Local Lawmaker Considers Library Privacy Laws
KENNEWICK, Wash. -- The Mid-Columbia Library's non-disclosure policy was called into question this week by many local parents after a library manager refused to release the identity of a convicted sex offender accused of approaching young kids at the library computers.
Russell Rust was the man four young kids, between the ages of 11 and 13, identified as sitting down next to them at the computers and passing what they called a "love letter."
Mid-Columbia Library spokesperson Kate Holloway previously told Action News, staff was just following state privacy laws.
But for many parents who reached out to KEPR, that wasn't good enough.
Action News asked library patron Pam Coon: "Do you think that there is balance between protection and keeping people's privacy?" "There is," she said, "but what that person did was against the law."
"Do you think the privacy policy should change if the person is a sex offender?" Action Anews asked library-goer and mom Jamie Aldinger. "Yes, definitely," she responded.
"There should always be exceptions made for sex offenders to protect their children," Lewis Hill said, a dad.
So we took our questions to state Senator Jerome Delvin, R-Richland.
"I see the distinction between what books am I checking out at the library - that should require a judge and a warrant - but if it's just going in and asking general questions relating to a crime ... then I think the library needs to be more cooperative," Delvin explained.
"Maybe we, the legislature, need to look at that and maybe define that more so they have a clear understanding of what we are protecting."
Action News found many other cities and states like Albuquerque and Texas have gone further to track sex offenders, screening them and then cross referencing them with library cards. We asked Lewis if he thinks our local libraries need to do more to protect patrons.
"Well its kind of a catch 22. It's probably not their place and they don't have the resources," he said.
There's another side to this story. Action News also found a parent who doesn't think it's the library's role to protect kids. She pointed to parents instead.
"Yeah, definitely up to the parents," Jenny McCracken said. "It's their responsibility to watch their kids."
Action News tried repeatedly to learn what Rust's probationary conditions are to see if he is even allowed to be around kids. We left several messages over several days at the Benton County Sherriff's Office but none of the calls were returned.
What we do know, is that he was violating whatever those conditions were because that's why he had a warrant out for his arrest.
The Benton County Prosecutor's office is still deciding on potential charges for what happened at the library.
Senator Delvin is interested in hearing what you have to say about the issue. Do you want to see a policy change? Contact him at:
http://www.senaterepublicans.wa.gov/delvin/
Senator Jerome Delvin, 8th District
E-mail: Delvin.Jerome@leg.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 786-7614
Toll-Free: (800) 562-6000
Fax: (360) 786-7524
Address:
201 Newhouse Building
P.O. Box 40408
Olympia WA 98504-0408
Russell Rust was the man four young kids, between the ages of 11 and 13, identified as sitting down next to them at the computers and passing what they called a "love letter."
Mid-Columbia Library spokesperson Kate Holloway previously told Action News, staff was just following state privacy laws.
But for many parents who reached out to KEPR, that wasn't good enough.
Action News asked library patron Pam Coon: "Do you think that there is balance between protection and keeping people's privacy?" "There is," she said, "but what that person did was against the law."
"Do you think the privacy policy should change if the person is a sex offender?" Action Anews asked library-goer and mom Jamie Aldinger. "Yes, definitely," she responded.
"There should always be exceptions made for sex offenders to protect their children," Lewis Hill said, a dad.
So we took our questions to state Senator Jerome Delvin, R-Richland.
"I see the distinction between what books am I checking out at the library - that should require a judge and a warrant - but if it's just going in and asking general questions relating to a crime ... then I think the library needs to be more cooperative," Delvin explained.
"Maybe we, the legislature, need to look at that and maybe define that more so they have a clear understanding of what we are protecting."
Action News found many other cities and states like Albuquerque and Texas have gone further to track sex offenders, screening them and then cross referencing them with library cards. We asked Lewis if he thinks our local libraries need to do more to protect patrons.
"Well its kind of a catch 22. It's probably not their place and they don't have the resources," he said.
There's another side to this story. Action News also found a parent who doesn't think it's the library's role to protect kids. She pointed to parents instead.
"Yeah, definitely up to the parents," Jenny McCracken said. "It's their responsibility to watch their kids."
Action News tried repeatedly to learn what Rust's probationary conditions are to see if he is even allowed to be around kids. We left several messages over several days at the Benton County Sherriff's Office but none of the calls were returned.
What we do know, is that he was violating whatever those conditions were because that's why he had a warrant out for his arrest.
The Benton County Prosecutor's office is still deciding on potential charges for what happened at the library.
Senator Delvin is interested in hearing what you have to say about the issue. Do you want to see a policy change? Contact him at:
http://www.senaterepublicans.wa.gov/delvin/
Senator Jerome Delvin, 8th District
E-mail: Delvin.Jerome@leg.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 786-7614
Toll-Free: (800) 562-6000
Fax: (360) 786-7524
Address:
201 Newhouse Building
P.O. Box 40408
Olympia WA 98504-0408
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