Living in Columbia, I am well aware that I am in the distinct minority when it comes to being on the right side political spectrum. With that in mind, when I go to the Howard County Library to check out a new book written by or about someone on the right side of political spectrum and it is evident by the title of the book, I fully expect to get the occasional eye roll or head shake by the person checking me out at the counter. Let’s just say this has happened multiple times in the past.

Anyway, a new book by Jonah Goldberg from the National Review came out called “Liberal Fascism”. I don’t normally read polemics since I find them tedious and boring and learn little from them, but this book has been getting great reviews and based on the fact that I had to put a reserve on the book at the Library, I am not the only one who is interested in this book. SO I finally got word the book was available and went to the Central Library to pick it up. The women behind the counter gets the book and reads the front of it while she is walking back. Here is the cover of the book.

As she sits back on her stool, she makes the comment (and I paraphrase):

“So are you going to read David Horowitz to get some balance?”

Somewhat taken aback by the comment, I asked her to repeat it and she did. Apparently she was clueless this book was written from a right-leaning point of view and David Horowitz is also a conservative, which made her question senseless. I pointed this out to her and then mentioned that she really should not be making editorial comments about people’s book choice while she is representing the Howard County Library. She sort of gave me a head shake and look of disdain. Then I mentioned that if she knew anything about this book, she would have realize Goldberg and Horowitz are on the same side with most issues and that she shouldn’t be making comments like that and walked away. I did not catch her final reaction.

I don’t know what the policy of the Howard County Library system is regarding whether the staff can openly comment about what books people are checking out to their face. It might be one thing for a staff member to mention that they read the book and thought it was good or something generic like that, but to inject a political or editorial statement seems well out of bounds and what should be permitted. I would hope there is some sort of policy at the library that discourages the staff from making editorial comments about the books people are checking out. Interestingly, the staff member’s comment above almost implies she was a conservative herself, so it is not like I complaining about liberal bias in this instance. Just the fact that the type of comment that was made is what caused it to be uncomfortable and somewhat angered me.

Let me just state this is not a criticism of the Howard County Library System itself as I find it to be a wonderful system that I use regularly and will continue to use as long as I am a resident. This is a rare regrettable instance, but I think the Library needs to make sure their staff is not criticizing or editorializing on people’s choice of books openly.