Young adults and their parents

At what point is a young adult more "adult" than "young?" I mention it because the ALA Code of Ethics repeatedly mentions "all library users." If a young adult were checking out materials that aroused concern in a librarian, as a professional, that librarian would be obligated to serve the needs of the young adult. As a neighbor, friend, fellow parent, a librarian might feel tempted to alert a parent that their child was viewing pro-eating disorder web pages, for example. As difficult as it might be to suppress that desire, librarians have a duty to first serve the library user. 

My home library system, the St. Petersburg Library, allows parent of those 16 and younger to view their children's circulation records. This indicates to me that the library system is placing the burden of monitoring what young people are viewing, reading and watching on their parent's shoulders. In fact, children 14 and older are issued "adult" cards by the St. Petersburg library system and do not need their parents to sign for the card. How comfortable are you with this policy? Do you believe that those 14 and older should be treated as adults as far as their use of the library is concerned? 

The ALA's Code of Ethics directs librarians to clearly distinguish their personal beliefs from professional duties (ALA). That would seem to indicate to me that a librarian should always put the goals of the library as an institution first, before any personal misgivings or concerns. This means viewing young adults as library users if that is how the institution defines them. As library users, they are entitled to the same rights and privileges in the library as any user. 

American Library Association. (2008, January 28). Code of ethics of the American Library Association. Retrieved April 10, 2008 from http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/statementspols/codeofethics/codeethics.cfm