CPSIA - It Has Come to This . . . .

Here is the American Library Association's Call to Action in which they instruct libraries NOT to throw out their books because of the CPSIA. Do you like living in the surreal world as much as I do? I think Big Brother would be very gratified to know that discarding books has become a big issue in America now. Stupid me, I always thought the "dangerous" part of a book is the WORDS - no, in fact, it's just the ink! Apparently I misunderstood why people have been burning books over the years . . . .

Rick


http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alsc/issuesadv/ALA_print_layout_1_526949_526949.cfm

It's time to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding CPSIA

1/22/2009 Call to Action!

It's time to contact the Consumer Product Safety Commission regarding the implications for libaries of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).

Sample text of a letter to fax or mail to the CPSC(also cc: your elected officials!)

It is not necessary at this time to make plans to either close the library, or remove materials from the shelves. The action needed now is communicating to the powers-that-be that it is essential to exempt books and/or libraries from this law. [Emphasis added]

From the ALA Washington Office:

A public meeting was held January 22 with Kristina Hatlelid, Directorate for Health Sciences, and other Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff to allow Allan Robert Adler, of the Association of American Publishers, and major publishing companies to discuss the lead content of books. The meeting was a time for the publishing companies to explain their research to the CPSC staff that proves that normal books (non-play, paper books) do not contain lead in the amount specified under the CPSIA. The publishing companies have compiled a group of 300 test results that can be viewed here.

After the meeting, Cheryl Falvey, General Counsel for the CPSC, stated that a decision should be made by the first week of February. She advised libraries not to take any action at this time, and we are hopeful that the Commission’s decision will exempt libraries.

Even with her assurances, we must let the CPSC know how important an issue this is to libraries. You can visit their Web site, found here, to submit your comments to the Commission. Explain to the Commission that it is simply impossible for libraries to remove all children’s books from the shelves and/or ban children under 12 from the library and still provide the level of service that is needed.

Please feel free to use the sample language here, but personalize it to make your comments known. Studies have shown that individual letters are significantly more effective than form letters, so let’s make sure they understand how important their action will be.

As always, thank you for all that you do. The only way we will be successful in ensuring that children will have access to safe books is with a strong grassroots effort. Your comments to the CPSC need to be submitted as soon as possible, so please tell all your friends and family – we need as many people as possible to communicate that this oversight could have lasting ramifications on our children and our communities.