Library Adds “Parents Choose” Program for Juvenile Cards

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

The Anderson County Library has introduced changes that place parents squarely at the center of decisions about what their children may access on library shelves. Beginning today, all juvenile library cards will default to a “Basic” tier, restricting minors to juvenile materials only. However, parents can choose to expand access—allowing children to borrow both juvenile and teen materials, or granting them permission to check out all library materials, including those from adult collections.

This new “Parents Choose” program reflects a shifting landscape in public libraries nationwide, where debates over age-appropriate materials and parental involvement have taken on new urgency. Under the policy, parents must visit a library branch, show identification, and select the card tier that best fits their family’s preferences. For families seeking to revise existing card privileges, a minor section form enables parents to decide whether to increase access or keep current restrictions in place. New applicants can make a choice at the time of signup, customizing access for each child.

Library Director Annie Sutton said the move as a response to “the need to give parents more choice and more control over their children’s reading.”

The program also features additional safeguards for challenged or reconsidered books. Materials flagged by patrons for review will require explicit parental permission, with parents asked at the time of application whether they wish to opt in for those titles or extend blanket permission, all noted on the child’s account.

For more information email: administration@andersonlibrary.org