05.01.2025

Our NH State Legislature has been debating a number of bills that will affect the way our Library can lend books. Because of the way these bills are worded, if these bills pass in their current form, we will have to make some changes in order to ensure we are complying with these pending changes to the law. 

HB 273 
Firstly, we will no longer be able to issue cards to anyone under the age of 18. The legislature has determined that a parent's right to know what materials their child has borrowed outweighs the rights of a child to privacy. The bill specifies that the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) whose address matches that of the minor is/are the parent(s) or legal guardian(s) who have rights of access. But addresses are not indicative of all rights.

We cannot reasonably determine custodial or other applicable parental rights in several instances based on an address without several intrusive questions and significant documentation. Because of this complexity, we have determined that our safest path to compliance with this law is to require that all persons under the age of 18 (17 and younger) must borrow materials using their parent's library card(s). This will require signatures on an Informed Consent form, which the Library will provide and maintain on file. Parents must be present with their child(ren) at the time of authorization. 

HB 666 - (UPDATE - 05.02.2025 - This bill has been deemed Inexpedient to Legislate by the Senate Judiciary Committee - this effectively "kills" the bill). 
Secondly, the legislature has determined that possession of a library card falls into the category of protected, confidential, personal information. We will be unable to acknowledge any person's status regarding library card possession or lack thereof. Given this restriction, we must now require that all patrons checking out materials present a valid ID at check out - either their library card or driver's license.

The new privacy laws in front of the NH Legislation require that patrons only check out materials to a card that reflects their own identification. Checking out materials to anyone else's card requires acknowledging the other person had a library card and would violate the terms of this legislation.

We cannot acknowledge a patron's possession of a library card to anyone other than the holder of that card. Husbands and wives or families who currently share a library card will need to each get their own, and per the previously discussed legislation, parents will have to sign off on allowing their minor children to access the parental library account. 

While it is possible that these bills will change in the legislative process, we need to implement the changes as soon as possible, as the bills include a very short window for implementation if they do pass, which will be insufficient for effective compliance with the bills in their current form. 

On top of all of this (and not related to any pending legislation) is a new security requirement from our online vendors for eBooks, Audiobooks, and movies (Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy), This new requirement means that we will be issuing new Library cards with 14-digit numbers to all of our eligible patrons over the next few months. All patrons will need to be assigned a new 14-digit patron number and card. If you only borrow electronically, please be sure to come by and get your new card and number. 

We apologize for any disruption this might cause. We understand that this may change the way you borrow materials from us, and we will do everything we can within the bounds of these new laws to accommodate you all.