Library Bans Homeless Kids From Checking Out Books
Well, I’ve heard of banning books in a library but banning folks from getting books from a library? Now that’s a curious one. But such did happen in Porter County, Indiana. Seems that library officials, annoyed over the non-return of four grand worth of books and A/V materials checked out to temporary shelter residents over the last four or five years, decided that the children of said residents could no longer check stuff out. Here’s the story from the Chicago Sun-Times if you care to read it: Library bans homeless kids from checking out books.
Now, the part of this that gives me hope for the younger generation is that a kid shamed the officials into changing their mind. According to Michael Schaub of Bookslut (by way of the GOB), library officials were dissuaded from the evil ways by 11 year old Taylor Knoblock.
Eleven-year-old Taylor Knoblock led the charge, taking his brother, Jacob, 9, and sister, Rachel, 6, and a wagon with him.
‘I read in the paper that the public library wouldn’t let kids from the homeless shelter check out books anymore,’ Taylor said. ‘I didn’t like that idea, so I started to collect books for Spring Valley to have their own library….
‘I feel sad for people that don’t have the same stuff as I do,’ said Taylor, who by early afternoon had collected about 50 books and 20 videotapes.
Sort of makes ya feel all warm and fuzzy, don’t it? Here is the follow-up story from the Sun-Times: Library yields: Homeless kids can get books.
