COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Demonstrations took place at North Idaho libraries on Monday. Idaho's new law on regulating books that may be considered "harmful materials" goes into effect today.
The legislation could impact how libraries operate, specifically when it comes to children.
The Library Alliance of North Idaho is one of the groups rallying against the state’s new library law, as well as showing their support for local libraries.
“We as Idahoans, we see ourselves as free people and free people read freely,” Megan Dardis-Kunz, who is with the Library Alliance of North Idaho, said.
The demonstration kicked off at 3 p.m. and more and more people gathered throughout the afternoon.
This new Idaho law allows the public to file a complaint with the library, requesting a book they find inappropriate for the children’s section to be moved.
First, the library board has 30 days to formally receive the request. Then once it’s received, the clock starts another 30 days for the library board to review the book and act on the request.
If the book isn’t removed, people can sue the library and staff for $250 and other damages.
Those rallying against the new law believe this takes away parental rights and adds unnecessary work for libraries.
The law impacts both public libraries, as well as those at public and private schools.
"Books are the one area where items are reviewed, published and go through a lot of process, and [to] have restrictions on that is absurd," Joe Morrison, a free-speech advocate, said.
The Coeur d’Alene Public Library said it made minor changes in preparation for the new law. It said it already had a material review policy, form and procedure in place. However, they modified each of them to match the process outlined in the new statute.
On Monday, the Library Alliance of North Idaho invited the public to sign thank you cards that will be delivered to librarians. Demonstrations are also going on right now at branches in Hayden, Post Falls, Spirit Lake, and others.
"Our hope is first, that our librarians and our library workers know that we support them and appreciate the work that they do and we trust them," Dardis-Kunz said. "We trust them to make the decisions about what material should be in our books."
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