Huntsville Library Rearranges Movie Collections Amid New Policies, Sparking Debate on Access for Teens

Huntsville’s Library Embraces Change with Movie Relocation

In a vibrant city like Huntsville, the local library is shaking things up by realigning its media collection! The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library is moving beloved animated films like Moana, Frozen, and Coco from the juvenile section to the young adult area. This shift follows new policies aimed at complying with state funding requirements, and it’s creating quite a buzz!

A Reason for the Change

Why the rearrangement, you wonder? Interim director Connie Chow stated the important objective is to create a more coherent catalog based on the ratings provided by the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). This means that classics targeting a younger audience but with a PG rating will find a new home where they fit better. Under this new system, if a movie has a G rating, it stays in the juvenile section for kids up to about 12 years old. However, those with a PG rating move on up to the young adult section, which caters to teens aged 13-18.

Shifts in Access for Young Readers

While some movie lovers are celebrating this fresh take on library organization, there are concerns. Alyx Kim-Yohn, co-organizer of the community action group At The Root Collective, elaborated on potential hurdles for teens trying to access materials. Previously, teenagers could secure an adult library card starting at 16, but this new policy raises the bar to 19. Plus, there’s a tiered system implemented for cardholders under 19:

• Tier 1: Access only to juvenile materials
• Tier 2: Access to the young adult section
• Tier 3: Complete access to the entire library catalog

It’s important to note that a parent or guardian needs to approve any access tier beyond the first. If they can’t, a 16-year-old could find themselves restricted to just borrowing from the children’s area. What a bummer!

More than Movies Are Moving

As it turns out, it’s not just films making a big transition! Books are getting shuffled too, with one eye-catching example being a children’s title, The Big Bad Wolf in My House. This book, which aims to address young girls’ tough experiences with domestic violence, climbed all the way from juvenile to the adult non-fiction section. Who would have thought?

Understanding the New Guidelines

These changes are aimed to align with the library’s collection development policy, which recently earned approval from the Alabama Public Library Service. Chow explains that these updates are vital for the library to continue receiving essential state funding, especially for smaller branches that rely on it for operations.

A Bumpy Road Ahead

While the library’s efforts to comply with state regulations are commendable, the transition isn’t without its challenges. Kim-Yohn stated some of the policy revisions seem unnecessary, particularly regarding the movement of materials that shouldn’t ideally be shifted at all. The new definitions adopted for reviewing content are narrowly defined, which might lead to some great stories being tucked away unnecessarily.

Final Thoughts

As Huntsville embraces this era of change, one thing is certain: the conversation surrounding library access and youth resources is just getting started. Will these new policies foster a love for reading and viewing among the young folks? Or will they end up causing frustration as teens navigate this newly structured library? Only time will tell! For now, grab your library card and check out the latest films—just make sure you know which section to find them in!