Parental Choice

Maricopa County Library District now offers Parental Choice at the Library. This program provides families with a tool to manage their child’s access to specific books, ensuring content reflects their family’s values and preferences. Similar to the parental control features used on digital platforms, this pilot program gives parents the option of greater oversight without limiting the choices of other individuals and families.

FAQs

How does the program work?
Parents or guardians can visit the library and complete a form identifying specific titles they do not want their child to access. Library staff will then apply a restriction to the child’s library account, preventing checkout of those titles.

Does the program apply only to books?
Yes, this program applies to specific book titles only. However, when a restriction is requested, it is automatically applied to other library services, including self-checkouts and borrowing (downloading) from the digital library.

Who can submit a request?
Only a parent or legal guardian with a library account that is linked to their child’s account may submit a request.

Can I submit the form online?
No, the form must be submitted in-person at the library in order to verify the parent/guardian and child accounts are connected.

Can I restrict all adult books?
At this time, our library software does not have the capability to block access based on categories or age levels. For this reason, the program is designed to honor parental choice on a title-by-title basis. Parents must list the specific titles they wish to restrict on the form submitted in person. This ensures we can apply accurate restrictions to the child’s account in alignment with the parent’s individual preferences.

How do I update or change my selections?
Parents can modify their restrictions at any time by submitting an updated form in person at the library.