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ITEM: Nine-year-old Spencer Collins opens a small lending library outside his home in Leawood, KS, and is ordered by city authorities to shut it down after a couple of people complain.
BACKGROUND: The library in question was a Little Free Library. The LA Times explains:
According to the story, the Leawood City Council received complaints about it because it violated city regulations regarding illegal structures.
Which to me is just bizarre.
Strange as it sounds, I could understand if people complained because it had a copy of 50 Shades Of Grey or something. I wouldn’t agree with it, but I could at least understand the motivation, compared to someone who sees a little kid running a lending library and says, “YR VIOLATING THE CITY CODE! I’M REPORTING YOU!”
Who does that?
The good news is that Spencer and his family have managed to get a meeting with the city council to argue that the code should be altered to allow Little Lending Libraries. I just can’t get my head around the fact that the meeting is necessary in the first place.
But then we live in an age where cops are shutting down lemonade stands, so I guess it stands to reason. Such as it is.
Zero tolerance,
This is dF
BACKGROUND: The library in question was a Little Free Library. The LA Times explains:
Little Free Libraries are a little like a dollhouse full of books: they sit on a pole or wall or fence, have two or three shelves and may include a protective glass door. An encouraging sign is posted -- "Take a book, return a book" -- prompting people who walk past to take a look and grab something to read.
There are more than 10,000 Little Free Libraries set up around the world. Kits can be ordered online.
There are more than 10,000 Little Free Libraries set up around the world. Kits can be ordered online.
According to the story, the Leawood City Council received complaints about it because it violated city regulations regarding illegal structures.
Which to me is just bizarre.
Strange as it sounds, I could understand if people complained because it had a copy of 50 Shades Of Grey or something. I wouldn’t agree with it, but I could at least understand the motivation, compared to someone who sees a little kid running a lending library and says, “YR VIOLATING THE CITY CODE! I’M REPORTING YOU!”
Who does that?
The good news is that Spencer and his family have managed to get a meeting with the city council to argue that the code should be altered to allow Little Lending Libraries. I just can’t get my head around the fact that the meeting is necessary in the first place.
But then we live in an age where cops are shutting down lemonade stands, so I guess it stands to reason. Such as it is.
Zero tolerance,
This is dF
