Public libraries are supposed to be places for communities to gather and learn, with an important focus on being a place for kids to gain access to information. But thanks to a moral panic in the GOP about “indoctrination” in libraries, it seems that at least one library has decided to shut its door to children.

Archived version: https://archive.ph/JzspZ

  • herrcaptain@lemmy.ca
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    23 days ago

    Entering force on July 1, 2024, HB 710 features a definition of obscene materials for minors that critics believe to be broad and, per the library, “ambiguous.”

    “‘Sexual conduct’ means any act of masturbation, homosexuality, sexual intercourse, or physical contact with a person’s clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks or, if such person be a female, the breast,” reads a portion of the bill. The law provides for broad assumptions regarding material that is potentially “obscene” or “harmful to minors” for simply dealing with the subject matter of sexuality or the human body’s biological reproductive functions. Parents or guardians can arbitrarily apply these definitions against libraries accused of “promoting” material that is supposedly harmful to minors. In the law, “promoting” refers to virtually any act of selling, loaning out, and distributing books, DVDs, CDs, or other media types. The law also prohibits live performances that meet the definition of being harmful to minors. It is pretty encompassing.

    Judging by this definition, the Bible should unequivocally be considered harmful to minors. There’s some pretty outright horny stuff in there. I’d say this should be challenged by using it to sue church libraries, but it looks like the bill is directed at schools and public libraries, so I’m guessing they’re exempt by being private organizations.

    • snooggums@midwest.social
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      23 days ago

      Republicans banning books hurts kids, with a long term plan of getting even worse.

      This is a short term minor ‘hurt’ with a goal of avoiding that long term harm.

      • gregorum@lemm.ee
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        23 days ago

        Educated kids grow up to vote democrat.

        That’s what this is about.

    • blindsight@beehaw.org
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      22 days ago

      I initially thought this was just a way of protesting the law, but looking at how it was written, I think this was literally their only legal option. I’m not sure how any library can stay open with the laws as written. I don’t think schools can have basically any books, either.

    • makeshiftreaper@lemmy.world
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      23 days ago

      Maybe. If the books are still available then it leaves the opportunity for parents/guardians to get the books for their kids. Which does still suck because I remember going through the library and grabbing every book I wanted. That certainly has contributed to my lifelong love of reading

      Still, parents take their kids to library most of the time anyway, so kids can still get the books. Possibly this motivates parents to get more books for their kids to stick it to the GOP. I see this as a viable work around personally

    • Jimmyeatsausage@lemmy.world
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      23 days ago

      There is no restriction on books that will hurt these people, just as there is no restriction on flying helicopters that hurts me. I am unable to fly helicopters and have little interest in learning.

  • Godnroc@lemmy.world
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    23 days ago

    So, because there would be no minors present, libraries could reasonably start stocking pornography and serving liquor? I’m not saying I want that, kids should be allowed to learn, but it would be a very, very interesting establishment.

  • DarkGamer@kbin.social
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    23 days ago

    I guess they’ll just have to do research on the internet now, good thing there’s no pornography on the internet