[Publib] FW: inappropriate language

[Robert Balliot]

I don't think this question is about inappropriate language, it is about
sexual
harrassment.  The language issue is merely a twist on a theme.

If a staff member is being sexually harrassed or abused by a patron, remove
the patron.    If you perceive a threat, have the staff exit the building
together -
there is safety in gaggles. If the staff member is assaulted in the parking
lot,
have the patron arrested.

Where I used to work, we always made sure that when we locked up, we
exited the building as a group.  No incidents in eight years of doing that.

You should  be cautious as a group rather than fearful as individuals.

RB

On Thu, Feb 19, 2009 at 5:29 PM, Mark Arend <Arend at winnefox.org> wrote:

> 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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