The Editor,
Re: "Don't call me a chick, RPL," Letters, Sept. 7
To Ms. Veinott,
Thank you for expressing your concerns. Our customers' comments are always valuable to us. I'd like to explain the history behind the term "chick lit," in case you aren't aware of it.
"Chick lit" is a term coined in the 1990s, used to describe a genre of popular fiction written for and marketed to single, working women in their 20s. It was created around the same time as the book Bridget Jones's Diary, and has become a well recognized, widely accepted and extremely popular contemporary literary genre.
In fact many "chick lit" titles have found their place on bestseller lists. There are even publishers who publish nothing but "chick lit," because reader demand is so high.
Wikipedia describes "chick lit" as "a type of post-feminist fiction which covers the breadth of the female experience which deals unconventionally with traditional romantic themes of love, courtship and gender."
I appreciate your concerns, Ms. Veinott. However, given the widespread popularity and acceptance of the "chick lit" genre amongst readers and publishers, the library has decided to retain the wording "chick lit" on our display signage. Thank you again for sharing your concerns and we hope that you continue to use and enjoy the Richmond Public Library.
Susan Walters, customer service manager Richmond Public Library
