Iowa legislation is currently discussing bills that could potentially cause public libraries to remove materials with any sexual content and open up to frivolous lawsuits due to obscene materials. Today (Tuesday), the Senate Education subcommittee discussed senate file (SF) 235, which removes the educational exemption clause for public libraries. This bill removes the protection currently in place for libraries and cities of lawsuits brought upon them from patron’s objection to what they perceive as obscene material. Carroll Library Director Wendy Johnson says that the obscenity is defined by law and it has to meet certain criteria before the material can be removed from library shelves, but SF 235 would essentially do away with the definition.
Johnson says discussion on that proposed legislation is not the main fear of public libraries. House File (HF) 558, a companion bill to SF 347 was introduced to the Iowa House today (Tuesday) and referred to House Judiciary Committee. HF 558 would prohibit libraries from purchasing or having inventory of any material with descriptions or visual depictions of any sexual act as defined by Iowa Code, even for adults. Johnson says this bill has more concrete definitions as what material would be banned from the library, it would create a lot more work on staff to follow if passed.
These are currently just being discussions held at Sente and House committees and subcommittees. Johnson says if anything is passed, the library board will meet to discuss next steps, and it will be up to her as library director to enforce decisions made.
Johnson encourages all to stay up to date with the proposed legislation and to reach out to representatives on the House Judiciary Committee and the Senate Local Government Committee. A list of email addresses for those members can be found included below.
