Report: “Missouri Secretary of State Defends Controversial Library Rule as Critics Warn of ‘Slippery Slope'”

UPDATE (Dec 16th): “Missouri Gets 10,000 Public Comments on New Library Rule Labeled ‘Political Censorship'” (via KC Star/via AOL)

—End Update—

From KCUR Radio in KCMO:

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft is pushing back against heavy criticism over a proposed set of regulations that would threaten state funding for libraries over “inappropriate” materials for minors.

The period for public comment on those rules closes Thursday, Dec.15.

“People can say what they want. I thought we’d crafted a rule that would allow local libraries to make sure they did things where they wanted to with visibility and transparency for parents,” Ashcroft said on KCUR’s Up To Date on Wednesday. “Honestly, I’m not the one making a big deal about this. It’s the libraries.”

Ashcroft’s proposal would require libraries that receive state funds to adopt six new regulations, which he says are aimed at “protecting minors from non-age-appropriate materials.” Libraries that do not comply could lose access to state funding.

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“It’s the foundation of librarianship,” says Kansas City Public Library director of policy analysis Cindy Hohl, who appeared alongside Ashcroft. “Everyone should have equal access to the library.”

Last month, a group of 12 former library directors and administrators signed onto a letter to Ashcroft opposing the rule, saying they were “redundant and unnecessary.”

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Filed under: Funding, Libraries, News, Public Libraries