WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT SEXUALLY EXPLICIT BOOKS IN ROCKWOOD'S SCHOOL LIBRARIES
Before a new state law, Rockwood justified keeping books with mature sexual content by saying the books provide "diverse perspectives" to students, and stating they didn't meet Missouri's legal definition of pornography:
Section 573.010 (14) defines pornographic to minors as “any material or performance if the following apply: (a) The average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the material or performance, taken as a whole, has a tendency to cater or appeal to a prurient interest of minors; and (b) The material or performance depicts or describes nudity, sexual conduct, the condition of human genitals when in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal, or sadomasochistic abuse in a way that is patently offensive to the average person applying contemporary adult community standards with respect to what is suitable for minors and (c)The material or performance, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political or scientific value for minors.”
WHY ROCKWOOD SAID THAT LAW DIDN'T APPLY
Rockwood review committees:
"This does not apply to library books because they, taken as a whole, contain literary value. Further, there is a strong argument that library books are protected by the First Amendment."
This is how the new law legally defines explicit sex:
"any pictorial, three-dimensional, or visual depiction, including any photography, film, video, picture, or computer-generated image, showing human masturbation, deviate sexual intercourse as defined in section 566.010, sexual intercourse, direct physical stimulation of genitals, sadomasochistic abuse, or emphasizing the depiction of postpubertal human genitals; provided, however, that works of art, when taken as a whole, that have serious artistic significance, or works of anthropological significance, or materials used in science courses, including but not limited to materials used in biology, anatomy, physiology, and sexual education classes shall not be deemed to be within the foregoing definition;
566.010 defines "deviate sexual intercourse," in part, as acts involving hand or mouth and genitals.
Rockwood's head librarian admitted she didn't know the excerpts above were in the books. Librarians don't read the books before they order them or before they place them on library shelves. They choose books based on providing diverse perspectives (such as the author is black and/or gay), "professional" reviews, and awards.
Every review committee kept every book in Rockwood's libraries. Some books went a step further in the process and were appealed. The appeals were not successful.
HAVE TO KNOW THE TITLES
Rockwood says parents can restrict access to titles, in your child's account. But, to restrict a certain title, parents have to first know the title.
RESTRICT THE WHOLE CATEGORY?
If parents don't have the title, Rockwood says they can tell the librarian at their child's school to restrict the whole category that most of these books are in: "Young Adult." (YA.)
But, head librarian Margaret Sullivan says that would restrict nearly all 5,000 titles that are available in the high school libraries. Along with books that contain sexually explicit content, there are cook books, books on NBA players and UFOs in that same YA category, and would also be restricted.
YOUR INSTRUCTION DOESN'T STOP ACCESS TO THE BOOK
All books can be read IN the library. Any restrictions you place on books will only keep your student from taking the book out of the library.
DOESN'T WORK FOR E-BOOKS
Librarians say, regardless of what instructions you give them, your child can still access any E-Book of the same title you're restricting because librarians don't have the ability to restrict E-Books.
AN IDEA
Parents have suggested creating a ratings system that categorizes books in a more discerning way, such as what the books contain: sex acts, profanity, violence, etc. similar to the ratings system for movies.
It is a class A misdemeanor if school districts provide sexually explicit images to students. The penalty is up to a year in jail and $2,000 in fines.