Child protection or censorship?

Then came Sept. 21.

Cook says that she never wanted the book taken off the shelves so adults couldn't see it.

"I'm an adult. I do not want you telling me what I can read," she says adamantly when you ask.

She just didn't want this book in the Graphic Novel section, which is located next to Young Adult Fiction. She didn't want it adjacent to what she calls "exaggerated comic books," like the X-Men series, and real comic books, like Spider-Man, which are so enticing to children.

In Scott and Woodford counties and in Lexington and Louisville, parents and legal guardians must sign for a child to obtain a library card. As such, in each of these libraries, as in the case of the Lexington Public Library, parents assume the "sole responsibility for their child's reading, viewing and listening of library materials. Neither the library nor library staff shall act in loco parentis. Selection and/or shelving of materials will not be influenced by the possibility that materials might inadvertently come into the possession of minors."

Earlene Arnett, director of the Scott County Public Library, explains that "libraries take censorship very seriously. We also take the parent's role very seriously. I'm sure they don't want me to make their decisions for them."

Arnett says that the Scott County library places graphic novels in the teen collection. "They are selected with the teen in mind," she says.

Martha White, acting director of the Lexington Public Library, says that some of the library's graphic novels are in juvenile literature and some are in adult fiction or adult non-fiction, depending on the content, the publisher and the review.

Neither the Scott or Lexington libraries had the book in question. The Louisville Free Public Library did, and it is placed in the adult section.

Both Cook and Boisvert applied for unemployment benefits in October. When the state inquired, the library denied their claims. Both appealed. Boisvert won because her basis for dismissal was too slight to merit a loss of benefit. Cook continues to appeal.

Both women say they remain baffled as to the reasoning behind their dismissal.

Critchfield would not comment on the terminations because they are personnel matters. According to the Employee Manual, grounds for dismissal can include insubordination, theft or misuse of the Jessamine library's property, breach of confidentiality information and any other violation of library policy.

At this point, Cook and Boisvert have not hired an attorney. They are not sure if they want their jobs back. They do, however, want their reputations back. Both say they have never been fired before.

On Nov. 4, a special meeting of the Jessamine library board was called to set procedures for taking public comment. On Nov. 18, at 3:30 p.m., the community will have its opportunity to speak.

Cook says the library, which she dearly loves, has a chance "to be champions here."

Judging from some comments on various Internet sites, it either already is or it will never be.

LuAnn Farrar and Elizabeth Price of the Herald-Leader Staff contributed to this report. Reach Amy Wilson at (859) 231-3305 or at 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 3305.

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