The brouhaha over books on public library shelves in Daviess County has apparently reached a boiling point. One side in the debate warns of a censorship regime bent on banning books in the young adult (YA) section of the Daviess County Public Library. The other side says certain books are inappropriate, some downright pornographic, and do not belong within eyeshot and easy reach of children. It’s a microcosm of a debate over sexual content made accessible to minors in libraries that’s playing out in communities across the nation.
The reconfigured library board voted October 15 to move four books— Flamer, Queer, Sex Plus, and This Book Is Gay—from the YA to the adult section. Board member Kathi Mattas motioned to relocate the books because they were “sexually explicit.” She said the publisher ratings indicated they weren’t appropriate for minors as young as 13.
Recent board addition, Tim Kline, voted to move the books to the adult section. He cited a passage in Sex Plus that “encourages sexting in the right circumstances.” Kline, a local attorney and pastor, said “I defy anybody to go on the internet and find an expert who will say that it is ever a good idea to send a naked picture of yourself to anyone under any circumstances, ever.” Kline took issue with another controversial book called This Book is Gay, which declares that “porn is fine and fun.” By a 3-1 vote, all four books were moved to the adult section.
Members of the Coalition for an Inclusive Daviess County (CIDC) adamantly opposed moving the books out of the YA section. Some likened such efforts to a censorship campaign. But is this what’s going on? Board member Kathy Mattis, said she’s been called a Nazi and homophobe for sharing concerns over sexually explicit books since she joined the board last year. Now members of the CIDC—some believing our democratic republic in jeopardy—are calling to replace local officials responsible for the conservative library board appointments.
A few suggestions are in order as the public debate continues. First, be accurate with your words. Calling your opponents Nazis does not them such. It also diminishes the evil of what the Nazi regime stood for. Simply stating that sexually controversially books targeted toward minors shouldn’t be displayed in a public library hardly equates to a move by the Third Reich.
Second, be truthful. Calling concerned parents and grandparents censors and book banners when they simply object to graphic or sexually charged material in the YA section is not censorship. Nor is it book banning. Jerry Chapman of Daviess County Citizens for Decency said he and his group have never asked for any book to be removed from the library. For the last 18 months they’ve asked that age-inappropriate books be moved to the adult section and out of kids reach.
Finally, continue to engage the democratic process, which contrary to some assertions, is not on the brink of collapse. Both sides have shown up to library board meetings and voiced their concerns and opinions. Both sides have their own social media pages. They’ve held their own meetings and issued calls to action. Isn’t it interesting that both sides of the political spectrum benefit from First Amendment freedoms? The democratic process is alive and well in Daviess county. There could be improvement when it comes to acting with civility. Calling down fire from heaven to smite your enemy is probably not the best place to start. Instead, try putting yourself in the other person’s shoes, learn more about their concerns, and begin conversations viewing opponents not necessarily as enemies but as fellow citizens. We can all do better in this regard, but the strength of our democracy rests on this willingness to listen, respect, and engage one another as neighbors.