So, this is the second time I've caught who I'm convinced is the same person (based on the handwriting), defacing MG books at my library. I first noticed this in a different book I checked out and read in June. This reader carefully, meticulously whites out swear words, and inserts non-swear equivalents, directly in the text.
Dear Serial Book Defacer and Censor,
When I first noticed the damage you'd done to the other book, I thought you nothing more than a one-time annoyance. I could still figure out what the original language was, no problem, and it was only one book.
But now I see you're more like a serial criminal -- you've gotten away with it, so you're back again, impacting my reading experience. To parody a Nike commercial -- Just Stop Doing It.
The MC in this book swears, and I get that you don't think curse words belong in MG literature. But you don't get to make that decision for me, or my kids. We decide what we read, not you. If I don't like a swear word in a book, I'll find another book to read. There are plenty on the shelves to choose from.
I'm reporting your defacement and asking the library to order new, uncensored copies. Because I -- and library patrons all over the city -- deserve to be able to read the book without you imposing your sense of what's right on our literature choices.
It isn't until the final defacement in the book that you give a clue as to your motivation. In a description of the evolution of the seven worst stinks in the history of Earth, you cross out the words "millions," as in years, twice. I also noticed you don't like it when the authors use the word "God" in the text (see whited out example). I think perhaps you're a God-fearing person who is imposing your idea of what (according to your faith) is right on all other readers of this text, whether they share your faith or not.
You know others do not share your beliefs, otherwise you wouldn't feel a need to deface the book in the first place. So here's your solution -- Buy your own copy, for your own library, and do what you want to it. That's your business. Stop defacing and censoring the public copies.
I'm on the lookout for you now. And I read from my public library-- a lot. Every time I find a book you've defaced, I'm taking it straight to the head librarian and getting it discarded and a new copy ordered.
