[Publib] Boy raped in Boston library...NY Times (subs itoors)

[Mark Furukawa]

Other than making you feel good for being right(eous), how does this article
add to the discussion? The child was attacked in a secluded part of the
library while out of sight of his parent. It does not say whether he was
attacked in the children's area.

We are still left with the moral, ethical and legal question of whether
unaccompanied adults should be excluded from the children's area, and
whether this would be an effective security measure. The suspect has been
raping children since he was twelve, so barring adults from the children's
area does not guarantee children's safety. Being a parent does not
automatically make an adult trustworthy - child predators can be married
with children, they can be female, they can be librarians, they can be law
enforcement officers. Who's left to allow into the children's room?

And, as I'm sure you can attest, subs itoors, not only children are attacked
in libraries. Do you suggest that we bar everyone from the library unless
they can give a satisfactory reason for being there because they *might*
commit a crime?

It's 'nice' that people feel the library is a safe place, but the reality
(as you so bluntly stated) is bad things happen anywhere, any time. We need
to make reasoned efforts at security but absolute safety is an unattainable
goal. Finally, no matter how 'safe' a place is, each individual has the
responsibility to be alert and security-conscious for themselves and those
in their care.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Mark Furukawa, Branch Head
Calumet Township Branches
of Lake County Public Library
940 N. Broad St.
Griffith, IN 46319-1528 (USA)
mfurukawa(at)lakeco.lib.in.us
http://www.lakeco.lib.in.us/griffith.htm
http://www.lakeco.lib.in.us/blackoak.htm
http://www.lakeco.lib.in.us/fortyfirst.htm
     May I deal with honor,
     May I act with courage,
     May I achieve humility.
                from "Straight"
                by Dick Francis
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