MEEKER | The Meeker Regional Library Board held a workshop last week to discuss two key policies: a proposed Parent and Child Policy and the library’s existing Collection Development Policy. The meeting took place in the community room at the Meeker Public Library with all board members present.
After approving the agenda, board members noted that the library currently does not have a formal Parent and Child Policy in its bylaws. To begin the discussion, the board reviewed two proposed versions of the policy.
The first draft was submitted by the library’s attorney, Glory Schmidt, and read aloud by Secretary/Treasurer Toby Leavitt for the benefit of those attending the meeting. The draft stated, in part:
“Meeker Regional Library provides free and open access to its resources for users of all ages. The Library demonstrates its commitment to children by curating content and environments specifically designed for them. However, children are not confined to specific areas within the library, and staff do not oversee or restrict the materials children select. Responsibility for a child’s reading, listening, and viewing choices lies solely with their parents or legal guardians. The library respects the right of parents and legal guardians to guide their children’s use of materials, however, it does not impose those restrictions on access for other users.”
The second version of the policy was submitted by board member Dan Olson. He explained that his version included the same general statements but added provisions he believed should be incorporated.
“There is an expectation that there be some monitoring of the library, if we have individuals destroying things or misusing anything in the library, we would have a process in place for addressing that,” Olson said.
He continued, “Additionally any kind of illegal use of the library would be prohibited, so mentioning two different laws that would need to abide by. As well as any kind of state laws that might exist on the use or even activities, actions that are in the library.”
Olson also proposed monitoring the use of library equipment, such as printers and computers. Leavitt asked Library Director Kristina Selby whether a policy already existed for printer and internet usage. Selby confirmed that the library already has a computer and internet policy in place.
Olson’s version also included recommendations for documenting and reporting illegal activity, organizing materials by age groups, and allowing community feedback on material placement. He described a process in which the library director would assess material requests, present recommendations to the board, and help develop consistent criteria for evaluating materials.
Board President John Moffitt asked Schmidt to clarify the purpose of the parent and child policy.
“The purpose is more of trying to understand the capability of the library director, librarians on staff, to monitor children,” Schmidt said. “And having seen this in other libraries, there’s sometimes just not the capacity for librarians, people on staff, to monitor what children are doing when they’re at the library.”
“This policy is established and set forth that the librarians and people on staff cannot necessarily monitor this 24/7, and therefore we are putting this on the parents—what books the children check out. It reduces the district liability. The policy was intended to establish that parents are responsible for the books their children check out.”
Selby agreed with that statement.
“It puts it on parents that it is their responsibility of what their child is interested in,” Selby said.
The board did not approve either policy during the workshop and decided to place the item on the agenda for their next regular meeting. Next, the board turned its attention to the library’s existing collection development policy, which is posted on the library website.
Board member Michael Cobb asked whether there was a requirement for a parent’s signature for minors under age 18 to receive a library card, and whether a parent must sign for access. Selby confirmed that children cannot get a card without a parent or guardian.
Cobb then asked, “Are there words to the parent that they could opt in and say I want an email every time my child checks something out?”
Selby explained that parents or guardians can already access this information online through the library’s website.
“You can log in with the card to see checkouts and return dates,” she said.
Vice President Keri Grieser also confirmed this, explaining she uses this feature when her sons check out a book from the library.
“I can log in to look and see every book that is checked out and when the return date is,” Grieser said.
Cobb raised concerns about limiting access to certain collections for children.
“Two burdens—that they can allow their child to see only certain collections—or if they didn’t want their child to use certain sections. Is that a place appropriate for something like that?” he asked.
Schmidt responded, using her own child as an example.
“I guess I would just lean on Kristina and the librarians there to see if that’s something they can do, something that they don’t think they can particularly do,” she said. “Then if you put it in a ball, you’re opening yourself up for a liability. If that’s something that the software is capable of doing, absolutely love it. I just wasn’t aware of the software with regards to that, but if software you can opt in, see, and have these emails—then yeah, that would definitely be put in this policy.”
“I would need to know what is actually feasible—if they can really monitor what books that they’re checking out and then where the children are in the library,” Schmidt added.
“We already have an avenue for the parents to look at,” Leavitt said. “With the information sheet from the library, you can put in the account number and you can see all of your child’s checked out books. It’s already available.”
Near the end of the discussion, the board agreed there should be a clear and user-friendly process for parental oversight.
The meeting adjourned with the next regular board meeting scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 30, in the community room of the Meeker Public Library.