[Michlib-l] legal guardians and minor's cards

[Membiela, Clare (MDE)]

Hi Tracy:
I will answer this question for you off list and t hen provide a copy for Michlib-L

😊
Clare

Clare D. Membiela, MLS, J.D.
Library Law Consultant
Library of Michigan
MembielaC at michigan.gov<mailto:MembielaC at michigan.gov>
517-335-8132

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From: Michlib-l <michlib-l-bounces at mcls.org> On Behalf Of Tracy Aldrich via Michlib-l
Sent: Tuesday, February 27, 2024 2:05 PM
To: Membiela, Clare (MDE) via Michlib-l <michlib-l at mcls.org>
Subject: [Michlib-l] legal guardians and minor's cards

CAUTION: This is an External email. Please send suspicious emails to abuse at michigan.gov<mailto:abuse at michigan.gov>

Hi Clare,

Can you advise us on how to handle the following situation? We have a mother who didn't want her son to get a card. His grandmother did, and brought him in and put herself down as the responsible adult on his application. Staff made him a card, and the mother got angry with us and wants us to close the account. We have not yet, as we don't actually know who is the legal guardian (they are both claiming to be.)

We've been advised (at our director's meetings) that we can't actually require an adult to show proof of legal guardianship when they ask for a card for their child, and we never have (what would a parent even show to prove that? I have no idea, unless they are going through a divorce and have some sort of official custody papers.)  Another director said we shouldn't do anything to an account unless its authorized by the person whose name is on that account, in this case, the grandmother, and that it should be up to the family to sort this out themselves (for example, by the mother taking the card away and telling the grandmother not to do it again, I guess.) That's what I've been doing, but the mother is really angry, my staff are confused, and I am uncertain what to tell them.

I can tell you this is a common problem for many of us and I think a lot of us are confused.

Thanks,
Tracy

--

Tracy Aldrich, Director
Ruth Hughes Memorial District Library
211 N. Almont Ave.
Imlay City, MI 48444

taldrich at ruthhughes.org<mailto:taldrich at ruthhughes.org>

810-724-8043



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