One of the perks of the library system — besides your ability to check out books for free and reserve space and equipment — is that the larger ones will have just about any book you need. If they don’t have it, there’s a good chance they can acquire it for you.
But a Missouri Republican wants to punish any library that carries a book that’s very unpopular in the community.
State Rep. Ben Baker has proposed HB 2044, which would withhold all state funding from libraries if they allow “minors to access age-inappropriate sexual materials.”
How would that even work? Baker lays it all out in the bill: Public libraries would have to create a five-member “parental library review board,” via an election, for a two-year term. Those parents would get to decide what’s “age-inappropriate sexual material.” Kids would then be blocked from checking out whatever books are on their list.
If librarians violate any of these rules, they would be subject to a fine of up to $500 or a year in jail.
Mods: Please forgive me. This is my first post and I’m pretty sure I didn’t do it right. The image appears twice and I didn’t see how to place it in a category.