Response to Scenarios

Scenario Six: Natural Cures "They" Don't Want You to Know About:

So, this book contains bad, inaccurate personal health information. Yet, on the other hand, it is staggeringly popular. What is the responsibility of a public library? Should this book be removed from the collection?

From your patron: “How could the library make
available so dangerous a book as this to the community? It is irresponsible to
allow for such inaccurate information to exist on the shelf unlabeled as
such."

The library doesn't evaluate the information contained within books - we can't read all of the books we buy, for instance, although we strive to maintain a balanced collection of material. We purchase items based on several criteria, including customer demand and attention the book has received from critics/media as well as accuracy and authority. Because this book is a bestseller and highly in demand at this point in time, it is appropriate for the library to purchase copies of it.

If there comes a time five or so years from now when this book is no longer popular, then our weeding guidelines will help to determine that it should be replaced by something more current and accurate. Publicity derived from the book's inaccuracies will help make that determination. In the meantime, a possible idea the library could adopt is a standard sign or form stating that the library is not responsible for the use of health information contained within its materials and that it is not responsible for the accuracy of all the information contained within the collection. I don't know if this is too flippant or informal a response, but it works for me