{"id":11340,"date":"2015-08-15T10:00:45","date_gmt":"2015-08-15T14:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/?p=11340"},"modified":"2015-08-12T15:28:55","modified_gmt":"2015-08-12T19:28:55","slug":"considering-access-and-library-spaces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alsc.ala.org\/blog\/2015\/08\/considering-access-and-library-spaces\/","title":{"rendered":"Considering Access and Library Spaces"},"content":{"rendered":"

A person\u2019s right to use a library should not be denied to or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views. — Article V of the Library Bill of Rights<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
Photo courtesy of the author<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First, let me introduce myself demographically. I\u2019m chronologically gifted. In other words, I\u2019m older than rock and roll, and I began working as a public librarian in the 1970s. At that time, the cutting wave of censorship for the protection of innocent children from the degrading influence of the contents of the public library was to paint underpants on Mickey In the Night Kitchen<\/i><\/a> with Wite-out<\/a>\u00ae.<\/p>\n

But that was then, and this is now. Now we have the Internet. Now kids can play games on the computer. And, as many in my demographic cohort express themselves, \u201cTHIS IS A LIBRARY, not a fun house for kids! Others are here to do important things on a computer!\u201d (Remember if anyone is having fun it means they cannot be learning. If it\u2019s educational it must<\/i> be tedious and boring.)<\/p>\n

To avoid this generational turmoil many libraries have installed a game room, complete with videogames. It\u2019s as big a draw as afterschool snacks. Which brings me to the main topic of this post. Do age-segregated areas in the library violate Article V of the Library Bill of Rights?<\/p>\n

Some libraries set aside computers for children, complete with child-size furniture to ensure that children have access to computers and don\u2019t just get shunted aside by larger people. To me, this not a case of access being restricted that conflicts with Access to Library Resources and Services to Minors<\/a>, because it\u2019s designed to ensure that access. For its Children\u2019s area, The Seattle Public Library has a laudable statement of this practice on its website<\/a>:<\/p>\n

PURPOSE<\/em>
\nChildren’s areas within Library facilities are special parts of the Library housing special collections, programs and services designed especially for children. The purpose of the Children’s areas in Seattle Public Libraries is therefore to provide children and their caregivers with access to these special children’s materials, programs and services.<\/em><\/p>\n

POLICY<\/em>
\nChildren’s departments are available for use by those patrons who are accessing the special materials contained in the children’s collection and for use by children and their caregivers, to attend children’s programs, and to utilize other services provided by children’s departments. Patrons not included in these categories may be required to leave the children’s department and instead use other areas of the Library.<\/em><\/p>\n

However, over the years at various libraries, I\u2019ve encountered adult customers who don\u2019t agree. Often, as mentioned above, they have important<\/i> things to do on the computers and they aren\u2019t any free in the adult area, or the ones in the children\u2019s area are more convenient for them for other reasons.<\/p>\n