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Today in the #library : A Disturbing Phone Call
It was lunch and a busy time when I answered the phone. The caller ID let me know it was an outside line and I assumed it was a parent calling about some issue with a student's library record. (I'm still sending notices to recent grads about books.)
It was lunch and a busy time when I answered the phone. The caller ID let me know it was an outside line and I assumed it was a parent calling about some issue with a student's library record. (I'm still sending notices to recent grads about books.)
05:55 PM - Jun 13, 2023
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The caller started out saying, "I have a meeting with the superintendent later this week and I want to be sure I have all my ducks in a row..."
I said, "Let me stop you because I think you may have called the wrong number. This is a high school library."
I said, "Let me stop you because I think you may have called the wrong number. This is a high school library."
06:07 PM - Jun 13, 2023
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She said, "Oh no. I have the right number. I want to come to your library later today to see if you have certain books."
At this moment, I had a bad feeling but I didn't want to jump to conclusions. I said, "I'm not sure how I can help you get ready for a meeting with the Superintendent ...
At this moment, I had a bad feeling but I didn't want to jump to conclusions. I said, "I'm not sure how I can help you get ready for a meeting with the Superintendent ...
06:10 PM - Jun 13, 2023
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... I'm sorry, but can you tell me who you are again?"
(There was a chance that this was a Mom perhaps looking for some books for her child to read over the summer...)
but then she answered:
"I'm a citizen."
(There was a chance that this was a Mom perhaps looking for some books for her child to read over the summer...)
but then she answered:
"I'm a citizen."
06:13 PM - Jun 13, 2023
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THAT felt like a clue, since she didn't say she was a parent, which is usually how callers identify themselves when they are calling about an issue with their child's Library account.
I was not comfortable with the prospect of a "citizen" showing up in the library.
I was not comfortable with the prospect of a "citizen" showing up in the library.
06:16 PM - Jun 13, 2023
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I said, "I have my computer right here. Why don't you tell me the titles you're looking for and I will see if we have them."
Her tone changed. She was annoyed.
"I don't have the list right here in front of me."
I said nothing. Then she added:
Her tone changed. She was annoyed.
"I don't have the list right here in front of me."
I said nothing. Then she added:
06:17 PM - Jun 13, 2023
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"Well, I suppose if you have this first title, you have all of them."
"What's the first title?" I said.
She answered: "The book is called 'Gender Queer'."
"Oh, is this about a contention?" I said, taking my hands off the keyboard.
"Yes," she said.
"What's the first title?" I said.
She answered: "The book is called 'Gender Queer'."
"Oh, is this about a contention?" I said, taking my hands off the keyboard.
"Yes," she said.
06:20 PM - Jun 13, 2023
(Edited)
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"At this point I am going to refer you to our Principal," I said. "Would you like me to transfer you?"
She said, "Oh, well then I will just tell the superintendent that you refused to help me."
"No," I said. "I am following protocol.
It's not my place to field your questions."
She said, "Oh, well then I will just tell the superintendent that you refused to help me."
"No," I said. "I am following protocol.
It's not my place to field your questions."
06:24 PM - Jun 13, 2023
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"Ok. I will tell the superintendent," she said.
"So you don't want to be transferred to the Principal then?" I said. "Ok. Good-bye," and I hung up.
I informed the Principal and my district librarian. A little later, I got a phone call from my contemporary at another high #SchoolLibrary .
"So you don't want to be transferred to the Principal then?" I said. "Ok. Good-bye," and I hung up.
I informed the Principal and my district librarian. A little later, I got a phone call from my contemporary at another high #SchoolLibrary .
06:27 PM - Jun 13, 2023
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Unlike me, Lydia decided to dig deeper.
"Do you have a student at my high school?
No? Then why do you want to know what books we have? Do you have a student in this District?
Yes? What school?"
The woman is listed as the 2nd parent/guardian of a student in my building. Both names are female.
"Do you have a student at my high school?
No? Then why do you want to know what books we have? Do you have a student in this District?
Yes? What school?"
The woman is listed as the 2nd parent/guardian of a student in my building. Both names are female.
06:31 PM - Jun 13, 2023
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A quick facebook search of the "1st parent" yielded a woman standing with the boy who matched the picture of the student in my school records. She's listed as single.
Maybe my caller is the grandmother of the student, or the sister of the actual parent. The boy's mother may not know about the call.
Maybe my caller is the grandmother of the student, or the sister of the actual parent. The boy's mother may not know about the call.
06:36 PM - Jun 13, 2023
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The Principal shared my account of the phone call with the Superintendent. He may already know what he's getting into with that meeting. I'm grateful that I work in a District with a written policy of inclusion and acceptance.
"We're on it," my librarian assured me. I trust that they are.
"We're on it," my librarian assured me. I trust that they are.
06:38 PM - Jun 13, 2023
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What I know for sure is that I felt terrorized by the righteousness of this woman's decision to call me today. I'm now on the front lines.
It's not enough that I have supported every student in my sphere for 20+ years to access information, and to read fiction where they feel represented.
It's not enough that I have supported every student in my sphere for 20+ years to access information, and to read fiction where they feel represented.
06:42 PM - Jun 13, 2023
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When my counterpart asked why she didn't call the school that her student attends, the caller said, "I did call. The librarian was rude. She refused to help me."
I was not rude, but I was clear. And I am determined, now more than ever, to stand up to the ignorance and hate that's at my door.
I was not rude, but I was clear. And I am determined, now more than ever, to stand up to the ignorance and hate that's at my door.
06:48 PM - Jun 13, 2023
(Edited)
In response to Pamela B'well.
Thank you for your courage and clarity. I send prayers and blessings for our warrior librarians. 🙏🏾👏🏾👏🏾 📚
11:10 PM - Feb 12, 2024
In response to Jacqueline Wallace.
Thank you so much. Libraries and Librarians need support throughout this country. We have to continue to fight back. They MUST NOT win. The children are depending on us.
01:42 AM - Feb 13, 2024
In response to Pamela B'well.
This is the worst part of the push to ban books. People feel privileged to come into school districts where they neither have children nor actually live to challenge books or curricula. Strongly leaning fascist, dudes.
08:47 PM - Nov 07, 2023
In response to Pamela B'well.
You're a better person than I. I wouldn't have been able to be half as diplomatic as you were. That level of bigotry and ignorance is intolerable to me.
09:31 PM - Jun 13, 2023
In response to Max Prophet.
Believe me, Max, there was turmoil inside as I pushed down all the things I was thinking, but one misstep on my part would only have given her power.
I need my superintendent to be able to back me up without question.
I need my superintendent to be able to back me up without question.
09:44 PM - Jun 13, 2023
In response to Pamela B'well.
Thank you. Thank you. We need to protect our children from those who spew hatred at the drop of a hat.
08:51 PM - Jun 13, 2023
In response to Daz DCy.
The library at the other school said she had the feeling the woman was speaking from a script. She said she kept asking questions to throw her off.
Her ignorance was just oozing through the phone.
Her ignorance was just oozing through the phone.
09:48 PM - Jun 13, 2023
In response to Pamela B'well.
Pam, you did everything right and followed policy to the letter.
Thank you for standing up to the hate and vitriolic behavior of this person.
It is so upsetting that you had to be subjected to their ignorance.
Thank you for standing up to the hate and vitriolic behavior of this person.
It is so upsetting that you had to be subjected to their ignorance.
08:51 PM - Jun 13, 2023
In response to Diana Lukasik.
This really shook me up but luckily not until after the call was over. My Mama Bear strength was activated.
09:59 PM - Jun 13, 2023
In response to Pamela B'well.
During COVID, we owed the first responders a tremendous amount of gratitude for being on the front lines.
We now owe librarians and educators a tremendous amount of gratitude for being on the front lines.
Thank you for sharing this with us, Pam! Pls keep us updated on the outcome.
We now owe librarians and educators a tremendous amount of gratitude for being on the front lines.
Thank you for sharing this with us, Pam! Pls keep us updated on the outcome.
08:35 PM - Jun 13, 2023
In response to Mary OContrary.
I was on the front lines during Covid as well. Students weren’t in the building and teachers mostly weren’t in the building but many of us were. I did curbside textbook check-out, library book check-out, distributed art and lab kits through fall, winter, spring.
Today was more frightening to me.
Today was more frightening to me.
10:19 PM - Jun 13, 2023
In response to Pamela B'well.
Good for you for dealing with her firmly, politely, and according to district policy. I'm a retired teacher, and I appreciate your courage and professionalism.
08:28 PM - Jun 13, 2023
In response to Pamela B'well.
Thank you. Thanks for standing for the kids and for literacy. I don't know why we have people in this country who are so opposed to education.
08:12 PM - Jun 13, 2023
In response to Pamela B'well.
You are brilliant, and I stand with you. So very glad that your system does too. Please know that so many of us are grateful.
Whatever you need - distraction, moral support, calls, emails, please put it out there. Some of us know how to stand by without tearing anything down.
Whatever you need - distraction, moral support, calls, emails, please put it out there. Some of us know how to stand by without tearing anything down.
08:03 PM - Jun 13, 2023
