This comes from the "What Is She Thinking?" file. The head librarian in Cheshire, CT, had a dilemma. Should she buy the book written by one of the alleged murderers of the Petit family (who were murdered at their residence in Cheshire), or should she ban the book from the library?
Well, "ban" is a strong word, but couldn't she have had some integrity and simply not purchased the book? I published a novel in 2002. I had a few thousands readers who simply loved the book and got it into many libraries, including Connecticut libraries. While I do not have the resources to look up every copy in every library in Connecticut, I can easily guarantee that not every library in Connecticut chose to buy the book. I guarantee it.
A woman and her two daughters were murdered in the same town whose library would hold the book. Does their husband and father really need to know that his town bought the book illustrating the entire heinous crime? Does the librarian really feel the need to buy the book so that those who are interested in reading all the sordid details can be appeased or would it be acceptable for her to simply refrain from buying the book?
Integrity in the face of adversity is a beautiful thing. This library really should try it in this instance.
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