Kids cannot check out adult materials. Nor can they attend a library alone until middle school. (At least around here.)

I guess the already normalized lack of liberty shouldn’t surprise me anymore.

Where do you live?

My son got his first library card at 5 and walked over there by himself when he was 6 or 7.

Middle school is way too late to build good reading habits. What a shame.

I live in the Midwest US. Plenty of kids can and do walk to our library. Though younger ones who come alone are questioned for their own safety.