A bill proposed in Missouri would allow panels of parents to determine what reading material is suitable for children, and would punish public libraries and staff who loan children books that are deemed sexually “age-inappropriate.”
Missouri House Bill 2044 (pdf), formally known as Parental Oversight of Public Libraries Bill, was introduced on Jan. 8 by Republican state Rep. Ben Baker. Under the proposed bill, 5-member boards of local parents would be elected to review and decide whether books are inappropriate for minors. Public librarians are explicitly not allowed to serve on these parental review boards.
