Forum - View topicNEWS: Washington Library Responds to Complaint About Child Borrowing Yaoi Manga
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littlegreenwolf
 Posts: 4796 Location: Seattle, WA |
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I love the King County Library System's response so much. Check out what your kids are checking out if you're so worried about what they might be reading. It's your responsibility, not the library's. They never stopped me as a child from checking out books from sections outside the YA and Children's section, and that fit me just fine because I read way above my age level.
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ayashe
 Posts: 123 |
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Good thing it wasn't Viewfinder, the shock probably would have killed him.
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Zendervai
 Posts: 201 |
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I'm just wondering why it was apparently placed under "Adult Non-fiction"
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Gyt Kaliba
 Posts: 712 Location: Arkansas |
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At least the person filing the complaint is pretty smart about it for a change too. While they rally off a bit at the end wondering why it's even in the library, at least the grand majority of their complaint is about someone too young for the product getting access to it, rather than complaining about the product itself existing, like most tend to do. So that's refreshing to see.
I'm loving the response from the library the most though. |
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Kougeru
 Posts: 5590 |
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Normally, I would agree with this... However, I think if they allow kids to check-out without a parents permission, then they should at least look at the labels. Especially if they carry such things in their library. I dont know how "hardcore" this manga is because I don't read Yaoi but if it's pretty graphic then I wonder if it would be considered under that law where it's illegal to give pornography to underage people I support library's decision in carrying such things, but I dont agree that it's not their responsibility. I think the parents should responsible as well, of course but if a kid can just go in there at any time without a parent then the library should take some action. Underage kids cannot buy video games above a certain rating without a parent/guardian present, so why should renting books be any different? Just my opinion, dont get mad at me. |
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Polycell
 Posts: 4623 |
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To be fair even to the bit wondering why it's there, even ANN encyclopedia calls it porn. The wording's ambiguous, but could easily mean that the outrage isn't directed at the section's existence so much as it having porn.
And color me confused as well as to why it was labeled "non-fiction".
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Cutiebunny
 Posts: 1767 |
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Gyt, after reading the comment below, I disagree with you regarding the person who filed the complaint.
Clearly, this person is believes manga, and perhaps vicariously, all anime, is a genre aimed exclusively at children. Most people on this board would say that that's an incorrect assumption as there are many titles that are written for a mature audience. The complaintant is also under the impression that a mature reader would clearly read this book, as well as any other adult title, around a small child. Apparently, in this person's world, any adult who reads mature manga is clearly a deviant who races from book to book in order to get their fix. However, someone who reads titles like "50 Shades of Grey", which, IMO, is far racier than many manga titles, can exercise restraint around young children. It sounds to me that the notion of "people going to the library to read porn" is rather new to them; Why else do you think libraries carry such a wide selection of romance novels? I love the library's response to the parent - Your child, your responsibility. Kudos to KCLS! |
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potatochobit
 Posts: 1373 Location: TEXAS |
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diversity is not an excuse for being lazy
most states have laws against selling adult products to minors I see no reason a library should be lending them out however, I do understand most libraries are understaffed and they don't have the time to police other people's children and yaoi and shoujo is easily mixed up, even by veteran otaku |
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potatochobit
Posts: 1373 Location: TEXAS |
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it was actually an ultimatum, either the industry enforces it on their own or laws will be put in place to enforce it for them. |
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walw6pK4Alo
 Posts: 9322 |
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I don't know about everywhere, but my library has self-check out, so even less responsibility can be placed with the library staff if they're not physically checking items out for patrons. Given that this was a manga volume, I'd wager any not-knowledgeable staff would assume it was just harmless affair like most of the other comics, or maybe it isn't their place to parent children if there are no rules about it.
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ssgOverlord
 Posts: 91 |
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I do think the complaint itself is at least in good nature without being totally outrageous, but however fair it may sound, the library's response sounds even better. I believe it's reasonable for something like a library, a public resource of all sorts, to not be the ones who make judgments based on age.
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11G4GUNOT
 Posts: 154 |
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this news is epic win. my library never have 18 rated manga
I'm so disappointed. |
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Aynslesa
Posts: 199 |
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Kudos to the King County Library System for standing by their rules and regulations. They're absolutely right in that it is the parent and guardian's responsibility to keep track of what their children read, not the library. The materials in a library are there the use of all patrons, and it is not the librarian's responsibility to police what any patron checks out, regardless of their age.
If Mr. De Nevers has a problem with the sorts of books that his niece is checking out from the library, then that is a matter that he needs to discuss with his niece and her parents/legal guardians. Some libraries have systems set up where parents can request certain restrictions on the check-outs of their underage children for just this purpose, but unless something like that is put in place by the *guardian*, the library is under no obligation to police someone's check-outs. As for the matter of whether or not the library should even be carrying 18+ material such as Hero Heel, next time you're in your public library, as the librarian what the waiting list is for 50 Shades of Grey. I guarantee that not only will they have a copy (possibly several) in the system, but they will all be checked out and there will probably be a long hold. The only difference between the two in terms of mature content is that one is printed, and one is done in illustrations. To tell a library that they shouldn't carry 18+ manga or yaoi manga is pure censorship and discrimination. Also, I noticed a few people asking why Hero Heel was categorized as Adult Non-Fiction - in all the time I spent working at my local public library (over a year), this was what baffled me the most - but there actually is a reason. All libraries follow the same guidelines for categorizing their books, and comics in general are all placed under the heading of 'art', which in turn is placed under the heading of 'non-fiction'. Hero Heel's content qualifies it as Adult. Therefore all comic books and manga will likely be shelved according to the Dewey Decimal number for adult non-fiction art. In my opinion, the King County Library System handled the situation perfectly. As I said before, if Mr. De Nevers has an issue with his 10-year-old niece reading adult yaoi manga, then he really ought to take that up with his 10-year-old niece and her guardians. |
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Ortensia1980
 Posts: 803 Location: some town near Amsterdam |
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My library never stopped me from checking out anything and I don't remember that my mum ever checked what I was reading (I started checking out books from the adult section when I was anything but). Then again, my library never stocked yaoi manga so I feel like I've missed out.
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SaiyanHero16
 Posts: 265 Location: South Carolina |
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That sounds very disrespectful. |
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