[LIBRARYDIR] checking out R-rated movies to minors

[Sue Kennedy]

This is a "tread carefully" topic, in my opinion. Don't get bullied into access restrictions! Not sure what the story is, but it makes my hair stand a bit on edge.

I can't find an RCW that relates to film ratings specifically.  It's been interesting digging, though.  It seems that movie theaters don't have a legal obligation to bar minors from R-rated films.  However, they aren't barred from prohibiting minors from the theater for R-rated films.

However, under the RCW for Obscenity and Pornography (RCW 9.68), libraries of all kinds are exempt from the provisions relating to "erotic material" or anything that may fall under a legal definition of obscene.  So my view is R-rated films (while not obscene or pornographic) are just fine for anyone and we do not have to restrict access.

9.68.015
Obscene literature, shows, etc.-Exemptions.
Nothing in chapter 260, Laws of 1959 shall apply to the circulation of any such material by any recognized historical society or museum, the state law library, any county law library, the state library, the public library, any library of any college or university, or to any archive or library under the supervision and control of the state, county, municipality, or other political subdivision.


From: LIBRARYDIR [mailto:librarydir-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Heilstedt, Sally
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2017 11:40 AM
To: WACTC Library Directors <librarydir at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:librarydir at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: Re: [LIBRARYDIR] checking out R-rated movies to minors

KCLS: I couldn't find theirs written anywhere, so I called the lovely Ask KCLS folks. They do not have any restrictions on borrowing based on age as all cards allow full access to resources/intellectual freedom. (They do encourage parents to participate in the check-out/borrowing process with their children.)

We do not have a policy about this.

Sally

From: LIBRARYDIR [mailto:librarydir-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Tammy Siebenberg
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2017 11:18 AM
To: WACTC Library Directors <librarydir at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:librarydir at lists.ctc.edu>>
Subject: Re: [LIBRARYDIR] checking out R-rated movies to minors

Cheyenne,

YVC doesn't check out any films to students.  Only faculty and staff can check them out, so the rating is not an issue.

Tammy

Tammy R. Siebenberg
Director - Library & Media Services
Yakima Valley College
Yakima, WA  98902
(509) 574-4984
tsiebenberg at yvcc.edu<mailto:tsiebenberg at yvcc.edu>
www.facebook.com/YVCCLibrary<http://www.facebook.com/YVCCLibrary>

From: LIBRARYDIR [mailto:librarydir-bounces at lists.ctc.edu] On Behalf Of Roduin, Cheyenne
Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2017 10:56 AM
To: librarydir at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:librarydir at lists.ctc.edu>
Subject: [LIBRARYDIR] checking out R-rated movies to minors

Good morning all,
Quick question: If your library has films (DVD, Blu-Ray, VHS, Betamax (hahahahaha)) that you check out to patrons, how do you handle checking out R-Rated films to students under 17 years old (perhaps like Running Start students)?

And, bonus question, if you know how your local public library handles it, that would be helpful too.

Thanks much

Cheyenne M. Roduin
Library Director
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Phone: 425-235-2352, ext. 5571
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