<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<style type="text/css" style="display:none;"><!-- P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;} --></style>
</head>
<body dir="ltr">
<div id="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="font-size:12pt;color:#000000;background-color:#FFFFFF;font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<p></p>
<p style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">
Dear All - </p>
<p style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">
At this morning's Staff Meeting at Tecumseh District Library, we had a rousing discussion about when a child should be eligible to receive a library card. This discussion covered the age/grade/ability to write their names aspects and then progressed into talking
about our frustrations in dealing with parents whose cards are blocked due to fines and long overdue materials who then open up a card in their young child's name so they (the adults) can still check out books and have access to our computers. (So yes, there
are really two issues here.)</p>
<p style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">
<br>
</p>
<p style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">
Our current policy is that a child can receive a TDL library card at any age. The Registration Card is filled out and signed by the parent or legal guardian. They then sign a Release Form that emphasizes it is <b>their </b>responsibility to keep the card
in good standing and allows them access to the child's borrowing record.</p>
<p style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">
<br>
</p>
<p style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">
As stated on our website:</p>
<p style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">
</p>
<div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
<span style="font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;">Cards for Minors<br>
</span>Youths under the age of 18 will be issued their own Resident or Non-Resident library card when the parent or guardian signs a registration form and assumes all financial obligation.</div>
<div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
</div>
<div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
Access to the youth's borrowing record will be provided only if a release form is signed by the parent or guardian.</div>
<div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
</div>
<div style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">
A parent or guardian has to be present with the minor at the time of pick-up to sign the card and the Release Form. They must present a valid proof of residence.</div>
<br style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<p style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
</p>
<p style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">
I agree with our current policy (no age limit, no grade limit, no can-they-write-their-name limit) because it allows equal access to all children within our service area (and I am aware of the Library Bill of Rights for Minors which I will share with the staff),
but the group had several strong differing opinions. So I promised my Director and colleagues that I would request feedback from other libraries via Michlib-l so we could review a range of different policies. So, here goes!</p>
<p style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">
<br>
</p>
<p style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">
<b>What is your library's policy concerning issuing library cards to minors and what is the reasoning or rationale behind that policy?</b></p>
<p style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">
<br>
</p>
<p style="font-family: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", NotoColorEmoji, "Segoe UI Symbol", "Android Emoji", EmojiSymbols; font-size: 16px;">
Thank you for your time and assistance as we seek to compare different policies.</p>
Mary Beth
<p></p>
<p><br>
</p>
<div id="Signature">
<div id="divtagdefaultwrapper" style="font-size:12pt; color:#000000; background-color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Calibri,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif">
<p></p>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34); font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-size:16px; margin:0px">
<font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">Mary Beth Reasoner</span></b></span></font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34); font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-size:16px; margin:0px">
<font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">Children's Services Librarian</span></b></span></font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34); font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-size:16px; margin:0px">
<font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px"><b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">Tecumseh District Library</span></b></span></font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34); margin:0px; min-height:17px; font-family:Helvetica; font-size:14px">
<br>
</div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34); font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-size:16px; margin:0px">
<font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="color:rgb(17,85,204); font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"><a href="http://mbreasoner@tecumsehlibrary.org" id="LPNoLP">mbreasoner@<font color="#1155cc">t</font>ecumsehlibrary.org</a><a href="mailto:mbreasoner@gmail.com" target="_blank" id="LPNoLP"></a></span></span></font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34); font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-size:16px; margin:0px">
<font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px"><a href="http://www.tecumsehlibrary.org/" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(17,85,204)" id="LPNoLP"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">www.tecumsehlibrary.org</span></a></span></font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34); margin:0px; min-height:17px; font-family:Helvetica; font-size:14px">
<br>
</div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34); font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-size:16px; margin:0px">
<font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">215 North Ottawa Street</span></font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34); font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-size:16px; margin:0px">
<font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">Tecumseh, MI</span></font><font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif"> </span></font><font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">49286-1564</span></font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34); margin:0px; min-height:17px; font-family:Helvetica; font-size:14px">
<br>
</div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34); font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-size:16px; margin:0px">
<font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">517-423-2238</span></font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34); font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-size:16px; margin:0px">
<font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px; font-family:"Times New Roman",Times,serif">517-423-5519 (Fax)</span></font></div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34); margin:0px; min-height:17px; font-family:Helvetica; font-size:14px">
<br>
</div>
<div style="color:rgb(34,34,34); font-family:"Times New Roman"; font-size:16px; margin:0px">
<b><font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px; font-family:"Comic Sans MS",fantasy,cursive; color:rgb(0,111,201)">"Let us read and let us dance, two amusements that will never do any harm to the world." </span></font><font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px; font-family:"Comic Sans MS",fantasy,cursive; color:rgb(0,111,201)">
</span></font></b><font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px; font-family:"Comic Sans MS",fantasy,cursive"><b><span style="color:rgb(0,111,201)">- Voltaire</span></b></span></font></div>
<div><font face="Helvetica" size="4"><span style="font-size:14px"><br>
</span></font></div>
<br>
<p></p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>