Would Lead Ban Threaten Kids’ Access to Libraries? Probably Not.
Norman Oder -- Library Journal, 1/12/2009
- Would law banning lead from toys affect books?
- Strict interpretation might ban kids from libraries
- ALA says no Congressional intent to do so
So, did the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which aims to keep lead out of toys and which passed Congress last August nearly unanimously, threaten books in libraries? The American Library Association (ALA) and some allies worried about that last week, even suggesting in some news reports that the legislation could require libraries to remove all the children’s books from the shelves or ban kids from the libraries. Now things have calmed down, however.
Emily Sheketoff, executive director of ALA’s Washington Office, told the Boston Phoenix that an exemption was needed for libraries. And ALA sent a letter to Congress last Thursday noting that the “General Counsel of the Consumer Product Safety Commission has interpreted this law to include children’s books,” which means that all books “designed or intended for children under the age of 12 need to be tested.”
“America’s libraries are asking you to make your true intention clear to the Consumer Product Safety Commission and urge the General Counsel to release an opinion that reflects Congress’ true intention of CPSIA,” Sheketoff wrote in the letter.
On Friday, however, ALA began throwing water on the flames. In a post on ALA's District Dispatch, Sheketoff wrote, “However, ALA has been in discussion with attorneys, other associations and the sponsors of the original bill. Our analysis is that neither the law nor the legislative history indicates any Congressional intention to include books and even textbooks in the law. Please stand by – there is no need to take action at this time. The situation is extremely fluid and every day this week ALA has received new and sometimes contradictory information.”
