Trustees To Consider Electronic Cigarettes Ban

ROGERS — Tobacco products have been banned in public buildings for years, but electronic cigarettes are raising a smoke cloud at the Rogers Public Library.

“We had some people using electronic cigarettes in the library recently,” said Judy Casey, library director.

Electronic cigarettes aren’t addressed in library policies, Casey said.

“We had some patrons complain about the use of electronic cigarettes inside the library. Some patrons were concerned they might be exposed to secondhand smoke,” Casey said.

Electronic cigarettes don’t produce smoke, but instead vaporize a liquid solution into an aerosol mist, according to manufacturers of the devices.

“I really didn’t know if the vapor the person using the cigarette was smoke or not. I had to do some research on it,” Casey said.

Casey asked Jim Clark, deputy city attorney, for advice on how to approach electronic cigarettes.

“I told her she should bring it before the library Board of Trustees. It’s my opinion the board has banned food, drinks and smoking in the library, so they can ban electronic cigarettes if they want. It needs to be part of the library policy for clarity,” Clark said.

Board members are scheduled Tuesday to review banning electronic cigarettes.

“We don’t allow smoking anywhere on the library campus. The board will consider placing the same restrictions on electronic cigarettes,” Casey said.

Casey added she has noticed teenagers using electronic cigarettes on the library campus.

“There was some discussion in the state Legislature about a bill banning the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors, but I don’t know the status of the bill,” Clark said.

House Bill 1398, which prohibits the sale of electronic cigarettes to minors, was approved by the House and was approved Thursday by the Senate on its second reading.

In July 2009, the Food and Drug Administration publicly discouraged the use of electronic cigarettes and raised concerns electronic cigarettes may be marketed to young people and lack appropriate health warnings.

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