By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
What was intended as a kindhearted gesture for children at a municipal playground has instead raised “liability concerns” among Sea Isle City officials.
A private group that installs miniature libraries at beach entrances each summer in the Townsends Inlet section of town placed a “Kids Library” and a “Kids Sharing Center” at the 85th Street Playground.
Essentially, the Kids Library consisted of a small stand containing children’s books. The Kids Sharing Center was a box containing toys.
Fearing the possibility that something “inappropriate for children” might be slipped inside boxes located on city property, Sea Isle officials asked that they be removed.
“Due to liability concerns, the person(s) who installed the Kids Library and Kids Sharing Center are respectfully asked to remove them,” the city said in a notice left at the 85th Street Playground.
“The City’s Administration appreciates the obvious good intentions that accompanied the installation of these two fixtures. However, we ask that they be removed as soon as possible,” the notice added.
In an interview Monday, city spokeswoman Katherine Custer said Sea Isle could possibly be held liable if something “inappropriate for children” was put inside the boxes at the playground.
“Whenever children are involved, we take safety and security very seriously,” Custer said.
Custer complimented the private group that placed the Kids Library and Kids Sharing Center at the playground. But she noted that the city simply “can’t sufficiently monitor what goes in those boxes.”
“While we appreciate the kind gesture and good intentions of those people who installed the boxes, unfortunately we had to ask them to be removed due to liability concerns,” she said.
Custer said she spoke with a representative of the group, known as the Townsends Inlet Free Library. She didn’t name the representative but said he understood the city’s concerns.
“He was very gracious and understanding. Clearly, they are a group of people who care about our community,” Custer said.
Attempts by SeaIsleNews.com to reach a representative of the Townsends Inlet Free Library for comment Monday were unsuccessful.
One message posted by Tim Kelly on the Facebook community forum SIC Chatter said, “Folks, the TI mini library team is seeking constructive ideas on private (residential or commercial) locations where the kids library and the toy sharing center can be placed.”
The group is known for installing book boxes at some of the pathways to the beach in Townsends Inlet, allowing people to grab a hardback or paperback for their reading pleasure during the summer.
The books are free. The books for these miniature libraries are tucked inside display boxes that resemble tiny, green houses. People are encouraged to leave some books, as well as take some, while traveling to and from the beaches.
Custer said the city believes that the most appropriate place to put book boxes is on private property. She hopes that the members of the Townsends Inlet Free Library will be able to find another location – on private property – for the Kids Library and Kids Sharing Center to benefit children.
“One of the wonderful things about Sea Isle City is that it is filled with good people who want to be wonderful members of the community,” she said.
