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).]
Ask the government. Under the Patriot Act they have access to all library records, so they can tell what everyone is reading. Every time you check out something at the library, our government gets a record on you. They have to make sure you are not reading something your not supposed to. So, go ask them what your son has checked out, they already know.
That's not true at all.
In the real world, if your underage son had run up a $1,000 phone bill calling 900-numbers, at least the phone company would provide you with an accounting.
Why should the library be exempt from providing the same information?
They should just surround the State House with crime tape and be done with it.
How the library getting between you and your son!? Have you tried asking your son which books he has out? It sounds like the library is staying out your personal life.
Is he not telling you which books he has?
Not at all. But remember I am responsible for his books, his fines and his well being. Legally and morally.
Flawed question -a liberal tact premising the 'village' concept.
The answer is irrelevant UNLESS one would suggest that a parent requires permission from thier children as to the authority to parent and method of parenting...
This is simply the government inserting itself between parent and child using the judicially fabricated 'privacy' argument...
I think not. Forcing the parent to pay the fines of the child would be a violation of that parent's privacy rights.
Easy solution to this.
Just tell them that if they want their books back, they will have to tell you which books he has out.
Furthermore, if they want to collect overdue charges from you son, he has no means of paying. SO, if they want YOU to pay, they will have to tell you what books he has out.
If you read the thread they are not permitted legally to tell me this. It is against the law that the Maine State Library association had sponsored.
Because of the law she has no choice.
I think not. Forcing the parent to pay the fines of the child would be a violation of that parent's privacy rights.
Unfortunatly this falls into the same catagory as children's abortion rights. They can have an abortion without parental knowledge or consent but the parents are still responsible for the bills for any complications that may arise.
It's sad. I used to ride my bike to the library and return with upwards of 40 books, and I sometimes went twice a week in the summer. I never once had a book with any sexual content, etc. in the childrens' area. I was so proud when I got my own card as soon as I could write my name.
I take my children to the library, or we reserve books online and my husband picks them up. They couldn't ride there even if
they had their own cards.
So many wonderful things are gone from our world.
That one's easy. Tear up the kid's library card and mail it back to library. Take him (or her) off the list. Make 'em check out the books on YOUR card.
Problem solved.
That one's easy. Tear up the kid's library card and mail it back to library. Take him (or her) off the list. Make 'em check out the books on YOUR card.
Problem solved.
I agree. In the short term MY problem is solved. But my child just lost another freedom, as did all the other children and parents affected by this law.
"Under the Patriot Act they have access to all library records, so they can tell what everyone is reading. Every time you check out something at the library, our government gets a record on you." If you believe that statement, you haven't paid attention to the fuss librarians have made against the PATRIOT Act or you have never read the Library Bill of Rights.
I'd say most libraries's systems do not keep a history of what you take out and certainly don't send it on to the government automatically. IF, someone supeoned the library, they'd only be able to show what is currently taken out.
Since you took the books out and you can't remember, I'm sure by now you've taken your son back to the library. Have him ask what books are still out.
A lot of laws are made because we became aware of everyone needing to CYA. Many laws are made because when an incident happens, someone sues. Then a law is made or changed. A lot of laws don't make sense.
I would have thought the head of your library board would have known the laws, policies and procedures of your library. He's probably reading up on them now. We review a lot of ours annually to see if changes may be necessary.
A lot of laws are made because we became aware of everyone needing to CYA. Many laws are made because when an incident happens, someone sues. Then a law is made or changed. A lot of laws don't make sense.
I would have thought the head of your library board would have known the laws, policies and procedures of your library. He's probably reading up on them now. We review a lot of ours annually to see if changes may be necessary.
When laws are inadvertently made that separate parents from their authority over their children, that is one thing, but if you go to the links I listed, you will see that the Maine State librarian purposly made this law to subvert parental authority.
When laws are inadvertently made that separate parents from their authority over their children, that is one thing, but if you go to the links I listed, you will see that the Maine State librarian purposly made this law to subvert parental authority.
No, I didn't see that. I saw that the law was made by your Maine legislature, not a librarian. They were just following the law.
I do understand your point, but, also that you were aggrevated you couldn't get an answer.
As far as I'm concerned my children don't have any freedoms - just privledges. When they start paying some of their own bills we'll talk freedom...
Me. A child under 18 cannot make a legal contract.
You are not legally responsible unless you signed something when he got his library card. If he signed for the card himself, the library has no recourse against you.
Actually, a minor can enter into a contract. The caveat is that, while the minor can enforce the contract, the other party cannot. For instance, say I make a contract to sell my car to a minor for $2000.00, and later find out that I can get $3000.00 for it. I cannot void the contract on the grounds that the other party is a minor.
On the other hand, if in the same situation, the minor finds out that he can get the same car for $1000.00, he can void the contract, and I have no recourse against him or his parents, unless I got his parents to sign the contract as well.
When a parent signs permission for a child to have their own library card, that parent is also abrogating the right to access the child's records. If a parent feels their child is not ready for that then they shouldn't give permission for them to have their own card.
And as for the husband and wife, it's a catch-all rule to protect the hopefully few cases where problems would arise if one spouse knows what the other spouse is reading--such as a book on divorce. Couples who want to be able to check out each other's reserved books might try getting a joint card with both of their names on it.
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