Just days removed from being announced as the first Scottish writer to become the Children’s Literature Laureate of the UK, Julia Donaldson has put her foot in it. The Herald Scotland reports:

“I thought it was a shame when so many computers were brought into libraries – adults using them for playing card games, teenagers looking at [questionable] websites, I thought that was a mistake,” she told The Herald.

“At the time [as computers were being installed] I said we needed to have more children’s writing specialists.

“I might get into hot water by saying this, but I would love to see more [investment] going into stocking children’s titles, even at the expense of adult sections. But part of my job is to create a stink.”

It’s important to note that the “hot water” in this situation is of a comparatively cool temperature, and by “put her foot in it” is meant to say that the Children’s Laureate has made a mild faux pas. Especially considering some of the recent scandals that are simmering out there right now. It’s also not the intention of this post to portray Donaldson as some sort of Luddite children’s advocate or as a anti-library reactionary. Donaldson loves libraries and in the article laments their nearly universal budgetary troubles of late. She merely doesn’t see the purpose of computers in a library.

I think this little affair does speak to the confusion many have about what libraries provide for their communities. Not only do librarians help in traditional research but also in cases where the internet illiterate need to find information on the web. Another thing to keep in mind is that although some abuse a library’s internet offerings for online (or offline) card games there is still a very real need for some citizens to have access to the internet to obtain forms, search job listings and do other more day-to-day things. These are the fundamental services that do not always get discussed when city councils talk about budget cuts.

And as to teenagers looking at questionable material online all needs to be said is that teenagers have been sneaking a look at “questionable” material in libraries for a lot longer than the internet’s lifespan. National Geographic anyone?