Opinion: The Power of the Parent

As librarians, we want to get the right book into the right hands. Recently, I witnessed a tween in the library who was looking through a book that explained gender identities. Her mom was with her and quietly and with deep care, suggested that she was not ready to read that book yet and helped her find another book to take home. That is exactly right. We respect the power of each family to determine what is correct for their children.

That particular book exists in the library because we serve all families. We choose factual information on a variety of topics. There are teens and tweens that welcome and need that book. There are parents and grandparents who want to learn more about a topic so they can better understand their children. A friend of mine, who is a grandparent to a transgender person, thanked me for recommending it.  It helped her understand the struggle her granddaughter experienced.  This is the same book the other mother gently put back on the shelf.  That book needs to be in our libraries, but not everyone needs to read it. 

Public libraries believe in the power of the parent. We recognize every parent’s powerful desire to keep their children safe and we want to aid parents in navigating collections by giving them the power to choose.

One interesting difference between school libraries and public libraries is that public libraries do not act “in loco parentis”.  This is a legal term that that means “in the place of the parent”, and it refers to the legal responsibility of a person or organization to take on some of the functions and responsibilities of a parent.  The public library is a public space, much like a grocery store, rather than a school (where the teacher is tasked with watching out for a child’s safety in place of the parent).  As a public space for all, libraries have put in place unattended children’s policies and other rules that task the parent with monitoring a child’s use of the library and its collections.

Public libraries navigate under the assumption that as children navigate our spaces, their parents will be there to guide them or have discussions with them about what materials they should or should not read.  Librarians recognize the vital role parents play in making these decisions.  You have the same right as all parents to choose what is best for your family.

There are several tools to help you find the right book for your child.  The best resource is your local librarian.  They are amazingly knowledgeable about local collections and what is available.  Novelist is a free resource for all Michiganders through the Michigan eLibrary.  It is a great tool for finding new reads based on other books you have enjoyed.  And our digital card catalogs offer a variety of search methods to find what you are looking for.
So, parents, please explore the library with your child, tween, and teens.  You have the power to choose what is best for your family.  And so do all the other families. Everyone is welcome at your public library.

This article was written by Linda Adams, MLIS, and Director of the Northland Library Cooperative based in Petoskey, MI.  Former Director of the Charlevoix Public Library. The NLC provides advocacy and services for 24 Northern Michigan libraries.