County Libraries' Summer Reading Program Toys Recalled

8/10/2006

Wake County Public Libraries staff and officials are urging parents to return small toy animal figures that may have contained unacceptable amounts of lead, which were used during a popular summer reading program this year. Highsmith, a supplier of items used in the Wake County Libraries' “Paws, Claws, Scales and Tales” Summer Reading Program has issued a recall for the two animal toys that children may have received. Parents are urged to return the four-inch, bendable toys to their local libraries so that the library system can comply with this recall.

Through posters, announcements and even direct phone calls to customers, library staff have initiated recalls within each of the branches where the toys were distributed.

“We received notification from the State Library of North Carolina about this issue, and are taking immediate action to contact all parents,” said local library director Thomas Moore. Several Wake County libraries were among the estimated 28 libraries statewide that purchased these toys from Highsmith for the summer reading program. The program receives funding from the State Library of North Carolina.

The “Paws, Claws” program is national, and toys were purchased from Highsmith by libraries in approximately half of the United States. The Indiana State Department of Health has referred this matter to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission for further investigation and follow-up. Highsmith is a reputable national vendor of library-related materials. Wake County received 768 of these toys, of which nearly all were distributed.

Parents who have questions or concerns about lead exposure may contact Dr. David Damsker with Wake County Human Services at 250-4549. For further information on the toy recall, call Carol Laing at East Regional Library, 919-217-5300.

EDITOR'S NOTE: If requested, Ms. Laing could be available to speak to media from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at East Regional Library Thursday evening.

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