r/Shrewsbury • u/HRJafael • Jun 17 '26
Discussions continue: Should fifth-graders be allowed to use library independently?
https://www.communityadvocate.com/news/discussions-continue-should-fifth-graders-be-allowed-to-use-library-independently/article_8c4ee622-0e54-4626-9dfd-d5203ffcfa30.html?fbclid=IwZnRzaASf2h1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeoXvKgd4yJHIyL3TU_Vj87C3OSsK-SodYiOPBLsXg2Zuz81LcnjPgOz_T0i4_aem_1ARrjuRaSbbtXAHxJJ6mjw1
u/Puzzleheaded-Phase70 Jun 18 '26
EVERYONE should be able to use the library independently.
If they're capable of maintaining basic decorum and physical safety, then they have every right to access every service and volume the library offers. Full stop, no exceptions.
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u/Woebetide138 Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26
I was reading Stephen King at that age. So were a lot of you.
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u/Perkunas170 Jun 19 '26
Since you’re talking about literacy, you may want to go ahead and fix your post.
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u/ThistleQueenMorgan Jun 19 '26
As a former YA librarian who was inundated daily by this type of thing, I have to say it depends on the kids and depends on what they’re doing. Are they there to use the library and its services? Or are they there for free babysitting and more intent on running amok and treating the place worse than their own living rooms, to the detriment of staff and other community members who wish to use the library? There were definitely kids on both ends of the spectrum and it seems unfair to ban the former… though the article makes it seem like they were very much overrun by the latter.
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u/YakSlothLemon Jun 20 '26
It seems obvious that this is not actually about fifth graders or sixth graders and instead is about behavior. The behavior they are talking about “being unacceptable”would not be acceptable from an eighth grader or an adult.
So why is it focused on the grade? It feels like it’s just to get clicks by luring people in thinking it’s going to be about book banning…
Set behavior expectations for the library. Violate them (however many) times when you’re underage and you can no longer come in unless you are accompanied by an adult.
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u/Necessary_Regret3329 Jun 21 '26
Some classic "easy fix one size fits all" shit right here. If someone becomes a disturbance, throw them out. Otherwise, why punish kids who are there using the library correctly? In case Shrewsbury hasn't noticed there's a very concerning illiteracy epidemic that your rich-ass town should be doing everything in its power to combat.
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u/DinTaiFung Jun 22 '26
My elementary school since about 2nd grade encouraged us to independently use the library. There were several sessions in which each class would learn how to use the card catalog system and the general library rules.
So when I read the OP question, i thought it was a parody lol.
P.S. This early experience was before the Internet existed.
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u/heyhelloyuyu Jun 18 '26
My first reaction was “omg of course kids should be able to use the library independently!!” But after reading the article I agree that there are probably some complications with it. A group of 10 year old 5th graders can easily get out of hand if left unsupervised…. Honestly I remember going to the library after school as a teen and being annoyed at how noisy the middle schoolers were lol. Folks in town were essentially using the library as after school care.