Library Re-Restricts R-Rated Movies
POSTED: 8:41 am CST March 17, 2005
UPDATED: 8:56 am CST March 17, 2005
http://www.theomahachannel.com/news/index.html

OMAHA, Neb. -- The Omaha Public Library Board reversed itself Wednesday night and decided to limit who can check out R-rated movies.
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The board voted earlier this year to reverse a policy that restricted kids in eighth grade or younger from renting movies rated for adults. The policy change meant anyone with a library card could check out any movie offered at the library -- even ones that are rated R.

The change came, the board said, because the previous policy prohibited kids from renting anything that was purchased for the library's adult collection, including some things kids needed for school reports.

But since that reversal, the library has been getting some very negative feedback from parents. Parents still had the ability to put a block on certain items on their child's library card.

Bonnie Beacom took her family to the library Wednesday afternoon to attend a board meeting. She wanted the board to know she doesn't want her children checking out R-rated movies.

"There are so many things in our society that parents have to protect their kids from," Beacom said. "There are so many negative influences out there and I really don't think the public should be something we have to protect our kids from. I have teenagers and I know the curiosity level that's there and I know if things are available there are teens out there who will be searching for those things in the public library."

On Wednesday, the board responded to the public pressure and reversed its decision. Children under 17 will not be allowed to check out R-rated movies.

One board member said despite Wednesday's reversal, the February decision was the right one.

"I just think it's important that libraries continue in their role of providing information with no, no restrictions to (that at) all," said board member Carol Gendler. "It should be a parent's decision as to what children check out at the library."

Parents can still change their children's access to certain types of media, they just have to notify the library.

There is one glitch with the new policy: the library's computers give adult access to anyone 14 and over. The library is trying to figure out how to block kids ages 14, 15 and 16 from checking out R-rated movies. The new police is effective immediately.

The library also tied up another new policy Wednesday. In February, the library sent out more than 16,000 overdue notices. The notices warn book borrowers that their names could be turned over to a collection agency if they didn't pay up.

The board reported Wednesday that in the last two weeks of February the library collected $30,000 and had $40,000 worth of materials returned.


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Interesting debate as to the freedom to check out any material vs parental guideance.

I also like how the threat of a collection agency get's people to do the right thing as far as either paying for or returning the materials.

c-

I'm a member of the local library board. I can't wait until this one comes to us. You should see the reeming we take everytime a 12 year old finds a book intended for 13 year olds.

I don't see why this parent had a problem. It clearly said that parents have the ability to limit what their kids can get. Why didn't she just walk to the desk and say, please block my children from renting R rated movies. If they need them for school, I will come rent them for them.

It's the library's duty to provide information. Period. I've never heard of a library that doesn't allow parents to limit movies, adult books, and/or internet access. Here's an idea. Go to the library with your kids. Do you know how often parents just leave kids at the library. Then the library staff has to sit outside and wait with kids until someone comes to get them. The second time that happens, the parent gets stuck finding a new babysitter.

I agree.




In this day and age when kids can't even walk to school and back without the threat of kidnapping and worse, leaving the kids at the library alone is as ridiculous as the kids I've seen sitting in the middle of the aisle at Barnes & Noble doing their homework. Outragously irresponsible, in my humble opinon for a parent to allow, moreso than the kid viewing most R rated movies checked out from the library.

I suspect that they will also have to start stocking "Clean" versions of music CDs as well in an effort to avoid the parental guidence issues for lyrical content as well??

.Weak.

God forbid we work with children to assist them with personal growth and the understanding and comprehension of mature material at the point where, on a child by child basis, it is most appropriate for them.


c-

Why the hell would an 8th grader (or any under-age kid) need an R-rated movie for school? Just read a damn book you lazy kids!

Schindler's List would be a good example.

They are showing Shindler's List to 8th graders?! We watched it in grade 11 and even then it was disturbing :/

Kids need to learn about the Holocaust but isn't pre-highschool a tad young?

So instead of reading about him they're going to watch a Hollywood film? At least check out a documentary. But I stand by my statement that the kids would be better off reading than watching yet more media.

I am in the 11th grade, at school as we speak actually.....the amount of censorship and regulation at highschools in this area is the biggest joke on THE EARTH, I truely feel like I am in a communist environment, hands down....its rediculous, period, the censorship needs to go DOWN WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY DOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWWNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.

one of the MANY MANY examples

Dress code-goes as far as saying you cant wear a certain amount of a color on certain types of shirts, such as, you cant wear an ALL white shirt, you are not allowed to have any "head coverings" at all, nothign on your head period at any time, no exposed phones, skirts on girls must be farther down the legs than your finger tips when you hold your arms down, no stomachs showing, straps on shirts must be atlest 2 inchest wide. There is an EXTREME amount of corruption at high schools in this area atleast that I know of....big problem in America I think

It was the same in my day. Don't worry, you'll be out of there soon anyway.

Didn't you ever read a book in class and then watch the movie to get a better understanding?

We did that a lot with Shakespeare. I remember watching a version of Romeo and Juliet that was rated R b/c there was a boob. We all had to bring in permission slips and shit.

Rain Man is another excellent R-Rated movie that younger kids could really benefit from. Think of how that changed everyone's perception of mental disease.

If the kid really needs a movie to help him understand Schindler's List then he can ask his parents to rent it for him.

http://www.classbrain.com/artmovies/pub ... e_63.shtml

If kids were never allowed to see movies and only force to "read the book" how boring would class be? How much would kids take away? Creative teachers, the best teachers, will find ways to engage kids and let them walk away from a book once in a while.