[Publib] Restricting Access to Minors

[Linda Cannon]

We have only a restriction that allows minors to check out only from the Children's department, but it's the same sort of thing. We don't publicize it, but I'd suggest putting a neutrally worded statement on your paperless registration site (Check here if you wish to restrict your child's video checkouts to P or PG rated videos).
 
On the systems matter, you could (I'm guessing it would be a pain, but you probably could) create a item type (or whatever the restriction is based on) for R and unrated materials and restrict them from that new code rather than the existing videoformat one. Yes?
 
Linda Cannon
Collection Development Librarian
Joplin Public Library
 
 

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From: publib-bounces at webjunction.org [mailto:publib-bounces at webjunction.org] On Behalf Of Lise Chlebanowski
Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2008 3:00 PM
To: publib at webjunction.org
Subject: [Publib] Restricting Access to Minors



Dear Collective Brain,

 

Once again I turn to you for assistance as you have been so helpful in the past. One of the news outlets recently did an expose on libraries and their practice of checking out R-rated movies to minors. Consequently, my library board has decided that all parents must be given the option to place a restriction on their children's library cards which would prevent them from checking out R-rated movies. I am very much in favor of parents having this option. However, I'm wondering how best to present the option to parents so that I'm not putting staff into a funny position having to imply that that they should or shouldn't. We have paperless registration and I would like to keep it as neutral as possible. Also, another wrinkle is that our ILS only allows for a restriction of juveniles borrowing all DVD's and videos including those rated G/PG. Now, the thought is that a child wanting to borrow a G/PG item would most likely be accompanied by a parent in the first place so the restriction may not be a problem. We have self-checkout machines so staff cannot "monitor" minor's transactions, making a block on their card the only way to restrict checkouts. 

 

I'm wondering if anyone has a similar situation and how you deal with it. Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks in advance! 

 

Lisë Chlebanowski

Library Manager

Avondale Old Town Library

328 W. Western Ave.

Avondale, AZ   85323

623-333-2611 D

623-333-0260 F

lchlebanowski at avondale.org <mailto:lchlebanowski at avondale.org> 

 

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