LIBRARY BOOKS: Parents should decide what their children read

A recent column entitled “Library sophistry” is a stark example of sophistry — fallacious reasoning — by the author of the column who claims to have common sense. The column recites how it is imperative for parents to guide and protect children, and that “parents and only parents” should control the rate and degree to which their children are subjected to adult materials.

No one seriously disagrees with such a proposition.

But then the author’s fallacious reasoning is exposed. He wants someone else, the library (the government), or someone with his biases, to determine what books are available for children. He claims, without proof, that the library has allowed an “influx” — large numbers — of materials in the children’s section of the library that deal with what he is biased against, “adult sexuality.” He believes, without proof, if a child is exposed to the types of books he is biased against, the child may be traumatized.

Some parents have biases against other types of books, for instance, those that deal with religions different from their own, or witchcraft (such as Harry Potter books).

Some parents don’t want anyone to control or limit what their children may read. So who makes the choices?

The common sense answer is that we let professional librarians make a wide variety of books available for the public. Then, parents and only parents, choose which books their children may read, not political personalities who use fallacious reasoning to try to impose their biases on the community.

The opinion expressed is that of the author only and does not reflect the opinion of the Board of Trustees of the Coeur d’Alene Public Library.

STEVE McCREA, Trustee Coeur d’Alene Public Library

Coeur d’Alene