Maple Valley Library Liberation
Maple Valley had become a meeting-place for the neighborhoods young people when the school day ended. What should have been a valued and rewarding experience for the young people during their time spent in the library had devolved into an apparent contest by many of the youngsters to demonstrate who could be the rudest, most disruptive, and all-around annoying person in the library. Things had gotten so bad that it was not uncommon to see the police arriving after being called by library security. What has changed is that Maple Valley will no longer be a place for youngsters to ‘hang-out’ with their friends.
The young people have to be engaged in activities which utilizes the libraries facilities in a considerate and mannerly fashion. If the young people are not engaged in one of the library’s many programs or activities, using computers, waiting for a computer reservation, reading a book or some other reading material, they will have to leave; no loitering. I was stunned by the announcement, but overjoyed! Some in attendance remarked that a few had ruined things for all the rest. I disagree; nothing is ruined. Anyone with a library card who wants or needs to utilize the library’s facilities can do so, they simply have to follow the rules.
The library was never mean’t to be a play-ground, comedy jam, rodeo, reality show, or circus; and yet it seems that those were just a few of the things the youngsters were trying to turn the library into. As I stated earlier, I was overjoyed by the new policy because I love the library. I don’t have internet service at home and until a couple of years ago I did’t have a computer. I still was able to create and maintain three websites,
https://sites.google.com/site/educationandsocialequity/
https://sites.google.com/site/jazzaszealouszen/
https://sites.google.com/site/wheresheavensite/
completed an associates degree, often completing and submitting assignments from the library. For years I’ve filed my taxes on-line from the library, where they also carry the tax forms. I’ve taken computer classes at the library, that were free, that were as beneficial as any I’ve taken in college.
I am glad the community has decided not to allow the library experience to be disrupted or spoiled for most of its visitors by inconsiderate or ill-mannered young people. I hope all of these young people learn to value and appreciate the library; I want them to utilize the library’s many programs and activities and benefit from them. Perhaps if they knew just how much librarians earn they would take the library more seriously. According to http://www1.salary.com/Librarian-Salary.html
these are the figures:
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It would seem to me that the only way to waste your time at the library is to fail to appreciate and utilize the wealth of programs, activities, classes and assistance available. One of the librarians seem to lament the idea that most of the young people were now going to have some of their services limited, such as restricting social media such as Face book. I believe that is a good result; young people should get back to the books, or if they are using computers use them for legitimate research. To the parents of those students who have or will temporarily lose their library privileges, now you know why. I would also ask you to sit down with your young people and try to explain to them how indispensably valuable our libraries are, and not fail to benefit from everything the library offers. Sincerely Khalil A. Rahsheed
