Should a 12 year old be allowed to check out an R-Rated video? Is it censorship if we do not allow them to do so? In this opinion piece from the Spokesman Review, the writers state that it may be in the best interests of the library to abide by the rules that the movie theaters have. This may be easier to enforce in the public library setting: There are less people there, and it would be harder for the kiddies to get access to the films. What do y\’all think?
\”The library can calm this tempest in a teapot by abiding by the rating label on the video cover. In the movie industry an R rating means children 17 and under are not to be allowed to see a movie unless accompanied by an adult. The library should adopt a similar policy: No one under age 18 should be allowed to check out one of its R-rated videos.\”
Should a 12 year old be allowed to check out an R-Rated video? Is it censorship if we do not allow them to do so? In this opinion piece from the Spokesman Review, the writers state that it may be in the best interests of the library to abide by the rules that the movie theaters have. This may be easier to enforce in the public library setting: There are less people there, and it would be harder for the kiddies to get access to the films. What do y\’all think?
\”The library can calm this tempest in a teapot by abiding by the rating label on the video cover. In the movie industry an R rating means children 17 and under are not to be allowed to see a movie unless accompanied by an adult. The library should adopt a similar policy: No one under age 18 should be allowed to check out one of its R-rated videos.\”
\”The library board used a similar common-sense approach last year when it revised guidelines for library Internet access. After months of controversy, the board agreed that youngsters under 18 would require a note from their parents to use computers with unfiltered Internet access. Religious conservatives had charged that the library\’s computers had provided children with easy access to pornography.\”
\”Understandably, Michele Veale, the library board president, is frustrated by the newest controversy: \”But where does it stop? A year ago, it was the Internet, today it\’s R-rated videos, tomorrow it\’s a particular author.\”
\”Indeed, libraries have to be careful not to be bullied by individuals from any side of the political spectrum. The list of classics that would be banned if every subgroup had its way would be impressive, starting with \”The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,\” \”The Catcher in the Rye\” and the Harry Potter series. Yet, libraries also have to be sensitive to their constituency.\”
\”In Post Falls, religious conservatives not only raise an occasional ruckus about social issues but they also helped build the new $2 million library by voting to support its bond election three years ago. The taxes they paid to build the library and continue to pay to operate and maintain it give this group a vested interest in its programs and offerings. The library creates a them-against-us mentality by ignoring complaints about its small collection of R-rated videos\”
Recent Comments