Library complains of crossed-out curses

[The Straight Story]

Library complains of crossed-out curses

COLUMBIA, Tenn., Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Workers at a Tennessee library said someone has been using blue ink to completely scratch out curse words from books in the collection.

Maury County Library director Elizabeth Potts said dozens of books have been discovered with blue ink marks where profanities used to be, including what she referred to as an "f-word" in the "9/11 Commission Report," The Daily Herald, Columbia, Tenn., reported Tuesday.

Employees estimated 50-100 books have been targeted by the language-cleansing vandal.

"It bothers me because nobody is holding a gun to their head making them read these books," Potts said. "If they don't like them, they should just return them."

"This person is evidently offended by these words," she said. "I'm more offended by (the suspect)."

http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/10/27/Library-complains-of-crossed-out-curses/UPI-15201256669992/

[dysfunctional press]

1. they should check-out the check-out stats for all those books...

and look for a common name.

but then- the person could be doing it on the shelves, or at a carrel, without checking them out.

[Lars39]

2. I've got a fundy nutjob SIL who did this.

I think she limits her reading now to only religious books and the bible, though.

[damntexdem]

6. The Bible? Doesn't she find plenty in there to cross out?

A lot of sex and violence, and a bit of cursing, in there. ;-)

[Lars39]

8. You'd think she would!

But alas,no hope for her;she's too far gone.

[madinmaryland]

3. My maternal ancestors came from Maury County.

There are none left there now, and I haven't been there in more than 35 years.

That is bizarre. I suppose that could happen anywhere, though. Whackadoodles seem to be everywhere.

[gratuitous]

4. If the books have been checked out, should be easy enough to trace

If someone's wielding their little blue pen in the library itself, the staff should keep an eye peeled. This is vandalism, plain and simple, every bit as offensive as taggers marking buildings and fences that don't belong to them. The offending party should be apprehended and required to pay for every book defaced. This is just fucked up.

[MineralMan]

5. We had one of those at the library where I used to volunteer.

I did the detective work, and discovered who it was. We then watched the next books that patron checked out, and, sure enough, it was him.

A visit from the Sheriff's department got the message across and he never darkened the library door again. Creepy guy, too.

[seabeyond]

7. i have had ONE book. was sad. nt