Anonymous Patron writes “Northwest Indiana News: The Porter County Public Library System imposed new limitations on temporary shelter residents’ access to materials, including restricting the number of items they can check out at a time.
The new rules give temporary shelter residents library cards for three months and can only check out three items — either print or audio visual — at a time. Juveniles age 17 or younger will no longer be able to receive a library card.”
ACLU
I wonder how long until someone sues. Geez, if you have no house, and no TV and no car, and no zip all you can do is read.
bad spot
I sucks for the staff to be in that position. I’d feel terrible if I had to deny homeless patrons service or do anything to take away their dignity.
However, patrons with no fixed address, ID, utility bills, etc. are far more likely to disappear with books and there is no way for a library to get them back, fine them, or recoup their costs in any way.
Most institutions can’t pay for that kind of loss in materials and still function properly.