I’m not sure what all of the fuss is about. There is a book called Final Exit that has been out for years that goes into methods, I believe. It is in our library as we speak. I have to be honest and say that I haven’t even glanced through either book, so I don’t know if we are talking about the same issues.

Would I purchase Peaceful Pill Handbook? I suppose that would be an option. Would I have some qualms? Yes. But my decision would still have to be based on what will circulate. I see that it has been on the bestseller list. Does that mean that a lot of people want to know how to do themselves in? I don’t think so. But it does make me wonder if it would also be a high circulating book, although it has been shown that bestseller and most borrowed lists are often quite different.

I am sure that if someone really wants to end their life, there are a myriad of ways and lots of information on the internet. It’s like learning to build a bomb. If you look hard enough, you can find the information.

Other books that make me squirm are about the notorious killer couple Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo who terrorized the local area as young girls went missing. It is just too close to home to want to read these graphic stories.
http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorious/bernardo/index_1.html

However, the reality is that even if we don’t have certain books, they are available through Interlibrary Loan, making any title from anywhere in Canada available to our patrons.

Take the “Banned Book Challenge.”
http://pelhamlibrary.blogspot.com/2007/02/take-banned-book-challenge.html

A friend who tried to kill himself told me that he “just wanted to end the pain” – emotional, not physical. I would be concerned about young people, maybe young women with low self esteem – who “didn’t want to be any trouble” – choosing a gentle way to end life, and finding methods in the book. Then again, if they are determined to do themselves in, and will do it by whatever means possible, maybe it’s actually compassionate to provide the information.

I think you are right. Discussions about euthanasia should be had, and not just in whispers when the kids have gone to bed.

I think the need to acquire current, relevant resources on this subject far outweighs the risks in this particular case. But it is a really good question to be asking, and suicide among young males is an important issue to keep in mind in your position. As former philosophy student and depressive, I appreciate your sensitivity.

I think, though, that most young males do not ‘euthanase’ themselves in the way that Dr Nitshke addresses . Youth suicide is culturally embedded in youth culture – drug and alcohol abuse, cars, etc – and, most awfully, in more dramatic and horrible ways of ending life. The book isn’t going to provide them with some technique they had been crucially lacking. I don’t think those who attempt suicide do much research. In fact, if I found this book on my child’s floor, I’d be less worried. The philosophy of euthanasia (‘good death’) is intimately and conceptually connected to ideas about the value and preciousness of life, and how people in totally different circumstances (the old and physically ill) have to consider their existence.

Let’s run it through your filter….1)Yes – ethics course 2)Alternative – hard to find and probably on the “hidden net” 3) Seeking input would be step one 4) Wouldn’t do it for something like this…even if I had absolute leeway, I’d still want to chat to someone in the library about what they thought.

Anyone can request restricted materials, as far as I know. I guess having it on restricted access is better than not having it at all. A more pragmatic reason is that this is the type of book that always goes missing (along with the witchcraft, world war two and sex books).

I agree, it’s an interesting mental exercise..I may just run it past the ethics lecturer and see what questions she has in her toolkit for dealing with this type of dilemma.

If I decide to acquire the item, but still have concerns over access, I’d put some “restrictions” or “controls” in place, e.g. available to all, but upon request. I presume only library members have the right to request?

I must qualify that I don’t know enough about your workplace, customer’s needs & expectations, work-culture, privacy policy etc. I’m just using your post as a good excuse for a brief mental exercise

Although, you have to fill in a form with your personal details to do that…and is it any of our business?

I think there’s an entire blog post in that one