Libraries, Parental Choice, and What’s Appropriate

Dear Editor,

Recent conversations about our library have sparked conversations about what books are on the shelves and what is appropriate for children and teens.

At a recent KMLC meeting, book passages and images were presented as examples of “pornographic” material in the children’s and teen sections. Taken out of context, these excerpts give a misleading impression of these books. Legally, the relevant term is obscenity, which is unprotected speech. To meet that definition, a book must satisfy a strict legal test and be judged as a whole. Librarians rely on professional review sources and reputable publishers who would face serious legal consequences for producing obscene material for minors. For such content to reach library shelves, authors, publishers, reviewers, distributors, and librarians would have to knowingly break the law. That does not happen.

Some parents may feel certain materials are not suitable for children or teens. The ALA makes clear that libraries should provide access to materials for all ages while leaving decisions about appropriateness to parents and guardians. Libraries organize materials by age or audience to help families make informed choices, but parents, not the government, ultimately decide what their children may read. Caselaw also makes clear that libraries are not responsible for shielding patrons from material they might find offensive.

Libraries serve the entire community and provide materials that reflect a variety of viewpoints. This approach helps parents decide what is appropriate for their children while ensuring that all library users have access to constitutionally protected materials.