The director of the Burlington Public Library says she would close the facility to anyone under 18 if a proposed change to state law takes effect.
The Hawk Eye reports Brittany Jacobs made the comments during a recent library advocacy committee meeting, discussing an amendment tied to an Iowa Senate bill. The proposal includes dissolving local library boards, requiring a review of all materials for age-appropriateness, and allowing parents access to their children’s borrowing history.
Jacobs said reviewing the library’s roughly 130,000 items could take up to a decade, with recommendations ultimately going to city councils for approval. She also said the law could require physical barriers between children, teen, and adult sections, along with staff to enforce access restrictions.
Not everyone at the meeting opposed the measure. One parent raised concerns about a children’s book they felt was inappropriate, while Jacobs said the library already follows Iowa’s obscenity laws and maintains separate sections for different age groups. She added that reading records are only released with a warrant.
Jacobs said she believes the proposal is unlikely to become law but noted similar legislation has been introduced for three consecutive years. If passed, enforcement would fall to county attorneys.
