parenting styles, then donate some!!!

Another poster also mentioned, the lack of availablity at your library, may just send someone out to BUT ezzo, or other books you don't like. That's even worse..everytime someone buys one, it shows there is a demand for them out there.

There are much more positive way to express your enthusiasm. Be a role model for your kids. Censorship is just WRONG!

[EFmom]

I'm a librarian and this attitude sickens me. And I think putting cards or stickers in the books is silly at best and vandalism at worst.

There are lots of reasons why people might want to read books you don't approve of. Maybe they are fans of the authors, or maybe they are writing the next big research article exposing the evils of Ezzo. You just never know, but nobody appointed you the information police.

[BlueStateMama]

Buying our local library a subscription of Mothering and some books mentioned in our Gentle Discipline section and good attachment parenting books. This way we can still influence, but in a more positive way. Instead of all at once, I'm going to ask my husband to give the library a gift in my name for (each) Christmas.

I think this is a much better idea!! I may have to do this myself.

I can understand your frustration, but as has been said by PP, you wouldn't want others to make the choice for you as to which books are "approved", KWIM? It's a slippery, dangerous slope.

[chersolly]

Purposely keeping books away from people who'd like to read them is very uncool. :

[girlzmommy00]

I dislike Ezzo as much as everyone else here but I dislike censorship even more.

I agree that a subscription to Mothering for the library or requesting or setting up postitive parenting seminars are a better way to go.

P.S. If anything destroying or removing an Ezzo book from circulation would really just end up supporting him since it's very likely that the library may purchase another of his books to replace that one aka more money in his pocket.

[USAmma]

I checked out Ezzo once just to see how bad it really was. I'm glad it was there for that purpose. I admit to having hidden it before, once, in a random section of the library, but I feel bad about that.

[hhurd]

OP, how would you feel about someone hiding/destroying the library books that you deem AP approved? Let's not become like those that we dispise.

[oceanbaby]

I just wanted to remind everybody that there have been a lot of threads on here about people finding Ezzo books at consignment stores, buying them and burning them, and they are cheered on. There have been threads about people hiding the Ezzo books at bookstores so people can't find them, and they are cheered on.

I'm not sure why the OP is getting so attacked about this. You may think there is a better way to go about disemminating the information, but what she is doing is really no different than what many other MDC posters have done.

[Irishmommy]

Wow.