![]() "This is a tool to provide parents to be able to tell whether this is appropriate book for your child. "We're not asking for anything unreasonable," says Lewis County Commissioner Sean Swope, who proposed the plan. To that end, others around the nation are trying another tactic.Ī proposal in Washington state would require libraries to use a universal book-rating system, like the one voluntarily used by the movie industry to designate films "G," "PG," "PG-13" and "R." A call to label books with age classifications, like movies But Wright counters that if parents want stricter controls on what their children see at the library, that's on them to enforce. Harrison says this doesn't solve the problem, since kids can read any books while they're inside the library. And a new tiered library card system allows parents to restrict which books their child can check out, for example, limiting them only to the children's collection, Wright says. "To me, it was a story of a young boy who felt maybe different, but the story that came through to me was how much his family supported him and loved him regardless," Wright says.Īnyway, he adds, that book is already in the library's adult section. As he sees it, All Boys Aren't Blue is critical to young people's development, especially those struggling with issues around sexual identity. "I found it very enlightening," says Idaho Falls Public Library Director Robert Wright. Halli Stone (left) of Parents Against Bad Books persuades Samantha Neis to sign a petition protesting what the group considers obscene books at the Idaho Falls Public Library. They're just not quite on the same page as groups like Parents Against Bad Books, which has so far challenged at least 16 titles, including Flamer, Lawn Boy, What Girls Are Made Of and It's Perfectly Normal. Parents are the primary stakeholders for children." Local libraries push backįor their part, local libraries say parents are already involved, since much of the library staff are parents themselves. You must have experts choosing books for the children,'" Harrison says. "They've told us here that 'Oh no, you can't have parents involved. But she says libraries are resistant to the idea. Harrison wants to change that process by giving parents a voice in that final decision, along with the library staff. ![]() The group is also collecting signatures for a petition that would allow parents to have a say in which books get selected, alongside the library staff whose job it is. Parents Against Bad Books has been setting up a table outside the public library in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to raise awareness about books they believe are inappropriate for young readers. But ultimately, local library staff make the final call about the books they buy and where they should go. Then, professional book reviewers usually weigh in with their own age-bracket recommendation, and distributors and booksellers can do the same. Books usually get an initial designation from authors and publishers. The process of classifying books can be somewhat inconsistent. ![]() to change how decisions are made about which books libraries should have on shelves and in which section of the library they belong. Pushing for a new way to select and classify books "These ideas are going to affect our children in ways that maybe aren't good for them."Īs conversations unfold, Harrison offers a pen and asks people to sign a petition supporting her proposal to let parents weigh in on book selections, alongside the library staff whose job it is. Stone's group was protesting what they see as obscene literature being available at the library.Īnother mom, Natasha Stringam, recalls how her 12-year-old son recently came across a book "about a boy kissing another boy and things that really aren't appropriate at that stage of development for children," she says. Halli Stone (center right) of Parents Against Bad Books watches as Donna Park signs a petition during a rally last month outside the Idaho Falls Public Library in Idaho.
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