ome thoughts and clarification on Seaside City Councilor Steve Dillard’s library postcard mailer: Let’s clarify words in conflict. First, “have to”: Something that is required or necessary. Second, “should”: What is probable.

Now, we can “… talk about that.” The Seaside Public Library policies are clear. On page 13, the policy maintains that people can select material for themselves or their minor children, they may not restrict others. The mention of the First Amendment in the policy states that if a patron says an item does not have First Amendment protection, they must prove it.

All other references to minors are from the American Library Association. The pertinent language is: “Library policies and procedures which effectively deny minors equal access to all library resources available to other users violate the Library Bill of Rights.”

Other language in the same vein follows. Nowhere in either document does it declare that minors have to be treated as adults. In all cases, parents and guardians must guide their minor library choices.

By the way, the First Amendment deals only with protecting the five basic freedoms of the people from government intrusion, such as from presidents, legislatures, governors, city councils, etc. It is not age-specific.

JOSEPH P. GONZALES

Seaside