If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, it’s probably pretty clear that I’m not a big fan of religion (having an atheist theme for my annual Christmas post is a pretty big clue!)
But as someone who feels just as strongly about the importance of core library values and especially providing access to all types of information that patrons may be interested in, I’ve never understood libraries restricting certain groups from the use of their library meeting rooms.
I mean, okay, some you can understand when the use of that meeting room may put the library in a position of helping to break the law (though I’m not sure I agree with VPL’s decision even if I understand the rationale. And quite ironically, the assisted suicide meeting ended up being held in…a church!)
But restricting a person or group just because they’d be talking about religion (and even using a book as the basis of that discussion) just seems wrong – no matter what the library policy may be. It’d also be interesting to look at the library’s collection policy – would they also take a pass on buying a copy of this same book?
Comments 2