[Sca-librarians] Fw: Please Call the Consumer Product Safety Commission

[Johnna Holloway]

You can also go to the website and send a message to her via email.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/commissionernord.aspx

There was a segment last evening on the news regarding how this 
requirement will
close every secondhand / children's resale shop in the country too.
There is some information here plus hundreds of other articles.
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/22/cpsia-waxman-cpsc-oped-cx_wo_0122olson.html

Johnna



john.sandstrom at sbcglobal.net wrote:
> Folks--
>  
> This is the latest communique that I've gotten from ALA on this 
> subject.  You do not need to be a member to call the commisioner.
>  
> Omar
>
> --- On *Thu, 1/22/09, Kristin K. Murphy /<kmurphy at alawash.org>/* wrote:
>
>     From: Kristin K. Murphy <kmurphy at alawash.org>
>     Subject: Dear John, Please Call the Consumer Product Safety Commission
>     To: "John Sandstrom" <john.sandstrom at sbcglobal.net>
>     Date: Thursday, January 22, 2009, 7:24 PM
>
>     January 22, 2009
>     Dear John,
>     A public meeting was held January 22, and Cheryl Falvey, General
>     Counsel for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), stated
>     that a decision should be made by the first week of February
>     regarding libraries.  She advised libraries not to take any action
>     at this time, and we are hopeful that the Commission’s decision
>     will exempt libraries.
>     Even with her assurances, we must let the CPSC know how important
>     an issue this is to libraries.  Please call the Acting
>     Commissioner, Nancy Nord, at (301) 504-7923. When you call this
>     number, wait for the automated directory to give you directions to
>     reach Nancy Nord’s office. Explain to the Commission that it is
>     simply impossible for libraries to remove all children’s books
>     from the shelves and/or ban children under 12 from the library and
>     still provide the level of service that is needed.
>     As always, thank you for all that you do.  The only way we will be
>     successful in ensuring that children will have access to safe
>     books is with a strong grassroots effort.  Your comments to the
>     CPSC need to be submitted as soon as possible, so please tell all
>     your friends and family – we need as many people as possible to
>     communicate that this oversight could have lasting ramifications
>     on our children and our communities.  
>
>         * The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 has been
>           interpreted to include books as a product that must be
>           tested for lead.  While it is understandable that the CPSC
>           must protect children from toxic materials, publishers have
>           already tested the book components and found that the lead
>           levels are lower than the regulations require three years
>           from now. Additionally, all book recalls in the last two
>           decades have been because of toys attached to the books that
>           posed a choking hazard, not the books themselves.
>            
>         * Making these testing regulations retroactive would require
>           both school and public libraries to take drastic steps to
>           come into compliance.  They either would have to ban
>           children from their libraries or pull every book intended
>           for children under the age of 12 from their bookshelves at
>           the time children are fostering a lifelong love of learning
>           and reading.
>            
>         * In order to allow children and families to continue
>           accessing critical library materials, please either exempt
>           books from the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of
>           2008, accept the component tests that have already been
>           done, or exempt all books currently in school and public
>           libraries.  This will ensure that our children continue to
>           have access to safe and educational library materials.
>
>     Thank you for your continued support of libraries!
>      
>     Sincerely,
>      
>     Kristin Murphy
>     Government Relations Specialist
>     American Library Association - Washington Office
>     1615 New Hampshire Avenue NW
>     Washington, D.C. 20009-2520
>     Phone Number: 202.628.8410
>     Fax: 202.628.8419
>     kmurphy at alawash.org <mailto:kmurphy at alawash.org>
>      
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