[Publib] Banning students from libraries

[Judy Anderson]

Kennewick, WA has instituted a policy of banning students during school hours. This includes students who used to come there on their lunch hour. If anyone appears to be school age, they are carded. I wonder what happens if it's a young appearing person who doesn't have ID? Should libraries play the role of truancy officers? What about home-schooled kids, or kids in private schools on other schedules? I remember one kid who was out of school to help his grandfather walk to the doctor. While he was at the doctor, the kid dropped in at the next door library. Lots of reasons for a kid going to the library during the school day. The school district said that the students should be able to find what they need at their library. I don't know what their libraries are like, but I do know that a lot of schools don't have librarians any more; they are often run by aides who have no training. And I do know that at the public libraries I've worked at, a lot of students said they came there because the schools didn't have anything.

They even have cops at the door turning kids away. Is that what we want for our libraries?

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/299270.html 



Judy Anderson
Washington

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