Young borrowers (Library) to have neat handwriting, or no card

[The Straight Story]

Young borrowers to have neat handwriting, or no card

“Earlier this week my wife and four and a half year old son went to the Hoboken Library to sign him up for his first card. The little guy was excited, as he loves books and couldn’t wait for the opportunity to start borrowing materials under his own name. Who would have thought that a public library, the bedrock institution that helps foster reading and passion for literature would turn down a new eager customer?

Well they did, not because of his age, but because of the quality and size of his handwriting. It seems that in order for a child, to be granted a library card from the Hoboken Public Library, that child must be able to print a first and last name on the tiny application. Well our son has been able to write his full name for quite some time, it just wasn’t neat enough for the high standards of the Hoboken Public Library. As he eagerly filled out the paperwork, the children’s librarian looked over his shoulder and said: “My boss in never going to accept that.”

Needless to say, my child was devastated. Thanks Hoboken.

My wife called several libraries in the area, including Millburn, Maplewood, Summit and Ridgewood, to find out what their policies are. Every librarian she spoke with was appalled by HPL’s policy. One went so far as to say that the story was heartbreaking, and the policy archaic, the kind of thing that was done away with forty years ago.

http://hoboken411.com/archives/16081

[graywarrior]

1. Hire a nun to teach him the Palmer Method

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palmer_Method

[BlooInBloo]

6. WOOT! Almost time to see the Freeing Of The Duck!!!!

[graywarrior]

8. Err....ahh...well, you see...it's like this....

I don't have an avatar equall to the duck

[BlooInBloo]

9. you PROMISED!!!!!!

MOOOOMM!!!!!!

[graywarrior]

10. I lie.

Like a rug.

[BlooInBloo]

11. All the powers of DU peer-pressure will be brought to bear...

and sternly-worded letters as well!

[graywarrior]

12. I could be bought.

[Bucky]

19. My only request... play free bird!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mioGewkWVdo

[graywarrior]

22. I'm not moved.

:hi:

[rug]

16. Use this you waffler.

[tabatha]

2. That is just dumb.

I know really smart people who have terrible handwriting.

[The Straight Story]

5. We shouldn't let people who can't spell on DU

There wouldn't be many folks here, including myself at times :)

[Igel]

25. Eye no wot ewe mien. n/t

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. wtf!?

How stupid.

[MineralMan]

4. Insist on seeing the Branch Head Librarian and demand that

your child be able to check out materials. If you get flack from that person, escalate to the Head Librarian for the system. If you get flack from that person, see your city council member. If that doesn't work, contact the local newspaper's city desk. Don't let them do this crap to you. I guarantee you'll get satisfaction.

[Gidney N Cloyd]

13. I'm sure there's an elected board, too.

[MineralMan]

14. You're probably right, but I doubt it will go beyond

the Branch Head Librarian. This sounds like a cretin with a rectocranial problem to me. Such things are generally cleared up quickly when Mom gets assertive.

[PM7nj]

7. In Hoboken? Seriously?

That is crazy.

[MineralMan]

15. When I was 6 years old,

I could no longer stand the books in the children's section. My parents had taught me to read at about age 3, so I was reading way beyond my grade level by that time. The librarian refused to check out any books to me that were from anywhere but the kiddy section when our school took its weekly trip to the library.

I told my mother, who marched down to the library with me in tow, and explained to the librarian, who was a nasty old wizened person, that I was to be able to check out whatever materials I chose. The librarian took umbrage, and my mom went into a different gear on the subject.

Suffice it to say that I could check out anything in the place after that. You did not mess with my mother when she shifted into third gear. :bounce:

[RamboLiberal]

27. If neat handwriting had been needed I'd have been screwed

I was much like you. I loved to check out adult non-fiction books. I remember reading Nader's book "Unsafe at Any Speed" probably around 5th or 6th grade.

[David in Canada]

17. Re:Poor Handwriting

I myself learned to read at a young age and at 27 years of age, still write like a six year old. I am, coincidentally, left-handed and writing in a "neat" manner can become painful after a short period of time.

[Libertyfirst]

18. We may fudge things a bit to help our kids get their card. Don't those

people understand how important this is in the life of a child. My family established a fund so that our Library can take each child's picture and provide them with a magnet picture frame that says, "I got my first Library card." A library card sets you free in a way a driver's license never will.

[madmom]

20. When I was in young I wrote what they called backhand, my slant went back instead of forward, my

teacher at the time insisted i change it to the "right" way. Today my handwriting is a sloppy mix of both and if I'm in a hurry almost illegible. Thanks Mrs.Wills!

[surrealAmerican]

21. If you can find a copy of this book, try getting it for your son:

ROSA-TOO-LITTLE by Sue Felt (1950)
It's about a kid who works to get her first library card.

[MountainLaurel]

23. I'm guessing the point isn't actually the handwriting

But more of parents who get library cards for kids who are too young to take care of books. Then when the fines rack up, the parent denies responsibility. There are also some strange privacy issues that come into play.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

24. That childrens' librarian

needs a serious upbraiding and you parents and son need a heartfelt apology.

[uppityperson]

26. my young adult/kid just showed me library card from when was 5 or 6

Handed it to me, silently, watched as I turned it over and smiled at the "signature". I put it away in keepsake box for when is an older adult and wants kid stuff back.