tional value of the controversial ….
tional value of the controversial books.
As a new mother, Claire Brooks, Wausau, said she often turns to the library for parenting guidance and she expects to use the books there to help answer questions when her kids enter puberty.
“I’m actually kind of excited about that book called ‘Making a Baby,’” she said. “It sounds like it has a lot of anatomically correct ways to explain a complicated and embarrassing topic.”
Brooks pointed out that the Internet is a far more dangerous place for kids looking up information about sex.
“A book about sex education is not pornography,” she said.
Another mother, Ashley Kickbusch, said she deeply values the library for the resources it offers, including “Making a Baby,” which she has already gone over with her six-year-old.
“I have a curious daughter. I don’t want to sugarcoat it,” she said. “I want to have those references available. I understand that some people may find that offensive, and that’s everybody’s own right.”
Multiple supervisors addressed the controversial books issue, with many signaling support for the concerned citizens.
Board vice-chairman Craig McEwen said he has received numerous complaints about “child pornograpy” in the libraries, and some of the emails he received included depictions of what were in the books.
“I immediately deleted these emails because I did not want to be in possession of child pornography, which is against the law,” he said.
McEwen said he is not advocating for the removal of any books from the library, but he believes the board of trustees needs to have better checks in place to protect children from inappropriate material. He accused the library board of not taking citizens’ concerns seriously enough, pointing to a Sept. 19 board meeting when about 40 of them showed up.
“I was told they were treated very disrespectfully,” he said.
Supervisor Tim Sondelski said he did a report on a book called “It’s Perfectly Normal,” which is available in the 7 and up age section. He said it contains “a lot of nudity” and discussions of masturbation. He said he has not heard back from the library board about the book and agrees with McEwen that the issue is not being taken seriously.
Supervisor Ann Lemmer, on the other end, defended the library board and said its process for reviewing challenged books is not a quick one.
“They are in the process right now,” she said. “ I would really ask this body to respect that process.”
Lemmer said she’s worried about suggestions for the board to defund the library system, fearing that rural libraries would suffer most from that decision.
“Please do not defund this library,” she said. Supervisor Michelle Van Krey also defended the library and its process for reviewing books.
“I promise they are taking it seriously,” she said. “They are going through the appropriate processes.”
Supervisor Jennifer Aarrestad said she doesn’t think any supervisor wants to defund the library or ban books, but she believes it’s important to protect children in compliance with the law. One of her constituents suggested possible solutions, such as labeling the books as controversial, keeping them behind the desk or moving them into the adult section.
“I believe that if the library board will come to an agreeable compromise on this issue, it will make it easier for the county board to vote in favor of the proposed library budget,” she said.
Supervisor Tony Sherfinski wondered if the county or the library was at legal risk by offering books that some deemed as harmful to children.
Corporation counsel Michael Puerner said he hasn’t reviewed any of the books himself, but he said the law provides exemptions, both criminally and civilly, for libraries.
“There are certain legal protections that our state legislature has put in statute that would limit the existence of any liability for those books being present in the library,” he said.
