Dear friends,
Haven't we gone into this line of work because we are givers? Warm,
generous and nurturing, librarians are generally helpful and open. Last night I
viewed the opposite. Here was the cliche of the librarian as uptight, harsh,
controlling, mean, with a bun (of course) and always shushing everyone.
Lifetime's women Doctor series, "Strong Medicine" presented the scenario
that a nursing mom was kicked out of the public library because she was
distracting the other patrons. The nursing mom was championed by a cool character
who works at the women's clinic, Lola. The Librarian was confronted by Lola.
The portrayal of the Librarian as a witholding meanie bugged me. But even
more - the show made it seem like she set the policy individually for her own
library. There was no mention of the administration, or the boss she had to
answer to, or the other nuts in the library that she has to answer to.
A protest ensued with a bunch of nursing moms and babies in the library.
"The babies cry or nurse: your choice," the librarian was told. Not only was
the right to nurse in the library demanded (reasonable) but the purchase of big
comfy chairs was asked for too - out of the librarian's budget.
Hey, I was a nursing mom (many years ago). I support free nursing
everywhere! But why use the librarian as the authority figure to rebel against?
Can't
those writers come up with another meanie to fight?
Thanks for letting me vent.
REBECCA REITZ
Librarian
PS 87
160 West 78th Street
New York, NY 10024
212) 280-6204
Rebreitz@aol.com
http://www.ps87library.org
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