Library to consider minors' access to R-rated videos

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM--The New Ulm Public Library Board will meet Monday to consider an interim policy restricting unaccompanied minors' access to checking out "R" or "NC-17" rated video movies from the New Ulm public library.

The special meeting will be at 4 p.m. in the library conference room.

The board found itself wrestling with the issue of whether minors who are not accompanied by a parent or guardian should be allowed to check out these videos during its October meeting Thursday.

The debate started when Library Director Carolyn Baird presented a document, from the American Library Association, titled "Library Bill of Rights" as part of a new public library policy manual.

Tenet No. 5 reads, "A person's right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views."

"I object strongly to allowing an underage child who is not supposed to be viewing certain videos because of their content without the consent of a parent or guardian to check out the same type of video from the library without having a parent or adult present to approve it," Board Member Peter Buckley said.

Baird responded that there are a number of teenagers who have their own library cards "and the library shouldn't discriminate against them."

Baird added she felt that "what we're talking about here is a parenting issue. If the parent doesn't like what the child is checking out at the library, they should sit down and talk with their children about it. It's not the library's role to be the parent."

"That may be, Carolyn," Board Chairman Stuart Groebner replied, "but you're going to have a difficult time selling that in this community."

Buckley then compared this policy to the internet policy in which the library "encourages staff to guide minors away from materials that may be inappropriate."

Baird said in its internet policy, the library is responding to laws governing pornography.

"Well, I feel our policy on video rentals should be the same as for any restricted book in our library," Buckley said.

"I'm not aware of any restricted material in our library, other than reference books that can't be taken out," Baird responded.

While there may be debate over elements of the policy manual, the idea of having such a manual was endorsed by Groebner.

"This is a big step," he said. "In the past, we've operated on a piece-meal basis."

The board wound up its discussion of the policy manual by naming Baird and Board Member David Gosdeck a subcommittee of two to make revisions and corrections, bringing the manual back at the next meeting for approval.

Baird's decision to stop order of a large reference desk and use the $4,000 to set up service desks in the staff work areas for the reference section and children's library drew questions and support from board members.

Baird was asked if each service desk would have its own phone.

"We just put over $500 into the phone system so we'll have to share for a while," Baird said.

She also wants to hire a consultant to advise on space usage, as well as help with determining what painting needs to be done in the library.

"We discovered we were sacrificing function to where the electrical outlets are located," Baird said. "It doesn't seem right to do something that isn't in keeping with function."

She said having the outlets located in the floor dictated where anything requiring electrical power could be located, often interfering with staff being able to maintain sight-lines.