LIBRARY MATERIALS BILL: Parents, not libraries should be responsible

As an avid reader, grandmother and regular patron of my public library I am appalled at the possibility of House Bill 139 becoming law.

Are there materials “harmful to minors” in Idaho school and public libraries? Maybe. However, not all parents would agree on what those specific materials are. Each parent has their own set of values for their children. Library staff and trustees should not be put in the position of “loco parentis.” That is, library staff and trustees should not be charged with determining what materials might be considered objectionable. It is a parent’s right, it is a parent’s duty to determine what is appropriate for their child to read, to listen to, to view.

Note: One parent’s rights do not supersede others’. Eliminating materials from a library because of objections from a few treads on First Amendment rights of the many.

Instead of enacting a draconian law, perhaps attempting to ensure the right for all parents to determine what materials a child may access from Idaho libraries is in order. Is it possible to create a children’s library card that would allow parents to opt in or opt out of a requirement that a child may browse the collection and check out library materials only when accompanied by a parent? The parent who finds concerning materials would opt in to the requirement and would be on the premises to ensure that their child is not exposed to those materials. No “loco parentis” required. All parents would retain the right to determine what their child reads, listens to and views.

The onus is upon each parent to be the parent, not outsource parental duties to others and the state.

I urge lawmakers to seriously consider the above, as well as all other alternatives before considering HB 139.

KARA KRAL

Coeur d’Alene