Portland Library Board To Discuss Behavior Policy

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Portland Library Board To Discuss Behavior Policy is an article which appeared in the online edition of the Hartford Courant, a daily newspaper published in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.

The article, dated September 13, 2012, was written by Katherine Ogden. It discusses furries, and whether any fursuiters happening to visit the Portland Library would run afoul of the library's rules against face coverings. The original text of the article read:[1]

   
Portland Library Board To Discuss Behavior Policy
Portland Library Board To Discuss Behavior Policy

Possible Visits By 'Furries' Sparks Debate

By KATHERINE OGDEN, Special to the Courant The Hartford Courant

10:57 a.m. EDT, September 13, 2012
PORTLAND –— People who cover their faces for religious reasons are welcome to enjoy the Portland Library, but folks who might want to visit dressed up as an otter, bear or other furry animal might run afoul of the rules.

So says library Director Janet Nocek, who is asking the board of directors to review its behavior policy in light of recent visits to other libraries by "furries" — people who dress up in costumes and visit public places.

"Face coverings at the library are not permitted except for religious reasons," Nocek said.

Furries, as they are nicknamed, are people who like to don fur suits or other costumes and otherwise remake themselves into an animals that have human characteristics. Devotees enjoy a thriving community both on online and in the real world – annual conventions are now held in Pittsburgh, Pa., after outgrowing the venue in Albany, N.Y.

The trend may be gaining ground after members of Taylor Swift's band dressed up as furry mascots when they performed at the MTV Video Music Awards earlier this month. Such mascots have also appeared in Swift's videos.

"I had never heard of it," Nocek said. "I looked it up on the Internet."

So far, furries have not visited the Portland library, but Nocek said she decided to make board members and staff aware of library rules after the issue came up elsewhere. She said library policy prohibits visits from people in disguise, or with head coverings other than religious.

Nocek said she wants to head off any potential problems before they arise, such as a person hanging around in the children's room looking cute. A child or family at the library might mistakenly think a person dressed in a costume was part of a library program.

"They might look enticing to children," Nocek said. "I just thought we best discuss it, before anyone gets surprised, to make sure we are on the same page. "

The meeting is tonight at 7 at Portland Library, 20 Freestone Ave.

   
Portland Library Board To Discuss Behavior Policy

By the afternoon, the article had been lengthened and its title changed to 'Furries' Not Welcome At Portland Library.[2] The new version also included a photo of people in animal costumes, taken at a 2008 Japanese fashion show.

The revised text read:

   
Portland Library Board To Discuss Behavior Policy
'Furries' Not Welcome At Portland Library

A visit by 'Furry' To Enfield Library Leads Portland To Affirm Its Behavior Policy

{image}

Furries are fans of dressing up as animals.

By KATHERINE OGDEN, Special to the Courant The Hartford Courant

10:28 p.m. EDT, September 13, 2012
PORTLAND ——

The library's board of directors voted Thursday to affirm its dress and behavior policy after hearing about an incident at another library in which a costumed visitor showed up — a "furry" — who was then approached by a child.

The directors agreed that their policy is that no one can enter the library with their face obscured unless it's for religious or medical reasons, and that proper attire, including shirts and shoes must be worn.

"Face coverings at the library are not permitted except for religious reasons," said Library Director Janet Nocek, adding: "We're not picking on furries."

Furries, as they are nicknamed, call themselves '"anthropomorphs" and trace their roots to science fiction conventions in the early 1980s. They are people who like to don fur suits or other costumes and otherwise remake themselves into animals that have human characteristics.

Devotees enjoy a thriving community both on online and in the real world. Annual conventions are now held in Pittsburgh after outgrowing a venue in Albany, N.Y.

In Connecticut, a Halloween-themed anthropomorphic convention is planned for Oct. 26-28 in Cromwell.

The trend may be gaining ground after members of Taylor Swift's band dressed up as furry mascots when they performed at the MTV Video Music Awards earlier this month. Such mascots have also appeared in Swift's videos.

"I had never heard of it," Nocek said. "I looked it up on the Internet."

So far, furries have not visited the Portland library, but Nocek said she decided to make board members and staff aware of library rules after a concern came up in Enfield.

Enfield Library Director Henry Dutcher could not be reached for comment Thursday, but a discussion held on a Connecticut libraries listserv site shows that he solicited other librarians for help after at least one person dressed in a furry costume visited his building on Aug. 27.

Dutcher said the goal is to keep libraries welcoming for everyone, even furries, but some library patrons have been disturbed.

"Most importantly, some children are fascinated by them," Dutcher wrote. "Last night one child took one of their 'paws,' just like they would at Disney World, without hesitation and was led away by them, thankfully still in the library and our staff happened to observe it and kept an eye on them."

Nocek said she wants to head off any potential problems before they arise, such as a person hanging around in the children's room looking cute. A child or family at the library might mistakenly think a person dressed in a costume was part of a library program.

"They might look enticing to children," Nocek said. "I just thought we best discuss it, before anyone gets surprised, to make sure we are on the same page. "

   
Portland Library Board To Discuss Behavior Policy

References[edit]

  1. "Portland Library Board To Discuss Behavior Policy - Possible Visits By 'Furries' Sparks Debate" - thread by Higgs Raccoon, on the   furrymedia community on LiveJournal. Dated September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012
  2. "'Furries' Not Welcome At Portland Library" on www.courant.com. Dated September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2012

External links[edit]