Missouri Greens and Friends: Please read this email which threatens our public library system with censorship and book banning. Consider sending a statement.

Call to Action – submit comments to MO Secretary of State by Dec 15

The Missouri Secretary of State is proposing new rules on all public libraries that receive state funding to control how and what materials are made available to minors. In his press release, the Missouri Secretary of State said, “We want to bring back local control and parental involvement in determining what children are exposed to.”

Recent history is full of examples where censorship and book banning efforts were carried out under the banner of “parental input” and “local control” – don’t let our libraries be the next victims. You can submit comments to the Secretary of State’s office by emailing [email protected]. To be considered, all comments to the proposed rule must be received by December 15 and must include “15 CSR 30-200.015” in the subject line.  

For more information, read the Mid Continent Public Library’s blog post here. The proposed rules can be found here.

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The following is a sample email you can follow when composing your own:

As a citizen of Missouri, I am strongly opposed to proposed rule 15 CSR 30-200.015. Our public libraries are a treasure that exist to serve the entire community; therefore, onerous rules that hinder their mission are not needed or wanted. Libraries already encourage parents to be involved with their children’s reading selections, but one parent should never be able to dictate what someone else’s child can access or what materials a public library can offer its constituents. I am afraid that the proposed rules will result in censorship and book banning, which have no place in our state.

Thank you,

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For more information contact Cris Mann at [email protected]