LIBRARY BOOKS: Families should be responsible for what their kids read

Let’s be honest. When library boards roll over and play dead for extremists who demand that books that offend their tastes and religious opinions be pulled from the shelves, library trustees are not being family friendly. It means that one group of patrons is dictating what another group can read and allow their children to read.

As the system now stands at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library, a library card allows any patron access to any of the books in the library. However, in order for a juvenile, any one younger than 18, to have a library card the application must be signed by a parent or legal guardian. Parents who don’t want to sign the application can still check out books for their kids on their own cards and can accompany their children to the library to make sure the material their children select meet their family’s standards.

The library staff has the responsibility to select books that serve the entire community. It is unreasonable to expect them to enforce the rules for each and every family they serve. The solution is that families have to take an active role in what their children read regardless of each family’s politics and faith systems. That’s how libraries can best serve families.

DAVID TOWNSEND

Coeur d’Alene