First, these were not librarians.  They are library workers who do not possess the expertise or more importantly AUTHORITY to make such decisions.  Second, they were fired for failing to follow policy and procedure.  It is was that great a concern they should have consulted a supervisor.  I guess they would have refused to let a Christian child check out a Koran or Torah.

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Policies are in place for a reason and are not put into place lightly.  Librarians purchase materials for all their patrons, even when a particular author or subject might not appeal to them personally (from Coulter & O’Reilly to Dawkins & Burroughs).  It is, indeed, the duty of parents to guide their children—and for children who grow in different directions, they might find they sometimes have to read the material they want inside the library rather than taking it home.  That, however, should be the customers decision not his/her only alternative.  I like to think that libraries cater to the many minorities among our clientele and not merely the majority, the oft-quoted “community standards.”

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