Librarians in Missouri could be jailed
By AmberLynn
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
United States
January 16, 2020 4:05pm CST
Librarians in Missouri could end up jailed if they break this law, depending on whether it passes...
The law states that a panel of parents would decide what is and isn't age appropriate for kids, and if a librarian allows a minor to check it out, that librarian could be jailed.
I think that's ridiculous. Libraries already have a section for books suitable for kids. From there, it should be up to the individual parent to decide whether or not their child is mature enough to read the book.
That includes kids in the preteen years. It shouldn't be up to the librarians, the library pages or volunteers to check and make sure the book a child grabs is "suitable."
Here's more info on it below :
Bill would allow parents to decide whether children should have access to controversial books, with heavy penalties if libraries disobey
12 people like this
12 responses
@snowy22315 (208897)
• United States
16 Jan 20
So stupid, Salem Witch Trials anyone?
2 people like this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
16 Jan 20
Definitely ridiculous! I read the article and one person said it was "an excuse to ban books"
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
17 Jan 20
I agree. Besides this, librarians have been determining child appropriate books and putting them in the right section for years. Now it seems as if Missouri expects the librarians to keep a list of "banned" books near their desk and not allow them to borrow a book if it's on a list. Meanwhile, kids have different levels of maturity.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502427)
• Italy
17 Jan 20
@ScribbledAdNauseum They are asking a bit too much.The parents must be sure that their children do not read adult books, it's not the problem of the librarian.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
17 Jan 20
@LadyDuck Exactly. The parents need to be responsible for their children, even whilst at the library.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
17 Jan 20
I agree with you wholeheartedly. The parents have to be the responsible ones. They are the ones that know their kids, not some librarian that sees them maybe once a week
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
16 Jan 20
What will these do no gooders think of next? That is atrocious.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
16 Jan 20
Really! It's not the fault of the librarians. It's not as if they set out to "corrupt" a child's mind. Quite the opposite!
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91297)
• United States
16 Jan 20
@ScribbledAdNauseum Yes the poor dears now ..I bet many will be driven away from the library work now afraid for their lives.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
16 Jan 20
@RebeccasFarm The librarian career isn't as sought after as it once was - already!
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122146)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
17 Jan 20
A ridiculous rule in Missouri since it is a case of the government is going too far playing Big Brother.
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
17 Jan 20
@Deepizzaguy Yes. I don't think the government should be involved. This is something that the parents need to inform themselves of, and not try to make it the job of the librarian or someone else.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
17 Jan 20
Yes. It's really ridiculous! They are definitely over-reaching.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122146)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
17 Jan 20
@ScribbledAdNauseum It is a shame that the government is placing these stupid rules since it is going to be a judgement call on what is considered adult material for children.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222302)
• United States
17 Jan 20
It's a librarian's duty to check out books, not to decide who should read them!
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
17 Jan 20
Truer words...
I hope it doesn't pass.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
17 Jan 20
Exactly! Kids are going to do what they want. I'm sure they'd find a way around the borrowing anyway.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57760)
• Los Angeles, California
16 Jan 20
That is so ridiculous. Shaking my head. How can this responsibility be put on the librarians 
. . . and just who are these panel of parents who would decide what was appropriate or not? Then what would happen to book stores, new or used. Ugh - 
on this bill!!!@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
17 Jan 20
Well, as far as I am aware this is only for librarians, but no, it wouldn't surprise me if an attempt was made on bookstores.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
19 Jan 20
This is crazy. That is what librarians are there for to help you find books they should know by looking at a child if a book is appropriate or not.
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
19 Jan 20
@ScribbledAdNauseum I don’t either. They should know just by looking at them they are not age appropriate for a book.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
19 Jan 20
I don't think a librarian should be jailed because a kid read a book that wasn't age appropraite.
@jstory07 (148730)
• Roseburg, Oregon
17 Jan 20
That is a stupid law. It is not up to the librarian to decide if a child can check out a book or not.
