<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=2>In a message dated 10/16/2003 11:28:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time, grundor99@yahoo.com writes:
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<BR><BLOCKQUOTE TYPE=CITE style="BORDER-LEFT: #0000ff 2px solid; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 5px">I would agree also.
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<BR>Tony
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<BR>--- Groosagi16@cs.com wrote:
<BR>> In a message dated 10/15/2003 8:31:41 PM Eastern
<BR>> Daylight Time,
<BR>> heathfodor3@msn.com writes:
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<BR>> > Should I call the library and tell them of their
<BR>> error??
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<BR>> YES
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<BR>----------------------->After further consideration I amend my previous response. I still believe that you should address the issue with the library, but add the following further consideration: BE VERY DELICATE IN THE WAY YOU DO IT.
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<BR>Here's my thinking: We as comic book lovers are in a minority. Not only are we in a minority, but we are in a minority which is fair game for ridicule and looking down at. Now, what does that mean in the way things could play out? The sort is it puts us, or rather, our material at risk. Most people, and especially most librarians, will tell you that comic books are kids stuff. It is inconceivable to them that comic books are read or intended for adults. That is how the book ended up in the teens section, despite the warning on the cover.
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<BR>If the matter is brought to their attention in a "risky" fashion, a la "corrupted youth" or "indignant parent" it seems to me, what with the fascist pc thread running through all our communication nowadays, that it would be easier and more likely that the library simply strike the book to placate the righteous. Remember we are part of an unprotected class. No one will listen or care if some comic geek cries that his comic books have been taken off the shelves. Can you just picture the swarms of people who flock around that indignant parent named above?
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<BR>A similar situation arose recently here in Cleveland. Some racy Spanish language historietas found their way on the kids shelf. (Mind you these are substantialy more "adult" than Sandman.) They of course were placed on the rack by an elderly volunteer worker. The magazines had been donated, and moved from a West side branch to the Main branch, and in the process resulted where they did. A kid (non-spanish speaking) picked up the magazines and the parent got indidnified. She called the local news station. They did a story on it. Thank God the items were Spanish and popular in the Spanish speaking community. If there hadn't been a contravailing protected class interest I am positive this would have ended in the magazines being stricken. As it is they were properly re-filed. As for the news report, you could see them reporter wanting to lash at the comic books and their filth. The first portion was colrful and passionate in its description of how bad it was for kids to get their hands on these magazines. The reporter strained to denigrate whatever literary worth the magazines might have covertly. Then with at least 60% of the report completed, presented a brief snippet of a representative of the Hispanic community stating that the books are intended for hispanic adults and popular amongst that group. The remaining 35% of the report was devoted to presenting the volunteer worker and how great she was for doing the volunteer work and how none of it was her fault. I respect her for the volunteer work, but truly the whole issue was her exclusive fault. It was plain from their face that these were not kids books. HAd she taken a second to consider her actions rather than simply mindlessly do what felt natural, the whole thing would never have happened. As far as report at least a simple mention of something like "you can't jusge a book by its cover" would have been nice. And fair. Bottom line, by careful in your approach.
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<BR>As for my advice in the delicacy I advocate I offer that first you compliment them for carrying the book. Acknowledge their scope in including this type of high literarure on their shelves. (careful not to make them laugh during this phase.) Thank them for satisfying a reading need you did not expect to be filled by a library. Let them know that comic books carry a wide variety of sophistication and in carrying this type of material they gain access to a wider member base and further serve the important goal of bringing diverse and vital art to the citizenry at large. Don't call them idiots even if they are. To bring their ignorance to their eyes roughly. Rather, do it kindly, and in an educational tone.
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<BR>That's my 14 bits. Bet you were happier with my more laconic previous 1/2 bit.
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<BR>Later,
<BR>A</FONT></HTML>