small town libraries

[mstay]

I am the chairperson of our local library board. Recently the Mayor of our town came to the library after hours and took a movie out of the library and locked it up in his office safe.
It was 50 Shades of Gray and he didn't think it was something that should have been purchased for our library. He didn't approve of the content. The librarian purchased it because there had been multiple requests.
Now I personally am of a conservative nature and I feel this movie is not appropriate. BUT I feel that libraries are for everyone. Right? And the board is not in charge of what gets purchased for the library so I have no say in that anyway. I'm not really sure what to think about this whole situation.
I guess my questions are:
Should libraries even have movies available to check out? Are they only for books?
If a library only has a small(ish) amount of funds how do they decide what to spend money on and what not to?
And what are your thoughts on this whole situation? Please be kind.

 

[skimom2]

It's B.S. He has no right to do that and should be called on it. Did he lock up the books, too? Personally, I'd rather have my eyes gouged out than watch or read that POS, but I don't presume to make that decision for others. He also does not have that right. Please say that SOMEONE is standing up to him.

I think it's fabulous that libraries have films to check out! We check them out often, sometimes to see if we like them enough to buy them. So very many people are dependent on libraries, and having a variety of materials (books, e-books, magazines, music, movies of all sorts) is a societal 'leveler'--they make it possible for all members of the community to be a part of society, if you get what I mean. I love our local library branch so much! We spend scads of time there, and use pretty much all of the services.

Edit: forgot one question. If libraries have limited funds, I think they have a responsibility to procure what will most benefit their community. I tend to think books first, but there are surely others who would feel differently.

 

[muskrat]

Sounds like Bullcrap to me.

Hell, our local bibliotheca has Caligula.

 

[Walter Oobleck]

I've enjoyed libraries. We have one here locally...won't say the name, but they used government funds to build a new version of it. Residents of that township can use it. Moi? S.O.L. I know I could go there, sit, read. Yes. I'd like to be able to check out. Other than that, there's the local high school libraries...one day a week open to the public. There's a bar uptown...The Library...but they went cute-brew, mega-barf. Trendy. Oh, cute!

Thoughts on that guy? Where's his badge? There's no shortage, ever, of those who want to define your belief, no place no time no where, where that is not involved by one or many. What can you do? Keep trying I guess. Try harder.

Torques me off about this library they built, cause I know what happens when gov't money is involved. The price goes up. Along with a host of attendant headaches for anyone foolish enough to get involved...but then the price goes up. And they have it, get to use it, others are excluded. I could pull a member...go in...this that the other...time to do some grilling. See ya.

 

[GNTLGNT]

...as long as films are not X-rated or involve humans and livestock, I have no qualms about age appropriate films being available for loan at the local house o'books...hell ours has flicks...and nobody has raised a big fuss in our little burg...the Mayor is WAY out of line with his self-righteous censorship, and as far as I'm concerned-blatant theft...if there is an issue with the film, then it should have been brought before Council with arguments from both sides-and then let Council as a Whole vote on retaining the movie...Hizzhonr's behavior smacks of criminality, especially with the way he carried this out and he should be reprimanded by Council....he is an elected official...not judge , jury and cinematic executioner...that piece of crap film killed itself...

 

[mal]

This begs the question "Should there be an adult section in the library?". Kind of like the local magazine shop that has a closed off area that you pay a nominal amount to have a looky-loo. I think that, on a limited budget, libraries should purchase local and regional titles, contemporary best sellers, and classics, both fiction and non-fiction, first and foremost.

 

[Alexandra M]

I don't think he has any right to censor your Library's decisions. Decisions are made by the Board NOT the Mayor. I agree with skimom2 that books should be first and if the budget has anything left then movies.

 

[80sFan]

Books should always be purchased before films, imo. But I agree w/GNTLGNT that as long as it's not adult films, there shouldn't be censorship.
For two reasons: everyone has different opinions of what constitutes appropriate entertainment AND banning things just makes people want them more so it backfires anyway.

 

[muskrat]

The more I think of this cornball mayor, more I keep seeing this short, rotund, grey and balding cat, cheap suit, like the mayor of Mayberry, all honked off cause them old maids over to the library put that evil smut film on the shelf; giving all the womenfolk wrong ideas, that's what they're doin.

Sounds like a Big Jim Rennie type. "Take a knee with me boys, we're about to confiscate us a dirty movie."

 

[GNTLGNT]

The more I think of this cornball mayor, more I keep seeing this short, rotund, grey and balding cat, cheap suit, like the mayor of Mayberry, all honked off cause them old maids over to the library put that evil smut film on the shelf; giving all the womenfolk wrong ideas, that's what they're doin.

Sounds like a Big Jim Rennie type. "Take a knee with me boys, we're about to confiscate us a dirty movie."

...indeed, this Rennie Lite should be eatin' roast beef and a side of mash with Jesus right now...peach cobbler for desert...

 

[PatInTheHat]

The more I think of this cornball mayor, more I keep seeing this short, rotund, grey and balding cat, cheap suit, like the mayor of Mayberry, all honked off cause them old maids over to the library put that evil smut film on the shelf; giving all the womenfolk wrong ideas, that's what they're doin.

Sounds like a Big Jim Rennie type. "Take a knee with me boys, we're about to confiscate us a dirty movie."

My reaction is just, WOW!
But actually double wow, I mean you could slap Sarah Palin's mug in your cranium, but her inquisitive shanannigans as an attempted book banning mayor didn't bear bad fruit, so she was just a single wow.
Yeah this guy would, in my opinion, have to be awarded the highly coveted by banning douche mayors everywhere, 'DEUX WOW!' award.

Hey I hope y'all make him pay a fine, or no mo' library card for him!

 

[danie]

looky-loo

For some reason, I can't stop laughing at this word.

 

[kingricefan]

Well, gosh darn it, did the mayor check to see if there was a copy of Brokeback Mountain? That one's got some of them hermaseshuals in it! Sheee-*t, that one needs to go! Or Thelma And Louise? There's a darn graphic rape scene in that-a-one! Might make the local boys wanna go have some fun with the local gals! Or Black Swan? That one might wanna make some girls wanna explore the Dark Side!

Okay- fun's over! He has no right to do what he did. He needs to be reported to the town council and it needs to be reported to the local newspapers. He is NOT the judge and jury!

 

[mjs9153]

Seems to be running hundred percent against this guy,and I agree..films are art just as books are.That particular book and film are not my cup of tea,but I hate when people forget that free speech and the exchange of free ideas are fundamental to our country! Please remind him where he is,that he is NOT a censor,and that many good men and women have fought,died,and suffered grievous wounds for the concept of freedom of thought..or,as my old boss would say,"Pull your head out of your ass.."

 

[Mr Nobody]

I am the chairperson of our local library board. Recently the Mayor of our town came to the library after hours and took a movie out of the library and locked it up in his office safe.
It was 50 Shades of Gray and he didn't think it was something that should have been purchased for our library. He didn't approve of the content. The librarian purchased it because there had been multiple requests.
Now I personally am of a conservative nature and I feel this movie is not appropriate. BUT I feel that libraries are for everyone. Right? And the board is not in charge of what gets purchased for the library so I have no say in that anyway. I'm not really sure what to think about this whole situation.
I guess my questions are:
Should libraries even have movies available to check out? Are they only for books?
If a library only has a small(ish) amount of funds how do they decide what to spend money on and what not to?
And what are your thoughts on this whole situation? Please be kind.

Not his call, nor does it matter what your own values and beliefs are. They are yours and others will naturally not share them - even if they are conservative to the max in other ways. That would still be true even if you hadn't gone on to say that you feel that libraries are for everyone.
The only question that really matters is 'Is it legal to own/watch it?'
If yes, it's not up to anyone else to decide on behalf of others. (For example, I'd much prefer it if every copy of the Human Centipede films were burned...but owning, watching and enjoying them are not illegal acts in most countries/territories, so what I'd like counts for nowt.)
I'm also 99.9% sure that the mayor has committed theft. If the library board so wished, they could demand that he either returns the film or face charges. He's probably only confiscated it for his own private-time use anyway.

Should libraries have movies at all, though...Hm. I don't really see what harm it can do. I'm pretty sure our local ones started doing it again (they definitely loaned out VHS and even computer games in the late 80s and early 90s), but then the budgets here are determined by footfall, so the more people they get to visit the safer they are, in theory, come the local authority's budget review time. The nearest library to me has even started running a mother and toddler group, opened a coffee bar, and was considering a creche just to increase logged visitor numbers.
Libraries are great, so anything that helps them stay open is a good thing. On the flip of that, the people who run them should never lose sight of the raison d'être - which is books. Obviously that means there's a delicate balancing act to be performed and I don't envy you.

 

[doowopgirl]

Like a lot of people here, I think that type of censorship should not be allowed. I have no interest in the film myself, but I wouldn't stop an adult watching it if they chose. I think it's great the stuff you can get at the library these days. But, like Skimom, books come first. Did he censor the books, too?

 

[Kurben]

He was way out of of line. He should be made responsible for it. That kind of censorship should absolutely not be allowed. I wouldn't dream of reading/watching that kind kind of movie/book myself but it is not his taste that dictates what the library can lend. I agree with Skimom about the whole thing. Hope somebody stands up to him or tip a newspaper or something.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Well, gosh darn it, did the mayor check to see if there was a copy of Brokeback Mountain? That one's got some of them hermaseshuals in it! Sheee-*t, that one needs to go! Or Thelma And Louise? There's a darn graphic rape scene in that-a-one! Might make the local boys wanna go have some fun with the local gals! Or Black Swan? That one might wanna make some girls wanna explore the Dark Side!

Okay- fun's over! He has no right to do what he did. He needs to be reported to the town council and it needs to be reported to the local newspapers. He is NOT the judge and jury!

...hermaseshuals...

...my new favorite word....

 

[mstay]

You guys are great! I'm glad to hear everyone's point of view.

It did make our local paper. He told them he took it to make sure that the library board was aware that it was the "unrated" copy. Since he did this the way he did, instead of just talking to the librarian, he made it into a big deal and many more people called the library to reserve the movie for check-out. I'm not sure yet about the rating so that may or may not make a difference.

The movie did end up back at the library so that problem was solved. He didn't take the books, just the movie.

Like Mr Nobody said the balancing act is what's getting to me. I don't like being in the position of having to decide for the whole community. It has died down since the newspaper article, and nobody has officially filed a challenge to the movie, so maybe it will all just go away...

I agree that books are more important than movies. But people I've talked to love having movies available from our small library. So isn't anything that brings people to the library a good thing? It helps to keep us alive!

Anyway, thanks for listening to my little problems and helping me think through the situation.

 

[Dana Jean]

Sounds like Bullcrap to me.

Hell, our local bibliotheca has Caligula.

I've actually seen this. I was mislead thinking if Malcolm McDowell was in it, it must be a good film. Wrong.