Chipa Guazu' (Paraguay)

When something happens in my life that really burns me up I have a few go to coping techniques. I might run a few miles. I cook, usually something with lots of butter and sugar. Or I write, as you know if you follow the blog. So when we had a nasty incident at the library yesterday I posted on Facebook and received an overwhelmingly supportive response, and today I wrote the letter posted below. There was an apology in my in my inbox within an hour from the manager of the library, so I burned off the rest of my ire with a batch of Chipa Guazu', scalloped corn.

I advocate for my kids as best I can, in words they understand, because I want them to know that Mom has their back. Someday, I won't be with them, and I want them to advocate for themselves, maybe with the words I gave them in the library next to the check out desk and a stack of Super Man comics.

THE LETTER
My family and I are regular patrons of the Northeast library. We come every week to check out books, sometimes twice, and spend time reading as a family. One of the reasons we love this library is because it is one of the most diverse places in all of Minneapolis, which is important to us given our children are Ethiopian and Thai.

Last night during our routine visit I was absolutely shocked and angered by the actions of one of the staff members of the Northeast library, and even as I write this I am in tears. At the help desk, the employee helping to check out our books sternly rebuked my five year old son, in my presence, for looking at books on a cart. These happened to be books we had just returned (that were checked in upon my request so we didn’t go over our limit) and my son wanted to tell the librarian about what he had read. I told the man that my son was fine and not causing any trouble, but he again told my son to stop and to move away from the cart. I again told the man that my son was just fine, but he continued to berate both of us. A second employee, a woman, actually asked this man to stop speaking to us this way, but he did not.

Yes, this employee of the Hennepin County Libraries told my well behaved, highly inquisitive, supervised, book loving child NOT to touch superhero books available for check out. This type of behavior by a staff member needs to be dealt with immediately. I chose to remove my son from this man’s presence, but went back and firmly and directly told him that my son did not do anything wrong, that his remarks were inappropriate in that I would not let someone like him change my son’s love of the library and reading. He again claimed my son should not have been looking at the books, and I finally turned to the man working at the reference desk, witnessing the exchange, who kindly apologized for the man’s behavior.

I cannot help but wonder if this man’s actions were a racially motivated, and it causes me to wonder how he speaks to and treats other children of color who find the public library a safe and magical place to explore their own love of reading. Luckily, my son had his parent to advocate for him, but many children come to the library on their own and may have their understanding of how the library works damaged by this man’s inappropriate words and actions.

I would like to know how the library plans to address this situation with the employee. I look forward to hearing a reply.