NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Officials with the New Orleans Public Library announced that starting Monday, May 6, anyone 17 years old and under with a library card will need to update their card permission.
The changes are the result of the Louisiana Revised Statue 25.225, passed during the 2023 legislative session, which stated that “libraries must have a procedure in place for preventing youth from checking out items that its community says are inappropriate for youth or the library cannot receive community funding,” according to library officials.
Executive Director and City Librarian Emily Painton said in order for the library to be in compliance, the guardians now have to decide what the child or teen has access to.
“We hope that these changes spark conversations between adults and the youth in their care about what media is appropriate for them to read, watch, and consume,” said Painton.
Louisiana Revised Statue 25.225
The following options are available for the guardians to select what their child or teen can check out:
- Option 1: All library materials
- Option 2: Library materials except physical materials that the Library Board has deemed sexually explicit, as defined by R.S. 25:225
- Option 3: Library materials except physical materials that the Library Board has deemed sexually explicit, as defined by R.S. 25:225, and all digital materials that are available for checkout
- Option 4: Library materials except for all digital materials that are available for checkout
“We understand that it may be confusing, but the Library is prepared to help our patrons make the best decisions for their families,” said Director of Public Services Heather Riley.
Parents who do not visit their library branch to make the updates will notice that their child’s card will restrict access to digital material on May 30, according to library officials.
They add that the order in which the library is organized does not include adult material in the children’s area.
For more information on the changes, visit the New Orleans Public Library website.
Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.