Editorial: Playboy is available at your local library

Imagine the surprise Tish Carroll felt when she recently saw three middle school-aged boys looking at Playboy magazine in a public library. The Las Vegas-Clark County Library District's open access policy allows anyone with a library card -- no matter how young -- to read any publication in its collection, including Playboy. Carroll spoke against this at the library district's board meeting on Thursday, but none of the trustees asked the staff to re-examine the rule.

The district's policy is ridiculous. First, it is difficult to believe that with its limited funds the district can justify spending money on Playboy when more literate fare exists. Second, if government can restrict at what age a store can sell adult magazines, then there is no reason why a library can't restrict the viewing to those who are 18 and over. Sure, boys under 18 still will find clever ways to obtain Playboy, but government should not be in the business of introducing publications to children that many parents consider pornographic.

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