Library cards and IDs
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- October
- 5
My Rockland County reporter colleague, Suzan Clarke wrote a fascinating story Thursday about Rockland public libraries and how some are wrestling with the proper way to issue library cards to people who do not have photo IDs.
The issue was prompted by a request from the Ramapo-Catskill Library System, a cooperative system of libraries in Rockland, Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties. The system, it seems, began looking into the matter when the Rockland Immigration Coalition said library policies requiring full ID could prevent undocumented immigrants from obtaining library cards for themselves  and their children.
The state library folks ruled that it was OK for the public libraries to have what amounts to a two-tiered system: One type of card for those with photo identification allowing access to all materials at that library and within other system libraries, and another card allowing only limited access to an individual library.
Quite an interesting debate over a service that has always been based on providing equal access to all. I wonder where this will lead and if anyone will take this any further.
In Mount Kisco, an applicant is only required to show some mail with a local address. The New York Public Library does offer a nonresident card.
And just think, September was annual Get a Library Card month.
This entry was posted
on Friday, October 5th, 2007 at 7:23 pm by Barbara Nackman.
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A municipal reporter for The Journal News since 1997, 
