I am writing this for all the romance readers who don’t go to the library in the first place because they don’t expect to find romance novels in the collection, and if they do, they are afraid the person behind the counter will look down on them for their reading choices.
I am writing this for one of my patrons who asked for author recommendations in hushed tones, then told me she sneaks the books home in bags, hides them, and reads them in secret because her family makes fun of her for reading them.
I am writing this for men who feel they have to send their wives in to pick up the romance novels, because as we all know, men don’t read these kinds of books.
I am writing this because of the bookstore clerk who had a very loud discussion with another clerk about how she had read “one of those romance books”, and it was nothing but pornography, and what kind of person would read that kind of junk. I’m sure the women standing in the romance aisle that day felt very comfortable.
I am writing this because of the professional librarians who have said in effect “Well, we don’t read those kinds of books, but the patrons sure like them!”
I am writing this because up until recently, our library system didn’t even catalog romance novels. When they were finally cataloged (just like real books), the staff were amazed at how much they circulated.
I am writing this because I want to defend the right to read… for everyone. The romance genre is vast. There is, quite literally, a book for every taste. Romance novels tell stories that entertain, educate, and bring joy to readers. It is literature written by women, for women, about women. Anytime we, as librarians, deny access to these books either by not buying them for the library, or by putting people off because of our attitude at the check-out counter, we alienate the very people we are trying to serve. Think about it!
I am writing this because the people closest to me are tired of my rants on this subject every time another person, who has obviously never read a romance novel in their whole life, writes yet another condescending article about “bodice rippers” and the frumpy bon-bon eating housewives who read them. In future posts, I’ll get into the stereotypes, and why they are wrong…I have statistics and everything! With this blog, I can rant to the whole world! I can hardly wait to get started!
I am writing this for one of my patrons who asked for author recommendations in hushed tones, then told me she sneaks the books home in bags, hides them, and reads them in secret because her family makes fun of her for reading them.
I am writing this for men who feel they have to send their wives in to pick up the romance novels, because as we all know, men don’t read these kinds of books.
I am writing this because of the bookstore clerk who had a very loud discussion with another clerk about how she had read “one of those romance books”, and it was nothing but pornography, and what kind of person would read that kind of junk. I’m sure the women standing in the romance aisle that day felt very comfortable.
I am writing this because of the professional librarians who have said in effect “Well, we don’t read those kinds of books, but the patrons sure like them!”
I am writing this because up until recently, our library system didn’t even catalog romance novels. When they were finally cataloged (just like real books), the staff were amazed at how much they circulated.
I am writing this because I want to defend the right to read… for everyone. The romance genre is vast. There is, quite literally, a book for every taste. Romance novels tell stories that entertain, educate, and bring joy to readers. It is literature written by women, for women, about women. Anytime we, as librarians, deny access to these books either by not buying them for the library, or by putting people off because of our attitude at the check-out counter, we alienate the very people we are trying to serve. Think about it!
I am writing this because the people closest to me are tired of my rants on this subject every time another person, who has obviously never read a romance novel in their whole life, writes yet another condescending article about “bodice rippers” and the frumpy bon-bon eating housewives who read them. In future posts, I’ll get into the stereotypes, and why they are wrong…I have statistics and everything! With this blog, I can rant to the whole world! I can hardly wait to get started!
Written August 2010
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