One thing did sort of strike me as slightly strange and I wrote one of the chief librarians that I work with the following letter:
Dear ,
I never got a response to my letter from the librarian, although I did get a positive letter back from one of the Friends of the Library that seemed to echo my concerns. I wonder why they felt the need to balkanize the fiction section? I can see a separate christian fiction section in a Barnes and Noble, but a public library?Please let me congratulate you on the wonderful new library facility in Fallbrook. It is truly wonderful and state of the art. I walked in and checked out the officially open library for the first time today and everything seemed really top shelf.
I did have an academic question that I hope that you can help me with. While checking out book titles I noticed that there were two stand alone shelving compartments titled Christian Fiction. I can not say that I have ever seen a separate demarcation for christian fiction in a public library before. I looked around to see if I could find similar shelves for shinto fiction, hindu fiction, zoroastrian fiction, islamic fiction or even atheist fiction and to my surprise the only belief system that rated its own category was the "majority brand."
I wonder what the etymology and thought processes are behind these kind of decisions and if this sort of label is used throughout the county system or is a particular Fallbrook idiosyncrasy? Please rest assured that I am not a rabble rouser, merely an individual with a surfeit of idle time and curiosity.
Sincerely,
Robert Sommers
I am all for people reading whatever the hell they want to read. Perhaps I am being overly sensitive and PC. But it strikes me as a bit overbearing and well, un-American to favor one creed in a Public Library and give it it's own exclusive section. Poor Dewey would be turning over in his grave.
16 comments:
I also noticed right away the "Christian" section and thought it inappropriate. My overall impression of the library was that they had taken some lessons from retail to make it "consumer friendly". It is fun to brows in a bookstore because so many of the books are displayed in an attractive, eye-catching manner, and they seem to be doing some of that there. If they "Christian" thing is just part of a rotation "theme of the month" thing, like a temporary display in a retail shop, that's OK, but if it is meant to be permanent, my gut reaction is it is a bad idea. I'd like to hear some pros & cons on the subject.
m
The section, if there, should read Faith-based Fiction in my opinion. Then it could include all writings that have a Faith slant to it.
DR
faith based fiction - then you could throw the torah and the bible and the koran and the book of mormon and everything else in there...
We went to opening day. It is a great facility. I did not see the Christian section. Does seem kind of odd.
What's the big deal? Apparently there are enough readers in Fallbrook asking for Christian fiction that our local library deemed it appropriate, for now, to devote a shelf or two to same, and label it as such; is there an Hispanic section as well? if not, there ought to be; our librarians are merely catering to the community demographic.
It's not a shelf or two, it's two whole cabinets. How do you know that it is a case of popular demand? Do you have inside information? Have you seen the section?
Grumpy is 100% correct with his "catering" to a need argument. There is simply more of a demand for Christian books then books on "Zoroastrian fiction".
According to Wikipedia: Christians number somewhere between 76% to 82.3% of all people in America.
It only stands to reason that they would get a larger section in the library complete with a real name for the librarian to direct them to.
I have to believe that the "inside information" you demanded to know from Grumpy was based on nothing more then a logical deduction.
But you're smart enough to have known that.
This Blog goes deeper then just a "Christian Fiction" section in a library. It's just another in a series of hate mongering towards Christians that regularly graces the Blue Heron's website.
This is a dangerous game you play.
One only has to look to the tragedy in Arizona to realize how quickly things can spiral out of control when the mind of a mad man comes into play.
You're a gifted journalist, an incredible writer and have a tremendous future ahead of you. Before your "Magnificent Obsession" with slamming Christians escalates from the hate filled rhetoric on these pages into something that incites the next "Jared Lee Loughner" into violence, please... STOP THE HATE MONGERING.
WD
Careful Robert - your Agenda is showing. Some of us real honest-to-gosh liberotarians may take offense. BLR - Rich
Thanks for having my back WD but at the same time please realize Robert is someone whose friendship and thoughts/opinions i treasure though we may not always see eye to eye; the last thing i want is to stifle his expression; let freedom ring.
How about those christian reading shelves being right next to the fireplace so the books can easily be accessed for BURNING! Yuk Yuk .. Love your letter Robert, thanx for writing it
Big yuk, anon; nothing quite like a book burning.
I might have missed it but I thought you should have/would have pointed out that if there was a Christian Fiction section and a Science Fiction section, there sure as hell ought to be a Christian Scientist Fiction section. Hey, look, a chicken!
the Christian and SciFi fiction sections are indeed adjacent, which is ironic i suppose.
Just remember... It is ALL fiction... it is simply truth in advertising!
an interesting place..Egypt, sounds like zealots contra zealots, maybe the more liberal members of this society could move next door to israel where at least they could stay with their neighbors in more healthy
environs, east jerusalem or gaza somewhere.
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