[Publib] FW: inappropriate language

[Mark Arend]

Good afternoon, 

One of our member directors has asked me one that has me stumped.  How do you deal with inappropriate language when you can't understand the language being spoken?

Here's how she states the problem:


> Has anyone in the system, ever compiled a list of Spanish swear words?
> I have a list from a local year round Spanish speaker, but she is
> already a generation removed from the most current slang, so I need
> something more.
> 
> Here is why:
> 
> Just last week, a teen boy was being rude to our staff. Beside using
> English swear words, he also used Spanish swear words he learned from
> some of the migrants last summer.  While talking to my staff about
> this, I discovered that these same migrant teens were saying these
> things to our teen student worker. It was confirmed by another patron
> who heard this. (I kicked him out for a year.)
> 
> I have several concerns and need help.
> 
> I would like to prevent it from happening again. I plan on taking the
> online Spanish class which starts the beginning of each month. But
> there is no live person, and I inquired about Spanish swear words, and
> Anna Palmer directed me back to my board, my system and the police.
> 
> If our student worker is getting verbally harassed while in the
> library, what are the issues if she walks out of the library at the end
> of the day going to her car and the same boys, or anyone really,
> confront her in any way outside of our building--are we responsible for
> her protection just to the door, her car? We only have city parking, no
> library parking.
> 
> When the Spanish words were said in English I would think they would
> constitute sexual harassment, disorderly conduct, at least. So I can
> kick them out for sure. But what if we don't know what they are saying,
> and we smile sweetly and ask if they need help.... we are so lame!!!
> 
> Or should we just smile and let it go.



-------------------------------

Mark W. Arend, Assistant Director
Winnefox Library System
106 Washington Ave.
Oshkosh, WI  54901
(920) 236-5222           fax: (920) 236-5228

mailto:arend at winnefox.org                 http://www.winnefox.org/


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