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Interesting scenario! Oh yes, "even paranoid people have enemies" as they say. It does indeed sound like someone is being helpful in alerting him to questionable materials (in their opinion). It would be interesting to know if anyone else is having their mail scrutinized in this manner. I don't think I'd belabor the point...you explained it well in that vendors sell mailing lists, you have no control over being sent free samples, no one is critiquing labels to see if there's an elementary school on them...and indeed who's to say that a school might not be getting a copy for their staff lounge, etc. I wouldn't advocate spending tax dollars on this but stranger things have happened. I could even see a HS getting a copy to use in a journalism / newspaper class or as an example of bad writing, so to speak. Again, I certainly wouldn't spend the money on it but you never know what someone else would deem useful. Since you say you won't be dealing with him after this year I'd just ride it out for now. My bigger concern would be who in your building is censoring your mail. Hard to find out; maybe someone else on this list-serve has some thoughts along those lines. As a humorous aside, let me tell you what happened to one of our teachers many years ago. Some kids tore out those little postcard subscription things in magazines, took a whole bunch, and signed up one of our English teachers for subscriptions. They were the "bill me later" kind. Had them sent to him at the school, and of course the bills soon followed. They got such a kick out of this they did the same thing with Playboy, Maxim, etc. and of course THOSE started coming. They eventually petered out but it caused quite a stir at the time. We are now vigilant in tearing out all the little postcards and so on before the magazines go on the shelves. Lesson learned! Reggie BOOKS. The original laptops. If Reading was a Varsity Sport, Librarians would rule the world. Reggie Buresh / Librarian & Webmaster Mahtomedi High School 8000 75th St. North Mahtomedi, MN 55115-1795 USA Phone: 651-407-2157 Fax: 651-407-2125 rburesh@mahtomedi.k12.mn.us www.mhsmediacenter.homestead.com -----Original Message----- From: School Library Media & Network Communications [mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Kathy Ofsharick Sent: Friday, April 21, 2006 10:26 AM To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU Subject: Target: Opinions wanted about responding to principal's question I had an experience today which I at first took at face value and didn't give any more thought to until later in the afternoon. Now I'm curious as to how some of you would have responded, and am wondering if I should revisit it or let it go. I was on my way to xerox when the principal called me into his office. This is never a good sign, as we generally try to avoid one another, and I've probably been in there less than 10 times in the approx. 17 years he's been there. He opened his desk drawer and took out 3 copies of Star magazine, which is one of those tabloid-type magazines at the grocery checkout, where I seldom even read the cover. It was addressed with my name and school library address. I sometimes end up getting complimentary magazines that I've never subscribed to as a result of being on some mailing list somewhere. I've received Time for a couple of years now, sometimes get a cruise or travel magazine, have gotten a gardening magazine, etc. I never pay much attention to them, and either put them in the faculty room or send them to the high school library to do with as they please. I don't think I've gotten any previous issues of Star. He questioned whether I had subscribed to it for our (elementary) library. I explained that I sometimes receive copies of magazines that I don't subscribe to and send them to the high school, and said that of course I know that Star wouldn't be appropriate for our library. He questioned why a company would send it to an elementary school library. (Which seemed to me a strange question for a sensible adult to ask.... as if there's some watchdog at every magazine publisher looking at address stickers to see if they're sending them to appropriate places.) He threw the magazines away, which was fine with me, and I went back to my xeroxing. However, when I had time to think about it I realized that someone must have sorted them out of the library mail and called his attention to them, as he only periodically reads his own mail. I don't know whether they came all at once or over a period of time. I also thought it a little strange that he had them in his desk drawer, as he seldom puts anything away, and I wonder why he didn't come to me right away. I guess it leads me to wonder if one of the secretaries is acting as a watchdog, and I found it a little insulting that my ability to select appropriate materials after 30 years seemed to be questioned. Also, the bigger picture seems to be the possibility that a clerical person checking in mail or purchased materials could "help" determine what was appropriate for our library before I even see it. This seems a little similar to (although not as blatant as) Marian Royal's problem a few months ago with censorship by a janitor, although it didn't involve things that had already been in my personal possession. Should I try to explain my position further, or view it as a one-time occurrence not worth pursuing unless it happens again? I don't really need to worry about repercussions, as I won't be dealing with this principal after this year. Thanks for any opinions. Kathy Ofsharick, Librarian Blue Ridge Elementary New Milford, PA 18834 ofsharickk@brsd.org -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/ * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html -------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. 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