Librarian's Firing Causes Uproar

Parents, library staff defend director—but what did he do?

By Lauren Barack -- School Library Journal, 11/1/2005

Nobody in Poseyville, IN, knows why library director Stanley Campbell got the ax—except for the library board that fired him. But they’re not talking.

Campbell, who spent eight years as director of the Poseyville Carnegie Public Library, was asked to resign on September 13 following a board meeting. Since he wasn’t given a reason, he declined and was subsequently dismissed.

Campbell’s part-time assistant, who doubles as the library’s janitor, quit in protest, as did the library’s eight volunteers. As a result, the library remains closed because there’s no one to run it.

While all seven board members are remaining tight-lipped about the firing, some have alluded to an objectionable book that was in the children’s section and kids being allowed to play inappropriate video games. A few months before Campbell’s dismissal, a parent complained that his 14-year-old had checked out Strange Attractions (Berkley, 2004) by Emma Holly from the children’s section. Although the book involves a high school dropout, it deals with erotic sex games. Campbell promptly moved it to the adult section.

Campbell also allowed kids to play computer games, which some board members found offensive. Dollz Mania, for instance, lets kids dress animated dolls—some of which are nude. The board eventually voted to remove eight video games from the library that they found objectionable.

Campbell says the mislabeled book was a sincere mistake, and video games attract kids to the library. Since his arrival, Campbell says monthly patron visits have shot up to 604 from 75, impressive for a town of only 5,200 people.

Despite all this, parents and students are rallying behind Campbell.