Eideard

“Put on your rubber gloves!”
Daylife/Reuters Pictures

Librarians across the United States are making noise about new federal restrictions on lead that could take books out of the hands of children. Children’s books are covered by federal regulations on lead in items made for children.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission Improvement Act requires all products, including books intended for children younger than 12, to meet new standards calling for lower lead content…Paper, ink, covers and glues would need to pass lead content standards.

“While we understand the process the CPSC must carry out in order to ensure this law is properly enforced and that the safety of our nation’s children is protected, we believe the commission is wasting time and resources by zeroing in on book publishers and libraries,” said Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the American Library Association Washington office.

“It is our hope that this matter will be resolved soon, so that libraries can continue their efforts to serve children without the threat of closing their doors.”

Well, the CPSC postponed a lot of the crap regulations. This could give politicians a chance to write sensible legislation. What are the odds of that happening?

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A woman has been arrested for failing to return two books to the Grafton [Wisconsin] Library.

Heidi Dalibor was arrested after she failed to return the books, “Angels and Demons” and “White Oleander”, last year.

“I said, what could they possibly do? They can’t arrest me for this… I was wrong,” Dalibor said.

Dalibor did not respond to four notices from the library, two phone calls and two letters. The library forwarded the case to police, who issued a citation for Dalibor’s failure to return the materials or pay the fine. The citation included a court date, which Dalibor admits she ignored.

You know, this is one of those stories where I’m not on anybody’s side.. because EVERYBODY is *nuts*. (She’s kinda hot, though.)