Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, pictured in June 2022 at his office in Jefferson City, Mo. But Ashcroft insists that tying library funding to book selection is not banning books. The move comes as books are being banned from libraries at rates not seen in decades most of them have to do with LGBTQ themes or race and racism. Also, all events at the library - including story hours - must be labeled with "age-appropriate designations" in all their promotions.
Libraries also must keep any "age-inappropriate" books away from areas meant for young readers, and they must clearly publicize how they select books and how parents can challenge those choices. Libraries must have strict new policies barring them from giving minors books that their parents don't want them to read. Under the new rule, public libraries will lose state funding, which ranges from 1% to 20% of their budget, if they violate the rules. "I said I have to figure out how to do this, because by rule I can get it done much more quickly than if I wait on the legislature," says Ashcroft, a Republican who recently announced he's running for governor. But in the meantime, Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft jumped in and decided to enact what's called an "administrative rule" - one that doesn't need legislative approval. State lawmakers have been considering several bills that would have axed library funding. Missouri latest to take aim at library funding Missouri is one of a growing number of places where government funding is being deployed as the newest weapon in the fight over books. "When I feel happy, I say, 'Quack! Quack!' " The kids cackle and quack back.īut the happy face Bowman puts on for the kids belies a deep anxiety.Īs president of the Missouri Library Association, she's currently in a bit of a panic over strict new rules that go into effect May 30 and could deny state funding to libraries over books deemed inappropriate for young readers. As usual, it gets the kids' attention and the gaggle settles down so Bowman can begin story hour. One toddler, who's new to the group, is having a bit of a meltdown, so Otter Bowman, a library associate at the Daniel Boone Regional Library in Columbia, Mo., goes for the surest trick she has and starts talking about "Junior," the library's bookmobile. The decibel level is climbing as some 20 preschoolers sprawl out on an alphabet-pattern carpet for story hour. Libraries that don't comply risk losing state funding. Otter Bowman is one of many library staffers around Missouri scrambling to enact new policies around books selected for young readers.
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