The Tale of the Wise Librarian

Weddings are supposed to be joyful occasions.

But reading about Uncle Bobby's big day in a children's book upset a grownup library patron.

Fortunately, a calm and wise librarian, James LaRue, was there to guide the patron through the dark emotional woods that can be very scary after reading something unsettling.

That interaction — recounted on LaRue's MYLIBLOG — has touched countless lovers of books and intellectual freedom.

We tend to forget what a hotbed of controversy a public library can be. Each year, the American Library Association receives hundreds of reports of challenges to books — most by parents.

But thanks to the Internet, this particular book challenge in Douglas County, Colo. — a place most folks would need Google to find — has sparked a far-reaching conversation about censorship, the importance of neighborhood libraries and what makes a good librarian.

Ironically, the theme of "Uncle Bobby's Wedding" by Sarah S. Brannen is that Chloe, a girl guinea pig, doesn't need to be upset about the upcoming marriage of her favorite uncle, also a guinea pig. Chloe fears she'll lose her uncle's love. It all works out, though, and Chloe is the flower girl at the wedding.

The library patron was upset that Uncle Bobby was marrying another male guinea pig.

In an e-mail to LaRue, the patron objected that the children's book "is specifically designed to normalize gay marriage" and had prompted "not the type of conversation I thought I would be having with my 7-year-old." She added she strongly believes "in America and the beliefs of our Founding Fathers" and that marriage is between a man and a woman.

LaRue's respectful defense of keeping "Uncle Bobby's Wedding" where it belongs — not locked away where kids can't find it — displays all the ingredients that make for a really good public librarian: a generous portion of Atticus Finch, lots of Miss Manners and a dash of Sigmund Freud.

"Stories help children name their fears, understand them, work out strategies for dealing with life," wrote LaRue, a 54-year-old dad who is also the author of "The New Inquisition: Understanding and Managing Intellectual Freedom Challenges."

Another library patron, he adds, used "Daddy's Roommate" to help her young son understand why his dad had left to go live with a man.

"(M)ost of the books we have are designed not to interfere with parents' notions of how to raise their children, but to support them.

But not every parent is looking for the same thing," LaRue explained.

Thanking the patron for being so concerned about her child, he went on to stress that our nation's founders wanted to encourage individual freedom, not government restrictions.

The hero of this library tale first fell in love with libraries at age 7, when he asked "Mrs. Johnson" what the speed of light is, and she replied: "What a fascinating question. Let's find out."

Through his decades as a librarian, LaRue has come to believe that censorship attempts are usually rooted in parental grief at the prospect of losing control over their children's world.

"Parents want woods without wolves," he says with a knowing sigh.

The neighborhood library, this wise librarian knows, can help teach children how to survive — even thrive — in a world with wolves.

Deb Price of The Detroit News writes the first nationally syndicated column on gay issues. To find out more about Deb Price and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate web page at www.creators.com.

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