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Where Human Decency Meets Professional Standards

I am a part-time children’s librarian in a diverse, small-city public library. I love our patrons and community and have worked to grow programs that welcome as many people as possible. The library recently hired a new children’s department head, who has told me that she doesn’t believe in evolution and doesn’t think public schools are good, and that “Mexicans don’t read.” She talks about religion constantly and has added several creationist “science” books and DVDs to our library collection. I’ve been honest and professional with her when she says things that I don’t agree with. Last week, I unleashed on her, questioning why on earth she’d want to work in a public library given her hostility to science and public institutions. I asked for our director to mediate, but the director seemed appallingly unconcerned. The two of them worked on flattering and placating me, instead of addressing my concerns about her obvious prejudices. I want to quit because the situation is driving me crazy , but I am deeply worried about the fate of our library. What can I do? — J.B.S.

I had never thought to consider the question of whether public libraries carry creationist materials, nor the possibility of my friendly neighborhood librarian’s being a secret racist who hates public education. So, uh, thanks?

I know what I would like to do if I discovered these things about my supervisor and her supervisor didn’t take it seriously, but I thought it best to consult a real working librarian. Lauren Regenhardt, a children’s librarian for Mission Viejo, Calif., told me that the most worrisome part of the question to her was the potential effects on the library’s collection.

“We all have our own individual thoughts and opinions, even if they’re misguided and prejudicial,” she told me. “That can make it challenging to put together a balanced collection, but if the department head is including books on creationism, it is their professional obligation to include materials on evolution.”