Adults without kids barred from library children's areas

[Hoss68]

Associated Press
November 23, 2004

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Libraries in Orange County have barred unaccompanied adults from lingering in the children's areas of its 14 branches, a policy that is among the first of its kind in the nation.

Since Nov. 1, adults without children may select items in the children's section, but they cannot read books or loiter in the department, said Marilyn Hoffman, community-relations coordinator.

Officials with the Association for Library Service to Children said many libraries limit adults' use of computers or bathrooms in the children's departments, but Orange County's policy could be the first in the nation to restrict adults' presence in the areas.

``It's not a common trend, but I think it's going to become more common,'' said Cynthia Richey, a former association president. ``It's, in part, a pre-emptive move.''

Although Hoffman said no specific incident led to the new rules, Orlando police arrested a man in August after a 15-year-old girl said he tried to molest her at the downtown library.

Orange County, in central Florida, surrounds Orlando.

[scott.voigt]

Wow... thats a bit of a move, but I think it's a pretty good idea from the security perspective.

[Caldric]

I was reading about the issue this morning. It is fair I suppose not real sure why adults would want to hang out in the childrens section if they do not have children with them.

It was the first I had heard of the young girl being raped in a Library bathroom though, that was just plain **** sickening. Wonder sometimes if there is any hope for mankind.

[Hoss68]

It took our local library systems quite a move to ban library visitors from perusing porn online. We had a level 3 sex offender who lived in town looking at porn just inside the front door and they could not stop him. Eventually the library put higher restrictions on what could be viewed.

I like this and wish it would be made a national thing.

I worked with sex offenders for 6 years, you'd be surprised at the tactics they use. Your worst imagination could not even congure up things they do.

[Betty Boop]

I think it is an excellent idea. I mean why does a 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 or 60-year-old NEED to spend extended periods in the Children's Library? Grandpa, Grandma, Auntie, Uncle, even Mom and Dad should be able to make their selections and then leave the area. It's sad that our society has deteriorated so much that we need to have suspect eye on all adults but going back to the original question "Why does a 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 or 60-year-old NEED to spend extended periods in the Children's Library?"

[scott.voigt]

Originally Posted by Hoss68

It took our local library systems quite a move to ban library visitors from perusing porn online. We had a level 3 sex offender who lived in town looking at porn just inside the front door and they could not stop him. Eventually the library put higher restrictions on what could be viewed.

I like this and wish it would be made a national thing.

I worked with sex offenders for 6 years, you'd be surprised at the tactics they use. Your worst imagination could not even congure up things they do.

This is probably the scariest thing of all and the reason I would want this policy to go nationwide. These people are just flat out sick.

[Hoss68]

Every "kids" area in libraries that I have ever seen, are set apart from the other parts of a library. A corner and/or high book chelves...

Heck even in the stores, they are segregated.

We were in Borders a couple of weeks ago, and when my Ma and I left the (kids) area, there were enough adults in the area without kids that I made the kids leave the area with us.