Burlington Library Board approves new labeling policy for children's books

The Alamance County Commissioners Meeting on April 21, 2025, featured a significant discussion led by Cheryl Sanford, a resident of Downtown Burlington and vice chair of the library board. Sanford presented the board's new library labeling policy aimed at assisting parents in selecting appropriate reading materials for their children.

Sanford emphasized the responsibility of parents in guiding their children's reading choices, highlighting that the library's current material selection policy places this responsibility squarely on parents and guardians. She acknowledged the challenges busy families face, noting that it is often impractical for parents to pre-read every book their children may check out.

To address this issue, the library board proposed a parental guidance sticker system. This initiative is designed to help parents make informed decisions about the books their children choose, similar to content ratings for movies and video games. Under this system, a content review request must be submitted by a patron, which will then be evaluated by a review committee. The decision regarding the sticker's appropriateness will be communicated in writing to the requester.

Sanford clarified that the board is not advocating for the removal of any books from the library or imposing age restrictions on stickered materials. The goal is to provide guidance without censorship, ensuring that parents can better navigate the library's offerings.

In her presentation, Sanford also shared examples of books that could benefit from this labeling system, illustrating the types of content that parents might want to be aware of when selecting materials for their children.

The discussion reflects a growing trend in libraries to support parental involvement in children's reading while maintaining access to a diverse range of materials. The next steps for the library board will involve implementing the sticker system and continuing to engage with the community on this initiative.