>From the Arizona Daily Star: http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/news/278241.php
Book lead tests delayed; libraries say they're safe Capital News Service Tucson, Arizona | Published: 01.31.2009 WASHINGTON The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced Friday that it will postpone lead- testing requirements that would have put libraries at risk of liability lawsuits for loaning children's books. Congress tightened limits on lead levels in children's toys as part of the Consumer Project Safety Improvement Act, after a lead paint scare from imported children's toys. The new requirements were set to take effect Feb. 10 and carried the weight of civil or criminal penalties for distributors of children's products, including books. This decision, once entered in the Federal Register, will give public libraries one year to decide how to bring their collections of children's books into compliance. While pleased, advocates of libraries would like to see more than a postponement of the requirement. "I'm gratified that we've had some action, but it still doesn't solve the problem," said Emily Sheketoff, executive director of the American Library Association's Washington office. "This gives us a year to make the commission understand that books are safe and we're not the problem." Scott Wolfson, spokesman for the Consumer Product Safety Commission, said the commission is still attempting to resolve concerns. "We'll work on a set of exemptions for lead-free materials, and of printing ink included in that set, which would resolve the concerns for libraries," Wolfson said. The delay gives the commission breathing room for finding the compromise and discerning the best mechanism for implementing what lawmakers intended. This message may contain information that will subject this message to disclosure under public information statutes. In the alternative, this message may contain information that is confidential and privileged. Unless you are the addressee (or authorized to receive for the addressee),you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received the message in error,please advise the sender by reply e-mail and delete the message.
