Ingestion of Library Books May Be Harmful

It's the ALA vs. the CPSC as libraries the country over are concerned the new lead limits applied by the Consumer Product Safety Commission will wipe out their children's book sections. According to the new regulations, public, school, academic and museum libraries would be required either to remove all their children’s books or ban all children under 12 from visiting the facilities as of February 10.

Ok, lead poisoning in children is pretty much the cause of ingestion. So, who's letting 12 year olds and younger eat books? Ok, you're right, a toddler might get a hold of a book and chew on it, but are toddlers toddling around libraries without supervision? Are parents leaving childrens' books checked out from the library out where the tots can munch on them?

Like most things where regulations affect childrens' products, it does come down to that supervision compnent, a notion seemingly outdated. Babyproof the rooms, babyproof the baby toys, babyproof the library books so we don't have to actually pay that much attention to the babies.

February 10 was the date the libraries would have to be up to code with their childrens' books, so hopefully the CPSC said, "Yeah, we're not talking about you guys...duh!" But I can't find proof of that, so I'll have to assume it didn't go full out twigi...

That or I missed the book burning...and I feel cheated that no one called me for that. Watching Nazis burn books on old videos would become so much more authentic if I got to see one in person.

http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2009/january2009/wocpsc.cfm