Posted on 04/11/2006 5:19:44 PM PDT by Chickensoup
Today I called my local small town library which is staffed by wonderful people. My 11 year old son was with me and we were calling to renew his two library books. The librarian said that he actually had six books out and several were overdue. I asked her which ones were out and her statement was: I cannot tell you because of your son's right to privacy.
I thought she was joking.
Then I became angry.
I later spoke to the Head of the Library Board who told me that he was equally shocked that there was such a law on the books. The law states that anyone with a library card is guaranteed the right to privacy. And our library gives out cards at age 5. He said the Maine State Library Association is very powerful and it would be difficult to change any rulings.
Guess what folks, parental rights are being eroded in favor of children's
And parents are still responsible for the fines.
Here is the Maine State Library Association's perspective: issueshttp://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/view/columns/1484378.shtml
And the American Library Association http://www.ala.org/al_onlineTemplate.cfm?Section=april2005ab&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=91053
Maine State Law
Maine Legislature Title 27: LIBRARIES, HISTORY, CULTURE AND ART Chapter 4-A: LIBRARY RECORDS 121. Confidentiality of library records Records maintained by any public municipal library, the Maine State Library, the Law and Legislative Reference Library and libraries of the University of Maine System and the Maine Maritime Academy that contain information relating to the identity of a library patron relative to the patron's use of books or other materials at the library are confidential. Those records may only be released with the express written permission of the patron involved or as the result of a court order. [1997, c. 146, §1 (amd); §2 (aff).]
When my kids were little they didn't have their own library cards for just this reason. If I went in with them and checked out the books they wanted on my card, I knew what they had, when it was due, and what was in each book. There were no lost or overdue books with resultant fines. The library doesn't have control over the raising of my children; I do, and I'm not about to give it up to a bunch of lefties.
Perhaps it is time to refuse to pay fines.
It's not libraries which are weird: it's the librarians.
My library never practiced this until recently. I cannot believe that these fools are forcing good libraries to wedge between parents and children.
You can be quite sure that if those "patrons" were my underage children that written permission would be delivered forthwith.
I loved libraries when I was a kid, but over the course of time they have changed. They are no longer what they used to be, IMHO. Blame the librarian's guild and the liberals who seem to gravitate to this area.
You should have handed the phone to your son and told him to ask them while you listened on another line, or to the speakerpone. Also, you could have gone down to the library with him and had him get the list with you standing next to him, then take the list from him.
I assume you did something like this and got the list, right?
You can be quite sure that if those "patrons" were my underage children that written permission would be delivered forthwith.
I am not sure that underage children can give legal consent.
A lot of public libraries are becoming places for bums to hang out all day long.
It has never occured to me to get library cards for my children. They go to the library with me, and we look for appropriate selections together. Just like at the bookstore. If it is my money that is paying for the books, I want to know what information is going into their little brains.
Cancel his card. Have him use yours, with you.
Oh, you think that's bad?
I was at the local library and I noticed that my husband had a book on the "hold" shelf, so I took it to the check out along with my books.
The librarian would not allow me to check out my husband's book! She told me the reason was couples might separate and then maliciously check out each other's library books.
I assume you did something like this and got the list, right
No, I am not sure I am ever going to bother to return the books. If they dont tell me what the books are, I dont think I have a duty to pay the fines or return the books.
Cancel his card. Have him use yours, with you.
I got the books for him on his card. There are no secrets here. Just insane legislation.
Doesn't look like an attempt--looks like a success.
"The dogmatic equation of all authority, even over the smallest child, with unjustifiable political authoritarianism leads only to personal and social chaos." -Theodore Dalrymple
The librarian would not allow me to check out my husband's book! She told me the reason was couples might separate and then maliciously check out each other's library books.
Fool. This world is filled with goverment organizations peopled by fools.
"The dogmatic equation of all authority, even over the smallest child, with unjustifiable political authoritarianism leads only to personal and social chaos." -Theodore Dalrymple
That is what is being sought "social and political chaos."
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