By Cheryl Weiss

Photo of the Rochester Hills Library Used Book Sale Room. Photo from http://www.rhpl.org

Wow, what a week it has been!  Since I first posted the story about my experience at the Rochester Hills Library Used Book Sale, it has been read over 1,100 times by people all over the world, including Australia, India, Norway, Japan, France, the UK, Canada, Bulgaria, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Denmark, South Korea, Brazil, and across the United States.   Many people shared this on Facebook, posted responses, and sent me messages with suggestions, words of support, which I very deeply appreciate, as well as a few not so kind comments. I have read through all of it, and thought about everyone’s feedback as I made phone calls, continued to research, and wrote this post.

So what happened?  Have there been any changes?  Did I contact the ADA?  The ACLU?  An attorney?  Yes, no, no, and no.

As I shared on Facebook, what I wanted from all this was to make sure what I experienced at the book sale would not happen to anyone else, especially someone who is not willing or able to speak up for what they need. I wanted change.  I wanted people with disabilities to be respected, not treated like a helpless second class citizen.  Or, as I was referred to, “people like you…”  People like me, and people like each of us should be welcomed to all public places, and treated with respect, regardless of our disabilities.  Even on the last day of a used book sale.  Even then.  That’s how modern society is supposed to work, and fortunately in most places, that’s how it does work.

Part of the research I felt I needed to do was first, find out if the ban on wheelchairs, walkers, scooters, and carts was in fact a safety issue.  Did those items violate codes for fire safety?  No, they did not.  The room is large enough to accommodate them, especially with the wide aisles and open space.  So the rationale of not allowing cluttered aisles with our assorted devices was not a valid one, especially since I was the only person at the sale at that time with any sort of adaptive device.

Next was the ADA issue.  Many of you reading this blog do not know me well, but I’m the kind of person who would much rather solve problems easily and quietly than create a ton of drama around a situation.  However, once a situation I feel is wrong has started, I will finish it and see it through to the end. I was pretty sure that banning walkers, wheelchairs, scooters, and other items people with disabilities need was a violation of the American Disabilities Act, and I was hoping that initially Library Director Christine Hage would say of course they are allowed; when I was told that none of these items were not allowed at the sale on Sunday, that was a mistake and everyone is welcome, regardless of physical abilities or disabilities, even on the last day of the sale.  As you already know, that did not happen when I spoke to her on the phone on Monday.  Contacting the ADA and/or the ACLU  regarding this situation would definitely have accomplished my goals, I am sure, but I hesitated, still hoping this could be resolved among those of us already involved.  In a way, it almost felt like going to the ADA or ACLU was like tattling on an elementary school child being mean to another child.  I could do that, and she would be told to change her policy, but wouldn’t it be better if she could make that decision on her own?  So, I held off on contacting them to see how this would unfold.

I had absolutely no intention of contacting a lawyer.  I was angry, absolutely, but there was truly nothing I could sue for, nor do I want or need that kind of stress in my life!  I did not want anything personally except to fix this for the people who are in the same situation next time.  I didn’t want anyone else to go to the Rochester Hills Friends of the Library Used Book Sale, excited to pick out a bag or two of books, only to be turned away at the door because they have a walker, a cart, or a wheelchair.  And yes, the volunteers are willing to bring people with disabilities a selection of books to look through.   For some people, it might be great to have people shop for them. If my grandmother was still alive, she probably would have loved that!  She was more than happy to let us shop for her and bring her books and other things we thought she might like.   For me, however,  that was not a reasonable or acceptable accommodation. I am an independent woman.  I love to browse, and I hate asking people for help with anything I can do myself. The whole point of going to a used book sale is to browse through the books, finding treasures I didn’t even know I was looking for. I did not accept that accommodation of a volunteer to shop for me then, and I would not accept that accommodation now.   So for me, there are other used book sales going on this weekend, and others coming up this month; I can get all the books I need and want.  I just wanted to turn a bad situation into something positive.  Well, there was one thing I was hoping for…an apology would have been nice, but I guess that is too much to ask.

So, what happened?

On Wednesday, Police Chief Schettenhelm called me to and shared some highlights of his discussion with Christine Hage regarding this issue.  “We can’t roll back time, but we can make things easier for the future,” he said.  According to Schettenhelm, Hage said that they wanted me to shop and felt they had made some measures of accommodation that were not acceptable to me.  In any case, he said that wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters ARE welcome at all times all over the library!  However, Hage reached a different decision on items used as a medical device that are technically not medical devices, such as my cart.  That is still not permitted.

I wanted to speak with Hage directly, to hear the policy from her, rather than just reporting what Schettenhelm shared that Hage said, and it took a number of tries to get her on the phone.  Finally, Thursday afternoon, I spoke to another staff member at the library, explained that I was trying to reach Hage before I publish this blog post, and was hoping to speak to her first, but she has not been answering the phone at her desk.  She suggested that I try calling Hage’s cell phone, which I did, and she answered.  I asked her if it is true that people are now allowed to go into the used book sale with wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters.  She said, “It has always been our policy that people may use their own, or the library’s free walkers, wheelchairs, or electric carts.  The library is and has always been fully accessible to people with disabilities.The restriction is that one may not bring a shopping cart, stroller or wagon type device in the book sale.  That is not a device for the handicapped.  We provide people to carry things for you.”

Putting aside the shopping cart issue momentarily, I pressed for absolute confirmation.  “So even on the last day of the sale, if people come with walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters, they will be allowed inside to shop?” I asked.  “Any day, any sale, anywhere in that building, canes, walkers, electric scooters, and wheelchairs are allowed, ” she confirmed.  Then she added, “Well, when the aisles are congested, there may not be enough room.  If the room gets over crowded, we will bring a box of books to you, ” she said.

Hmmmm.  So they ARE allowed, even on the last day of the sale!  That’s the change I was hoping for!

Unless it’s too crowded.

I should have asked more about that.  I wonder what happens if, for example, three people arrive on the last day of the sale when the sale opens with wheelchairs, walkers, or scooters, along with a dozen able-bodied people.  They all go browsing as more and more people enter.  As it gets crowded, are the people with disabilities who were there first asked to leave and have volunteers select books for them?  Or once they are in, do they get to stay in as long as they want?  What if more people with wheelchairs arrive?  Will they have the option of waiting until it’s less crowded, or having someone select books for them?  If it’s too crowded, should there be a line for everyone to wait until some people leave, then some more can enter?  I guess we’ll find out at the next used book sale.  The last day of that sale is January 31, 2016.

Next, the “shopping cart” issue.  I understand that my cart is not a recognized medical device for the disabled.  It is, however, a device that helps me to manage with my health-related disabilities.  I cannot carry a stack of books when I have a lot of back pain and breathing trouble.  Using the cart to hold my books (and using that same cart to shop at farmer’s markets, and other similar places) helps me to shop independently. It’s also a lot easier to walk and stand when I have a cart to hold on to when my back pain is bad.  I don’t think anyone wants to be dependent on others; I certainly don’t!  I have brought this cart, or another one I have similar to it, to many places, including a number of book sales in the area.  No one has ever complained….until I went to the Rochester Hills Used Book Sale.  Because it is not technically a medical device, it is not covered by ADA, from what I understand.  Hage cannot be forced to allow me to use it, even though in the spirit of the law, it would be nice if she did.  You can’t regulate nice, though, and in this world, some people simply are not nice, kind, and compassionate.  I choose to spend time with people who are, and I choose to shop where people are, however.

As Hage originally suggested to me, I will shop with my cart at used book sales where I am welcome, such as Oak Park, and the other local libraries.  Actually, the only one I know of where I am not welcome is Rochester Hills, so I have lots to choose from!  The Rochester Hills Friends of the Library’s next sale is January 27-31, 2016, and quite a few people have discussed going on Facebook, and bringing family members and friends who use wheelchairs and walkers, to see if they are truly allowed to enter and shop on their own. If you do, please let me know how it goes!  I’ll be very interested in hearing if this is truly a new story…or just a story.

Happy Reading, Happy Autumn, and Happy Weekend!