TODAY'S THE LAST DAY TO COMMENT. ARE YOU SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE OF SEXUALLY EXPLICIT BOOKS IN LIBRARIES?
There is a new library rule proposed by Missouri's Secretary of State that could help parents make more informed choices for their kids. It requires action from public libraries, not school libraries.
Staff at Rockwood: What's Going On has been fielding questions and engaging in discussions with parents and taxpayers, and came up with a few bullet points that provide information much of the community seems to not know:
* NO BOOKS WILL BE REMOVED
The proposed rule only asks that public libraries provide information that helps parents determine what's appropriate for their minor children. (Kind of like age ratings we have for movies.)
* KIDS ARE THE INTENDED AUDIENCE FOR SEXUALLY EXPLICIT BOOKS
The books that prompted the rule proposal are categorized as "young adult" books. It's generally an age range from 12 years and up, and it's described as the audience the books were written for.
* SEXUALLY EXPLICIT IMAGES: COMIC BOOKS?
One type of books also appeals to kids even younger than 12 because they appear to be comic books. The technical term is graphic novels. The images show mouths on genitals and characters engaged in sex acts.
People often don't believe libraries provide sexually explicit images to minors until they see them. You can see them here.
* WHAT ABOUT THOSE BOOKS REMOVED FROM SCHOOLS?
Only graphic novels have been removed from Missouri's school libraries, due to their sexually explicit images. They will not be removed from public libraries under the proposed rule.
* SEXUALLY EXPLICIT WRITING/NO IMAGES
Above, we provided a link to see examples of sexually explicit images that are in books intended for minors. Below are written excerpts from a few of the 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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Also, under the proposed rule:
Public libraries would not get state funding unless they show they are putting age appropriate designations on all their materials and event/speaker programs, such as Drag Queen Story Hour.
Public libraries would not be able to use state funds to purchase sexually explicit books that are intended for minors. (They could still be donated or acquired another way.)
Public libraries would not be able to display sexually explicit books in areas of the library with books or other materials that are predominantly for minors.
TO COMMENT ON THE PROPOSED RULE
To give your opinion about the proposed rule, email the Secretary of State before the end of today, December 15th, at: comments@sos.mo.gov.
Include this rule number in the subject line: 15 CSR 30-200.015.