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Patrons Ask for Sanctions after Trustee Removes NewspapersThree patrons demanded at a September 2 meeting of the Cook Memorial Public Library District board that trustees either fine or revoke the library privileges of board Vice President Jack Martin for his removal of more than a dozen copies of a free weekly newspaper from the Libertyville, Illinois, library. On August 23, Martin confiscated and discarded copies of the August 22 Reader’s Guide, a suburban alternative newsweekly.The headline on the cover featured a 12-letter expletive prominently above a story about a toll-free phone number that invites callers to swear into a voice mailbox. The story also reported on the history of vulgarities and contained several obscenities and expletives. Two days earlier, a patron removed 15–20 copies of the paper from the front circulation desk. According to Library Director Fred Byergo, staffers placed additional copies in the adult fiction room. “I think the publication has enough good information in it to be worthy of display in the library,” Byergo said in the August 27 Arlington Heights Daily Herald. “We took what action we thought appropriate to keep it from being seen by young children.” The board did not discuss the matter at its September 2 meeting, as Martin and another trustee were absent due to prior commitments. Board President Ed Abderholden said that it would be discussed at the September 16 meeting. In comments to the Daily Herald Abderholden did criticize the patron and Martin for destroying the newspapers instead of asking for a review according to library policy. Posted September 8, 2003. |
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