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CPSIA covers both lead--as in some printing inks--and the phthalates
that might be present in plastic covers, plastic bags used to keep kits
together, and "realia" in those cases where libraries have
circulating toy collections. The latest from ALA's Washington Office is: Children’s
Books and the CPSIA” – STANDBY - Situation “Fluid”
-Forward to everyone In
August 2008 the 110th Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement
Act (CPSIA) to protect children under 12 from exposure to lead following
widespread reports about the dangers of children’s toys coming in the
U.S. from China and other places. This new law is administered by the
United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and will likely start
to take effect in February 2009 (although even this latter date appears to be
changing.) Within
the last few days, ALA and others in the “book” community (other
librarians, publishers, teachers, booksellers, etc.) became extremely concerned
after seeing that the CPSC intended to include books in the definition of
“products to children” that would need to be certified as
safe. This concern was heightened by a letter from the General Counsel of
the CPSC – a letter that states that books are not exempt from the law. However,
ALA has been in discussion with attorneys, other associations and the sponsors
of the original bill. Our analysis is that neither the law nor the
legislative history indicates any Congressional intention to include books and
even textbooks in the law. Please
stand by – there is no need to take action at this time. The
situation is extremely fluid and every day this week ALA has received new and
sometimes contradictory information. The ALA Washington Office is taking measures to ensure
this ruling (CPSIA) will not affect libraries and has sent a letter to
all Congressional offices alerting them to the fact that we believe CPSC
General Counsel has erroneously interpreted the CPSIA to include books. ALA is
also monitoring the potential impact on other types of library materials as
well. Several
key Hill offices have contacted the CPSC Commissioners and the General
Counsel. We believe that the misunderstanding may be cleared up, so the
Commission can focus on children’s products that are truly dangerous. If
we can’t get this resolved, we will need everyone who wants children to
continue to have access to safe children’s books to contact the
Commission and Capitol Hill – but, for now, we can stand by until we hear
more from our Congressional supporters. The ALA Library is tracking developments at http://wikis.ala.org/professionaltips/index.php/Consumer_Product_Safety_Improvement_Act_%28CPSIA%29 *If* the regulations stick, they could affect such things as a
university library special collection department being able to acquire an
antiquarian children's book because it is still "intended for
children" even though the likelihood of it ever being touched again by a
child is nil. -- Karen Muller, MLS Librarian and Knowledge Management Specialist American Library Association Toll free: 1-800-545-2433 x 5031 Direct: 312-280-5031 P Think
Green - Not every email needs to be printed From: Sanders, Douglas H
[mailto:dohsande@xxxxxxxxxxx] My guess is that it's more about the potential for phthalates
present in plastic covers and pages rather than lead. Douglas Sanders Paper Conservator, IUB Libraries E. Lingle Craig Preservation Lab 851 N. Range Road Bloomington, IN 47408 From: Bogus, Ian
[mailto:ian.bogus@xxxxxxxx] Has
anyone heard about or responded to this? Ian From: Jonathan Betz-Zall
[mailto:jbetzzall@xxxxxxxxx]
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