What IS your child reading?

July 16, 2012

Do you KNOW what your child is reading?

Are you concerned about language or subject matter?

Do you think you know what your child’s values are?

A customer recently quizzed me about the comic books available at the Library. These happened to be in the Teen area of the Library where he chose to enjoy a good old "comic book" while his grandchildren took advantage of the Library. He was astonished when he saw the content in the comic books. Was he concerned about porn? Crude language? Violence? No, it was none of the above.

Our 1st amendment rights include the freedom of speech and to read. Libraries do their best to protect those rights and provide materials of all interests. We also try to place those materials where we think the intended audience will find them. But we don’t have time or the right to decide what our customers get to read or listen to.

I encourage adults to discuss their values, and get to know each other’s ideas. It is so very important that parents, guardians, and grandparents discuss what children are reading. Having taught and raised children, I find it amazing what ideas they come up with and what I missed sharing with them. One day your children are going to make their own decisions about what they want to read and what they value. Teach them how to evaluate what they hear and read. I don’t discourage reading anything. What better way to share ideas about any subject than discussing a book, a news article, or a comic book.

Ros Spring
Antioch Branch