The cartoon aardvark Arthur sang in one memorable episode, “Having fun isn’t hard when you’ve got a library card.” Unfortunately, obtaining your children’s library records IS very hard when they have a library card; in fact, it is against the law in New Hampshire and most other states! This law needs to be changed, and HB273 would do that, allowing parents to find out what items their kids do have checked out.
As a former librarian, I spoke to a lot of parents about this situation. If their child had an overdue book, I couldn’t tell them what the title was. Most parents were shocked when I told them about the state law prohibiting them from knowing what library books their kids have checked out. They were not aware that when they took their children to the library for that great American rite of passage—signing up for a library card—they were also signing away what should be considered a parental right. They did not know that they might someday go to the library and be asked to pay an overdue fine on a particular book but, illogically, not be allowed to know the title of that book.
Who not only pays overdue fines on library material but, as taxpayers, actually pays for this material? Who also provides the funds to run school and public libraries? Who is held financially responsible in most libraries for any lost or damaged materials checked out by minors? Their parents!
According to the American Library Association, whose role is it “to monitor his or her child’s individual reading life”? The parent! How can parents possibly fulfill this role if they can’t find out what books their children have checked out? And yet, the ALA nonsensically supports laws that deny parental access to minor’s library records. Access to these records is especially important in school libraries where parents do not usually accompany their children. Even in public libraries, it is easy for parents, especially with multiple children, to lose track of what material their children have checked out.
HB 273 would allow parents to access their children’s library records. Please contact your representatives, especially the members of the Judiciary Committee, and tell them to support this bill.
Public Hearing: Judiciary Committee – was 01/22/2025 03:30 pm LOB 206-208. You can still reach out to the committee members.
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