4 DAYS LEFT TO COMMENT ON MO SEC OF STATE'S PROPOSED RULE. IT SAYS NO PUBLIC FUNDING FOR PUBLIC LIBRARIES, UNLESS THEY USE AGE RATINGS TO HELP PARENTS DETERMINE WHAT'S APPROPRIATE FOR MINORS.
A quick check shows at least 266 copies of 23 sexually explicit books are available to kids at branches of St. Louis County's public library, with no obvious rating or designation that says for what ages they might be appropriate.
Full details at the bottom of this post.
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"WARNING: MATURE CONTENT"
It is routine for adults to see ^ phrases like this one above, on their TV screens, movie screens and, computer screens, as they scroll through social media posts.
But, they're not in place for books that young kids read.
They would be, though, if the proposed rule goes into effect. Missouri's public libraries would have to provide some type of age appropriate designation for the materials and programs they provide, in order to keep getting state funding.
A COURTESY ALERT TO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT BOOKS
In part, the age appropriate designations would alert parents to content that recently became illegal for Missouri schools to provide to students: sexually explicit images. Note: the rule wouldn't make the images illegal in public libraries. It would only require some type of age appropriate designation for them.
We have reported extensively on the images. You can see many of them, here.
KIDS ARE THE INTENDED AUDIENCE
The images, which show mouths on genitals and characters engaged in sex acts, were all found in comic book styled novels, called graphic novels, that are intended for, and, popular with, young readers today. They are categorized as "young adult," which means authors wrote the books for kids in the age range 12 - 18 years old. With their comic book style and appearance, they often appeal to readers younger than 12 as well.
SEXUALLY EXPLICIT WRITING
Sexually explicit books without images are also intended for minors. They are not currently restricted at all in school libraries or public libraries, and, they won't be restricted under the proposed rule, either. They would only have information added about them that indicates for what age the books are appropriate.
The age appropriate designation would come from the libraries, rather than the people who publish the books. Under the proposed rule, parents would be allowed to challenge whether the library's age designation is actually appropriate.
Above, we provided a link to see examples of sexually explicit images that are in books intended for minors. Below are written excerpts from books (with no images) that also are intended for minors. They are all in St. Louis County public library branches.
EXCERPTS
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"What if I told you I touched another guy's dick? ...What if I told you I sucked it?... I was ten years old, but, it's true." --Lawn Boy, by Jonathan Evison
"He nudged my legs apart with his knees, spreading me as he gripped my hips, tugging them up, up before he sheathed himself deep into me with a single stroke..." --A Court of Mist and Fury
"He shoves me to the floor and pulls off my pants. I stare at the ceiling while he sweats and thrusts, air aching down my throat and into my lungs until he grabs my hair..." --Living Dead Girl
"...she rose up a little and adjusted her panties and breathed harder and opened her mouth..." "The moment she put me inside her I came." "FUCK I said and I curled up around her like a snail and kept coming about a hundred times..." --The Haters
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Critics claim efforts to protect minors are really just attempts to remove books with LGBTQ characters and authors. But, many of the books, including 3 of the 4 referenced above, involve heterosexual characters and are written by heterosexual authors.
PROGRAMS, TOO
Libraries would also need to provide age designations for programs, which includes Drag Queen Story Hour and other events and speakers.
PARENTS SUPPORT, LIBRARIES DON'T
Many parents are supporting the new rule because they want ratings for books that are similar to movie ratings, so they can be more informed about what's in the books. Some type of age-appropriate designation would be a step in that direction.
Libraries have spoken out against it because, under the new rule, state funds couldn't be used to purchase sexually explicit books that are intended for minors. It is not clear what impact that might have, since libraries can already get books through donations.
https://whatsgoingoninrw.blogspot.com/2022/01/high-school-library-book-haters-b-y-j.html