Proposed bill would devastate local libraries

Let’s look at the real implications of the library bill.

Child as defined in the bill is anyone under 18. If I’m the parent of a teenager who doesn’t want to deal with uncomfortable books, this law allows me to pick a book and launch a lawsuit. First, I have to give the school or library 30 days to remove the book. Their choice is to ban the book(s) or try to fight it in court.

Any ONE person has full control to force the removal of virtually any book from the school or library. The criteria are very broad. Florida banned dictionaries this week because dictionaries qualify under the criteria.

We already have clear laws preventing porn and harmful materials from being in our libraries and schools. This bill takes control out of the hands of professional librarians and puts it into the hands of ANY citizen who wants to dictate what YOUR teenager is allowed to read. Why should one parent have power over another parent?

If this law passes, the only reasonable recourse would be to restrict anyone under 18 from coming inside and to remove books from schools.

And, there’s an impact on your pocketbook. $250 doesn’t sound like a lot … until you add up the legal fees and the multiple incidents and the follow-on lawsuits. Libraries are funded by your tax dollars. You will pay for those lawsuits or lose our libraries.

The bill is likely to pass. Two years ago, one vote saved us. Call your legislators and if they don’t listen, vote them out of office.

KATHRYN LARSON

Sagle