Library to introduce restricted card for minors

By John Labriola - The Citrus County Library System will be introducing a new restricted access library card for minors by the end of 2025 that will give parents more control over what their children read.

Library Director Adam Chang announced the initiative at last week's Library Advisory Board (LAB) meeting. He said parents will have the option to obtain a new card for their minor children that will allow them to check out only items in the library's juvenile section and bar access to adult computers. 

The county will announce the new cards on social media, in a press release, and with signs at the libraries. The new application form also will make it clear that there are two choices. Parents will have the option to select either the restricted card or the all-access card for their children, and parents of children with a regular library card could switch to the new restricted access version.

Chang said the Hillsborough and Marion county libraries have similar systems.

LAB member Edith Ramlow, a College of Central Florida librarian, proposed the idea of restricted library cards at a LAB meeting two months ago in response to public anger following the board’s 5-2 vote in December to allow more than 20 challenged books with explicit content to remain in the library system's Young Adult section. 

Several residents last week came to support Ramlow’s idea, which did not require a vote. 

“I think it comes down to parents saying yes or no. I think they should have that choice,” said Gary McClintock of Hernando.

LAB Chairman Justin Strickland said he believes the system will strike the right balance.  

“It’s the parents’ job to raise the children,” he said. “I believe this is somewhat of a happy medium.”

But liberal LAB member Katie Myers, who was appointed by county commissioners in February to replace ousted conservative Elaine Kleid, reacted with disdain. She said she empathized with library staff while expressing scorn for parents concerned about explicit materials. 

“I don’t believe our libraries should be restricting access to information for anyone, and I’m sorry you’re all in a place where you have to scramble every month to try to find solutions to problems that simply don’t exist,” Myers said.

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