Starting Monday, November 21, 2022, parents and guardians of minor children can choose additional options on their child’s existing library card, for the level of access they want their children to have when checking out items at one of the 12 branch locations of the St. Tammany Parish Library (STPL) and when their minor children use the digital features of the STPL Mobile App.
“Parents and guardians are the decision-makers for their minor children,” said Kelly LaRocca, St. Tammany Parish Library Director.” These additional access options give parents and guardians ways to limit a child’s access to certain collections and expand their say in materials their children will read, see, and hear. With these additional access levels, parents and guardians tailor their child’s experience, and we ensure it is carried out according to their specific wishes.”
Currently a *Juvenile card for children ages 5-17 allows no access to R-Rated movies, unless a parent opts to allow it with their signature (*Juvenile Unrestricted). Beginning November 21, parents and guardians can call a branch location or come into the branch, to opt in to one of the following new parental-control options on their child’s existing library card. For parents and guardians who wish to change their child’s existing library card designation to Juvenile Unrestricted — which gives full access to all materials including R-rated movies, a signature is required and the parent or guardian must visit a branch.
Juvenile Full Restriction Card — Cardholders may only check all children’s materials. Cardholders cannot check out Young Adult (YA) or Adult materials.
Juvenile Semi-restriction Card — Cardholders all children’s materials, and YA fiction books. Cardholders may not check Adult books, or adult nonfiction items that have a YA sticker, or magazines in the teen area.
*Juvenile Card— Cardholders may check out any loanable physical item in the library except R-rated DVDs.
*Juvenile Unrestricted — Cardholders may check out any loanable physical item in the library, including R-rated DVD's, with parental permission.
The St. Tammany Parish Library internet Policy remains that parents and guardians of children ages 10 — 17 will choose whether or not their child may use the internet in the library without supervision for all card types. All children ages 9 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times in St. Tammany Parish libraries and must be present when their child uses the internet.
The library is also currently working on parental controls for our digital content. Currently, the Hoopla app has a “Kids Mode” feature that is required at each login to this app through the St. Tammany Parish Library; this mode restricts access and allows only the downloading of children’s e-books and e-audiobooks. At this time, all juvenile cards only have access to download G-rated videos, E-Everyone comics and children’s music.
The St. Tammany Parish Library is currently working with the Overdrive/Libby vendor to determine ways to restrict access by card type for the future. The Cloud Library app is not restrictive. Parents may choose to restrict access when selecting their options. On Jan. 3, 2023, all juvenile cards that have not been specified will expire and will require an update, either over the phone, or in a branch.
