Children’s Book Burning a Shocking Law
Editor’s Note: In 2008 Congress passed a Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act which has the effect of requiring the destruction of any children’s book published before 1985, due to trace elements of lead in the printed inks. When we first read this report we thought it was a hoax. Unfortunately, it is true. Selling or giving books published before 1985 technically can result in a $100,000 fine. According to the blog, Bardhaven, <http://bardhaven.wordpress.com/2009/06/29/burning-books/> a child would have to totally consume several dozen whole books to be endangered by lead content in the inks. Though presumably not the law’s original intent, the edict would obliterate centuries of literary thought and history. The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s enforcement arm has said for the time being it will not prosecute violators, until the law is further clarified. However, that moratorium apparently runs out in February 2010 (about seven months from now). Read more about this alarming issue on the American Library Association’s wiki headlined Lead in <http://wikis.ala.org/professionaltips/index.php/Lead_in_Books%3F> Books Background on the issue can be found on the ALA site.
READ THE FULL STORY ON AUTHORLINK.
Lots of other news just posted, including a video interview with David Ebershoff, author of THE 19TH WIFE. Visit our main page.
No comments:
Post a Comment