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).]
That is very wrong!
If the ACLU had its way books about homosexuality and all other forms of perversion would be required reading for young children.
These monsters believe that children must not only be "open minded," but should also "experience" every imaginable form of deviancy.
As far as they are concerned society's only problem is being judgemental and that not enough red ribbons and condoms are worn.
But I am sure if the parents' HMO needed the info, they would have no problem getting it from the library.
Don't we all remember how the Patriot Act was being used to get lists of books read by potential terrorists and how librarians were aghast at this?
It's very possible they wrote themselves very strict guidelines in order to support their beliefs in not revealing book lists to government authorities.
The guidelines were probably written just a bit too strict and may need to be opened up a bit.
I guess we could go with the practical advice of not getting library cards for children, but I remember that getting my first library card was a seminal moment for me and got me really excited about reading. So taking away that experience would be kinda sad.
I think this is probably more a result of unintended consequences rather than some malicious scheme to undermine parental rights.
Read the two links before you come to this conclusion.
Yes, that's exactly what they want.
I had no idea how left the ALA is until about 5 years ago when I got interested in the library Internet porn thing. They are as radical as the ACLU.
Of course it is insane legislation. But, I see it more as a violation of parental rights, just that simple. Work around it... until the law gets repealed. (How many actually ever get repealed?)
But, I see it more as a violation of parental rights, just that simple. Work around it... until the law gets repealed. (How many actually ever get repealed?)
I think that in the current climate, leftists win.
Silly law. Anyway, if your son has a right to privacy, then he has a right to waive that privacy. Bring in a not signed by him waiving it. See what they say.
And did I get that right that a Republican is on record as worried about parents finding out about what their children are reading?
In what way (if any) do Republicans differ from Democrats in the Northeast?
"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."
My take, exactly.
Hihg five Cap!
"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."
My take, exactly.
High five Cap!
At our library, they give you the card and an ID. You can then register online to see what has been checked out. My kids don't even know about the online site, and I'm the one that set up everything. I can just type in their ID and password, and find out what has been checked out.
I dont get this. A child has to get a signature from a parent before they can even get the damn card!
Minors do not have the right to privacy!
See if you can't encourage some others not to use that library.
The FBI was able to track the computer from which the threat was sent to a local library.
When the FBI got to the library, they flatly refused to allow the FBI to search the computers for a user name.
The FBI had to get a warrant first, which took hours.
The librarian bragged that it was her finest hour.
In the meantime lives could have been lost. That probably would hav made the librarian even more proud.
Were he my son, I would have turned to him and asked him what other four books he has at home. If he refused to tell me, I would have revoked his library card as parents -- even in loony Maine -- have to sign for a child to have a library card. I would then wait for the library to claim I -- and it is the parent they would come after -- have an overdue book. I would state I do not have any books out overdue or otherwise. When the library starts losing $25 books at four a or more a week, you can be pretty darn certain that the libary will tell you what books were signed out on a card that is under your control.
And if you really want to get the librarian's attention, go to your town's budget meeting and tell your story ending it with a demand that the library budget be cut 25% which ought to eliminate a librarian or two. You will be surprised (a) how much support you will get from other parents and (b) how much the librarians and library trustees will scream like HowWeird Dean.
The librarian would not allow me to check out my husband's book!
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The military hospital does the same thing with medical records. My wife and I have to have a release form on file so we can pick up each others medical records. However; this library thing seems a little extreme. I would definitely know what my kid is reading.
In our system here in Georgia, the sponsor done not only have the right to see what the minor has checked out, they also are responsible for any fines that the minor has. If I am not mistaken, its a Georgia Law to that effect.
When my husband died, he had an outstanding ambulance bill. Several months later, the billing company called me to straighten it out. But they wouldn't talk to me, they needed to talk to the "patient".
I told them the patient died that night, and they already knew it. It was the most nonsensical phone call I've had in a while. (excluding Verizon, the company from hell).
I would say, well, give me a claim number, or info, and I will pass it onto the insurance company. She would say i can't do that. Then I said how can insurance cover it? She said I don't know, but I have to call you about this and I can't give you any information.
I guess they got paid somehow.
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