[Publib] Religion at the library

[Judy A]

How about something simple like "Thank you for wanting to share your 
religion with me. However, I am at work and this discussion is taking me 
away from my work duties. Can I help you find something?"


Judy Anderson
Oregon
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>From: "Katie Knight" <kknight at granvillecounty.org>
>Reply-To: kknight at granvillecounty.org
>To: <publib at webjunction.org>
>Subject: [Publib] Religion at the library
>Date: Wed, 10 May 2006 11:49:41 -0400
>
>Hello Librarians,
>
>Let me begin by saying that I love this list, and have learned a lot from
>participating in this online community.  Today, I have a question that, as
>it concerns religion, may be a touchy subject for some.  But, I do need 
>some
>guidance and look forward to hearing what you all have to say on the 
>matter.
>
>Here's my situation: I'm the reference librarian for a small public library
>in rural North Carolina.  Several of the patrons in my library like to
>express their religious opinions to me, often in a very intense way.  This
>makes me very uncomfortable, however I don't really know how to respond.  I
>respect their beliefs and their right to have these beliefs, but I don't
>wish to dialogue with them about their beleifs or be put in a situation
>while I'm at work where I may have to defend my own beliefs.
>
>So far I've decided to remain silent when I'm addressed about religion (as 
>a
>personal topic, I mean...reference questions about religion are, of course,
>answered as thoroughly as any other question would be).  But, today, 
>someone
>got a little pushy (a preacher, he wanted to tell me about the 10
>commandments...).  He had good intentions, clearly, but still, I felt
>uncomfortable, and didn't know how to respond to intense, well, preaching,
>while I was sitting at the reference desk.  This is not the first time that
>this has happened, nor is he the first patron to attempt to give me
>religious guidance while I'm at work.
>
>Is there a good, diplomatic way to respond to this sort of behavior?  I 
>want
>to remain as respectful as possible, and am at a loss as to how to address
>these kind of situations.
>
>Thanks, everyone,
>
>-Katie
>
>Katie Knight
>Adult Services Librarian
>Granville County Public Library System
>Thornton Library
>210 Main Street
>Oxford, NC 27565
>
>Phone: 919 693-1121
>Fax: 919 693-2244


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