Recently, I was at the Hampton Main library off of Victoria Blvd and I ran into a high school student in the parking lot who I knew vaguely from the neighborhood. Instead of asking me for a ride, or money, he asked me- what I initially thought- was a very strange question.

He asked me if I would get him a library card.  We went inside to the front desk. As soon as I asked for the card, he asked the youth how old he was, to which he responded “17”. That is when the library attendant asked me was I his mother. I did not realize that was a trick question, and I told him no. He told me that he would have to return with his mother to get issued a library card. I persisted and he told me that those are the rules and if he needed to get a book that same day, he suggested I let him use my card. We left the counter and the young man told me that he already knew the rule, but he forgot to tell me that I needed to say that I was his mother.

The obvious question is this- if this child has gone 17 years without a library card, what sound reasoning would make anyone think the parents are going to find the time to come to the library? And WHY do we continue to slam doors on our youth? Better yet, what fraud, waste or abuse could this student possibly do with his library card if it was issued to him without his parents consent?

Food for thought…….. the same 17 year old could wander into the Hampton Health Department with an STD, at which time he will be examined, diagnosed and issued a prescription to treat his condition without the parent even being notified.

The same 17 year old can then walk up to a Red Box at 7-11 without an adult, and as long as he has access to a credit card, he check out an R rated movie!

The same 17 year old can sign himself out of school for early release without a parent. (Although the guidelines prohibit this, I know this is taking place because my daughter did it- on more than one occasion at Hampton High)

The same 17 year old may also get away with walking into one of Hampton’s “corner stores” and purchase a pack of cigarettes if they catch the right cashier.

But a library card…forget about it.

Who is checking the checker around here?

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