Please see below for information on the Consumer Product Safety Commission, lead, &
books.
Robin Shtulman
WMRLS circuit rider
WMRLS, Whately, MA
shtulman@edthewizard.com
978-544-7603
----- Original Message -----
Subject: From ALA Washington Office - Please Call the Consumer Product Safety
Commission
Greetings,
The following message on how the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008
will impact libraries is from Kristin K. Murphy, Government Relations Specialist of
the American Library Association, Washington Office:
________________________________________
From: Kristin K. Murphy [mailto:kmurphy@alawash.org]
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 9:25 PM
Subject: Please Call the Consumer Product Safety Commission
January 22, 2009
A public meeting was held January 22, and Cheryl Falvey, General Counsel for the
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), stated that a decision should be made by
the first week of February regarding libraries. 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. Please call the Acting Commissioner, Nancy Nord, at (301) 504-7923.
When you call this number, wait for the automated directory to give you directions
to reach Nancy Nord's office. 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.
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.
* The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 has been interpreted to
include books as a product that must be tested for lead. While it is understandable
that the CPSC must protect children from toxic materials, publishers have already
tested the book components and found that the lead levels are lower than the
regulations require three years from now. Additionally, all book recalls in the
last two decades have been because of toys attached to the books that posed a
choking hazard, not the books themselves.
* Making these testing regulations retroactive would require both school and public
libraries to take drastic steps to come into compliance. They either would have to
ban children from their libraries or pull every book intended for children under
the age of 12 from their bookshelves at the time children are fostering a lifelong
love of learning and reading.
* In order to allow children and families to continue accessing critical library
materials, please either exempt books from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement
Act of 2008, accept the component tests that have already been done, or exempt all
books currently in school and public libraries. This will ensure that our children
continue to have access to safe and educational library materials.
Thank you for your continued support of libraries!
Sincerely,
Kristin Murphy
Government Relations Specialist
American Library Association - Washington Office
1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20009-2520
Phone Number: 202.628.8410
Fax: 202.628.8419
kmurphy@alawash.org
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