The accessibility of R-rated DVDs to youths using Petersburg’s unstaffed library is a source of concern for some residents.
In October, the Boone County Public Library reopened the Chapin Memorial Library as an unstaffed or “Express Location” after being closed since April 2022 due to staffing issues.
“(The Boone County Public Library) put DVDs in there that are R-rated that any 13-year-old can access with their (library) card,” Petersburg resident Deborah Dutton-Lambert, who has joined others in advocating for a staffed Petersburg library, said.Â
Patrons pick up the books they have on hold through a locker system under the “Express Location” library outpost system. The branch, which is part of the Petersburg Community Center, also offers a Wi-Fi network and books available to community members via the honor system.
“Boone County Public Library does not operate in the parent or legal guardian’s place,” Boone County Public Library Executive Director Carrie Herrmann offered in response to a LINK nky email inquiry regarding the available R-rated DVDs. “Responsibility for monitoring the use of the library’s collection by minors rests with their individual parents and legal guardians. Selection of adult materials will not be limited by the possibility that items may come into the possession of minors.”
The R-rated DVD accessibility concerns remain because the Chapin Library is being operated under a different set of circumstances from the county’s other library venues, Dutton-Lambert said.
“Our library is the only one in the county that is unstaffed and this is another good example of poor planning,” Dutton-Lambert said.
A sign posted on the Chapin Memorial Library door entrance outlining the library’s unattended children policy stipulates: “Children age ten and older are free to use the library’s resources unattended provided that their behavior is not disruptive and they are mature enough to follow library rules; otherwise they should be supervised by a responsible caregiver. Parents/Guardians are still responsible for the actions and the wellbeing of their children.”
Dated newspapers and magazines within the Chapin Memorial Library are also sources of concern for Petersburg resident Beverly Seibel.
“The library has been open since Oct. 30, and the newspapers and magazines in there are two years old,” Seibel said. “We pay $145,000 in taxes. We’re not worthy of a current magazine or newspaper? How would it look if you walked into Burlington’s or Hebron’s library and 2-year-old magazines were the only ones available?”
A vendor is used to manage all magazine and newspaper subscriptions at all locations, Herrmann said.
“The vendor was notified to start subscriptions for the Chapin Memorial Library,” Herrmann said. “We are just waiting for the subscriptions to begin arriving.”
