TOPEKA, KS — Four books about sexuality have been returned to the shelves of the Topeka & Shawnee County Library following the reversal of an earlier decision by the library’s Board of Trustees that access to the titles would be restricted.Trustee Bob Harder told The Associated Press two factors played into the board’s about-face: Taxpayers have a right to find information in their public libraries and the books were located on shelves at least five feet from the floor, where children could not reach them easily.
The four books — The Lesbian Kama Sutra, The Joy of Sex, The Joy of Gay Sex and Sex for Busy People: The Art of the Quickie for Lovers on the Go — were removed from the general-circulation area of the library February 19th after Topeka resident Kim Borchers complained the titles were “harmful to minors.” The library board ordered the books sequestered in the librarian’s office and made available only to bona-fide adults upon request.
Borchers, who leads a local conservative group called Kansans for Common Sense, alleged the four titles violated state obscenity laws. She did not attend the April 16th meeting at which the board reversed its decision.
However, the following day she told the Topeka Capital-Journal, “We are not going away. This issue is not going to go away. Like I said, protecting kids is the right thing to do.”
She also suggested to the paper that her organization would work to pass legislation supporting its pro-library-censorship position.
Harder, a United Methodist minister, said the library has too many other things to worry about to make refereeing a debate about censorship a priority.
“We should be thinking about how to balance the budget and how to continue the programs we have,” he told assembled trustees and members of the public.
In addition to returning the books to the shelves, the board asked the library to post a message about the controversy on its website. Along with an explanation of the issues involved, the statement will warn parents that books about sexuality and sexual health are available to be checked out.
According to Executive Director Gina Millsap, the library has more than 600 books relating to various sexual topics.
