Cook library trustees leaning toward DVD rules
Nearly all of the Cook Memorial Public Library District trustees on Tuesday said they favor adopting a new policy that would allow parents to restrict what types of videotapes and DVDs their kids can check out.
That stance mirrored an initial discussion last month by the board's policy review committee. It's now up to that committee to draft a policy for the full board to consider, one that would spell out exactly what types of videos kids who are restricted can borrow.
For example, board members didn't agree on whether such kids should be limited to those in the juvenile collection or also have access to films in a separate family section.
Most of the board members agreed it should be up to parents, not librarians, to decide what young patrons should or shouldn't be able to check out.
As was the case at the earlier committee meeting, only one board member, Ann Oakley, disagreed with a policy that would allow parents to restrict kids' borrowing abilities. Oakley favors a stricter policy that would restrict all kids unless a parent specifically permitted unlimited video checkout abilities.
A policy is being debated now because a few parents have expressed concerns about the videos their kids have brought home, Director Dan Armstrong said.
Most trustees did not favor following the Motion Picture Association of America's volunteer rating system, which only applies to movies in theaters and not to home videos or television programs.
Those ratings don't matter at Cook Memorial, board member Mary Ann Phillips said, because so much of the library's video collection is unrated.
Oakley, however, said she favored following the MPAA guidelines, such as those that prevent kids under 17 from watching R-rated movies unless accompanied by an adult.
"I think we should have something very similar," she said.
Suburban libraries' video checkout policies vary. Some don't let anyone under 17 or 18 borrow movies. Others allow parents to request special library cards for their children that limit what they can borrow.
Many don't limit access to videos at all.