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Lake County Public Library

Access to Library Materials by Minors

Access to Library Materials by Minors

Lake County Public Library is committed to providing access to information and appropriate protections to its patrons while being consistent with the Library's longstanding commitment to the principles of free expression as set forth in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

It is ultimately the responsibility of parents or legal guardians to guide their children in the appropriate use of the library and its collections and services. The library will not restrict usage of any materials or collections when parents or guardians are not present.

Lake County Public Library access policies are guided by the following American Library Association statements on access to information:

Article VII of the Library Bill of Rights states, "All people, regardless of origin, age, background, or views, possess a right to privacy and confidentiality in their library use." This includes students and minors, who have a right to be free from any unreasonable intrusion into or surveillance of their lawful library use.”  (Interpretation of the Library Bill of Rights: Free Access to Libraries for Minors and Access to Electronic Information Services and Resources.)

A Reminder to Parents:

You are the only person who may restrict your child’s access to library materials and services. The library staff are responsible for providing equal access to library materials and services for all users. Organizations that provide ratings, such as the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), are not government organizations and therefore cannot be mandated or enforced; their ratings are considered advisory, not law.

The library staff is available to assist any parent or guardian locate information (ratings, reviews, etc.) on the appropriateness of a movie or book for their children.