Cocoa Beach Library books 'courageous' psychic detective

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The Cocoa Beach Public Library (Florida) on its web site is showcasing the "courage of this truly original woman" after booking "renowned" psychic Noreen Renier for an "engrossing personal account" of her "career as a psychic detective" for a September 25th appearance at 6:30pm.

On April 18, 2012 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (immediately under the U.S. Supreme Court) ruled against Noreen Renier. The three judges ordered a judgment fully supporting an earlier U.S. District Court judgment against Renier. That earlier U.S. District court in ordering its own judgment against Renier noted its own agreement with a yet a third March 2011 lower federal court decision which stated Noreen Renier "misled" the court and was not credible!

As showcased previously on the JREF Forum Noreen Renier failed to show proof of even a single law enforcement agency having directly hired her across years of work during her most recent bankruptcy filings. Thousands of financial data postings including checking deposits and wire transfer records were checked under federal court granted subpoenas and absolutely no income came from police agencies. Yet Renier claimed '70-80%' of her work is directly booked by police agencies and her web site pushes apparently the bogus façade of $1000 fee rates for police agencies. See http://www.gpinquirygroup.com/gpinquirygroup/Police bookings that don't exist.html for background including audio clips of her police work claims.

Thus the Cocoa Beach Public Library seemingly pushes fiction on its web site in noting "the many murder and missing person cases she has been asked to investigate" and their upcoming "fascinating, first-person true crime lecture" bringing "the audience directly into Noreen's world – in which reliving emotionally shattering and physically violent experiences is all part of the job – and underscores the humor and courage of this truly original woman."

The Cocoa Beach Public Library promotes its own fiction as reference material. A new low.
 
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Sounds like they are parroting a press release written by Noreen or her people. I am sure this is SOP for the lectures they host at the library. A kind email to the director of public outreach might be informative to them.
 
I sent them one - as a concerned media specialist (I am one - MLS). Reminded the head that there is a difference between neutrally providing material for all readers/viewers/listeners (official ALA policy) and promoting with untruths any of it.
 
Attempts to utilize the emails listed for city and library personnel simply respond with spam preventers cancelling arrivals. It appears Cocoa Beach representatives are very protective about any annoying feedback and the library in particular has not acknowledged any contacts by others. A perfectly closed system to promote local paranormal "police psychic" charades?
 
I find so often that well meaning and thoughtful people have a hands off approach when it comes to psychics. A sort of, "Well maybe maybe not" opinion of their claimed abilities. When pressed it turns to, "It's harmless!" I find a brief description of how fraud is never harmless, how the victims are the relatives of the missing/dead, and that these people are preying on the misfortune of others can often get a wishy-washy person to rethink their opinion of psychics.
 
I find so often that well meaning and thoughtful people have a hands off approach when it comes to psychics. A sort of, "Well maybe maybe not" opinion of their claimed abilities. When pressed it turns to, "It's harmless!" I find a brief description of how fraud is never harmless, how the victims are the relatives of the missing/dead, and that these people are preying on the misfortune of others can often get a wishy-washy person to rethink their opinion of psychics.
And worse, some of those have at least some background in science - just enough to pull a "well, perhaps it's an energy /frequency of transmission we have not discovered how to use yet." To which an appropriate response might be "Hmmmm, I just left some food my body didn't use in the toilet. Why don't you eat it and see if your's can?"
 
No response yet - but no bounceback either - so, hopefully........


Breath:hold:not!!
 
Also, Hmmm it's the 25th and about 65/70 miles away and I have no plans for that evening.....
 
A reply - and it sounds good at this point:

Thanks for your email. I was not aware of this information and will look into it
immediately. The program was booked by Ellen Morton, program coordinator for the
library. I will follow up with her to see if she knows anything about this.

Best,
Ray Dickinson

Director, Cocoa Beach Public Library

Central Area Director, Brevard County Libraries

321-868-1106
 
I'm curious about what ends up happening with this event. Please keep us informed!
 
fuelair,

What info did you include in your initial e-mail that they are now "looking into?"

I think we're all curious so that if we need to contact someone in the future in a similar situation, we might know what to do.

Thanks,
Ward
 
Good work, and a hopeful response back. Perhaps they will at least tone down the marketing hype. Thanks for the interest everyone.
 
It should be embarrassing for anyone living in that town. A library should be beyond encouraging belief in pseudoscience.
 
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fuelair,

What info did you include in your initial e-mail that they are now "looking into?"

I think we're all curious so that if we need to contact someone in the future in a similar situation, we might know what to do.

Thanks,
Ward

I copied him the text of the op (no note of source) and pointed out my background (I have an MLS and have worked as a media specialist), assured him I was aware of ALA policy and followed it myself as to supplying books/material for all without judging it as to subject matter, mode of expression BUT pointed out that the library advertising something as true was not at all the same thing. In his e-mail, he agreed and said he would look into it with the person in charge of the speakers.
 
Purely as to writing with similar things, I prefer to establish my knowledge base in the area I am commenting on, explain the errors/misconceptions/misunderstandings (etc.) and try to make it with no blame (at the moment) attaching to the addressee.
 
It should be embarrassing for anyone living in that town. A library should be beyond encouraging belief in pseudoscience.

As long as we understand that the library really is expected to provide material on all subjects their patrons want to research/enjoy regardless of their honesty The key is provide. Nothing requires bringing in dishonest speakers, etc. I do the library the courtesy of assuming they were unaware of that part of the situation. We shall see if I am right on that. I hope I am.
 
What I sent (the copy of the op followed this):

Subject: Guest Speaker Renier

I have my MLS and have been a media specialist and teacher for over 30 years. I
understand and support the ALA on providing material for all, but I do NOT
support supporting clearly false things - only providing them if they meet your
patron's needs.
A few minutes ago, I read a disturbing notice in a thread on a skeptic forum I
follow (due to a lot of discussions in scientific fields) and I am sending it to
you for either your information (hoping you were not aware of this) or
your consideration if you were.
 

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