Why do some cards for minors have restrictions?

Answer

The Juvenile and Teen library cards were added in June 2025 as an additional option for minors. Several members of the community expressed concern that their child might borrow material from the adult collection and the new card options were created as a tool to help assist those parents. 

The Juvenile card only allows users to borrow material from the Juvenile section, or items that are intended for ages 0-12. It includes items that have JBD, EASY, or J in one of the top two lines of the call number. Teen cardholders can borrow any material that is part of the juvenile collection or teen collections. Teen items are for ages 13-17 and have TEEN in one of the top two lines of the call number.

The Juvenile and Teen Cards do not allow users to log into library computers if the computers have access to the internet since we cannot block every site or digital collection intended for older audiences. While, the Juvenile and Teen Cards do allow access to some digital resources, they do not allow access to CloudLibrary for ebooks, eaudiobooks, or emagazines. 

The Youth library card is still an option for parents to select, and it allows cardholders to borrow material from any section of the library, as well as access our digital resources and log in to library computers. Parents who select the Youth card may choose to use the card for the whole family and monitor what is borrowed by keeping the card with them or checking their account activity. 

Library staff does not act in place of the parent and is not responsible for the selection of material by minors in the library. Although all efforts have been made to limit access to only the permitted material for juvenile and teen patron designations, library staff and vendors are limited in oversight ability. Parents or legal guardians should still monitor their children in the library and their selection of material, regardless of the library card option selected. 

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  • Last Updated Aug 22, 2025
  • Views 4
  • Answered By Reference Librarian

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