HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A new library card system will go into effect Monday at all Hillsborough County libraries. The new policy gives children access to books based on their age, and then by levels inside those age groups. Parents get to choose what card they want their child to have.
David Seiler said his son visits the library every week and this is a policy he supports.
"I think if we have the option to limit what a six year old is checking out at a library I think that's a good idea," Seiler said.
The new policy will restrict kids and teens from checking out adult content unless their parent chooses a card that will give them full access to everything in the library.
"The parent or guardian that's listed on the child's account is the one that gets to make these changes and the initial change has to be made in person at your local library," Chely Cantrell said.
Hillsborough County Commissioner Michael Owen asked for a report last year. The library's new policy passed unanimously.
Owen said this is about adding safeguards, not banning books.
"It sets a default in place so that parents have to say okay I want my kid to access this because there are some books that are classics for a example that you may want you're minor to read," Owen said.
The default will only allow kids to check out books based on their age level excluding categories like non-fiction and classics.
If a parent wants their child to have access to a book outside the range of their card, the library system said the parent can just check the book out with their own card.