Have you read or seen the latest news on what’s happening in our taxpayer/funded public libraries? If you haven’t, well, let’s just say there is a lot going on and it isn’t good. From Drag Queen Story hour to sexually explicit books in the children’s section. It’s a dumpster fire on taxpayer funds.
The latest county library board meeting I went too, was contentious. There were books on an appeal list, requesting them to be placed in another age-appropriate section or to be removed entirely. The 4-1 vote concluded the books with extreme sexual language and context would stay in the children’s section.
Again, a 4-1 vote to NOT remove sexual content out of the children’s section to a more age-appropriate section. Instead, the Library Director and upper management insisted, it’s the parent’s job to oversee what books their children are checking out. Meaning, the gaslighting, list of excuses and the use of avoidance technique has been in use by these individuals. Essentially, they are stating it isn’t their job, but what’s great is the article I found tells an entirely different story.
What all taxpayers should be saying to this garbage, is NOT on our dime. But guess what, just because the board we have in our county was given the opportunity to do the right thing and chose NOT to, doesn’t mean all hope is lost. Turns out things just need to be handled legally. The Librarians are NOT above the law, and repercussions are coming.
Legislation could be the answer to solving the issues of adults pushing sexually explicit content in front of children, along with jail time and fines. The bonus is these librarians and directors will also find themselves without a jobie-job on our taxpayer funds. :) SOUNDS like a big win to me!
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Librarians at Risk of Legal Repercussions over Book Content
Story by Ella Bennet
Libirans At Risk Of Legal Action
The release of the graphic novel version of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” was initially seen as a positive way to engage young readers in high school settings in Clayton, Missouri. Fast forward to the post-2022 legislative environment, librarians are confronted with the possibility of fines and jail time for providing access to books deemed as having sexually explicit content. Clayton high schools, fearing legal consequences, opted to withdraw the book due to a single explicit scene.
Nationally, book challenges have dramatically increased, reaching the highest incident rate in several decades. Librarians in both public and school libraries are facing a deluge of complaints, primarily from concerned community members and conservative entities like Moms for Liberty. Legislatures are responding with proposals for severe ramifications for the handling of books that don’t align with some community standards, including legal and financial penalties and even the threat of jail time.
This shift reflects current legal debates over what content is considered “obscene” or “harmful,” with an increased focus on materials that address racial issues or represent the LGBTQ+ community. Even without actual prosecutions, the mere potential for such punitive measures has driven librarians to practice greater self-censorship.
More than 15 states have put forward legislation that aims to impose stringent penalties on libraries and librarians. Utah and Idaho have passed laws that authorize significant governmental oversight and accountability for book selection in educational settings. These legislative actions negate longstanding legal shields that have historically protected libraries and their staff from certain forms of litigation or criminal charges, particularly those concerning materials with educational, artistic, or cultural value.
At the heart of the issue are the protective measures that have been in place since the 1960s, which are now under threat as states like Arkansas, Indiana, and Tennessee push for the criminalization of the distribution of explicit materials. Additionally, influential conservative organizations are lobbying for nationwide restrictions on what librarians and educators can provide to students.
Federal challenges have emerged, for example, in Arkansas, where legislation targeting librarians and booksellers was temporarily halted by a judge. And in Indiana, protective exemptions for educators have been removed, heightening the precedence of legal action over book content. These unfolding legal battles have cast a shadow of fear over professionals within the education and library sectors.
In Missouri, the list of prohibited titles is growing, fueling challenges from civil liberties organizations. The removal of books such as “Gender Queer” from high school libraries illustrates the fraught process of interpreting new laws while avoiding excessive self-censorship.
FAQs about New Legal Risks for Librarians Over Book Offerings
What prompted Missouri high schools to withdraw “The Handmaid’s Tale” graphic novel? Missouri high schools withdrew the graphic novel due to a 2022 law that could impose fines and imprisonment for librarians who provide access to sexually explicit materials, as the book contains a depiction of rape. How widespread are the book challenges and potential legal penalties? Book challenges have surged across the United States, with more than 15 states introducing bills to penalize librarians. These range from economic sanctions to the risk of imprisonment. What kinds of materials are most frequently targeted by these challenges? Materials with racial themes or pertaining to LGBTQ+ topics, such as “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison or “Gender Queer” by Maia Kobabe, have become focal points in these disputes. What is the result of these legislative changes on librarians and educators? The threat of punitive measures has led to increased self-censorship among librarians and educators, with some states removing longstanding legal protections.
Conclusion
The landscape of library offerings is undergoing a profound transformation, fraught with legal challenges and the prospect of punitive measures that were once unimaginable. These changes are not only influencing the availability of literary works but also fundamentally reshaping the roles and decisions of librarians and educators. As debates over what constitutes suitable material for readers, particularly the youth, continue to evolve, the enduring power of books and the freedom to access diverse content hangs in balance. The evolving situation serves as a testament to the ever-present tension between community standards and individual rights within the dynamic social fabric of the United States.