WRITE FOR YOUR RIGHTS! URGENT CALL TO ACTION

Time is running out to save the books in your library from being restricted. The latest version of the State Budget Bill (HB 96) maintains a provision to require public libraries to place material "related to sexual orientation or gender identity or expression in a portion of the public library that is not primarily open to the view of persons under the age of 18."

This is a dangerous precedent. The mission of the public library is to provide free and unfettered access to materials needed by all of our community members, regardless of their age, social status, religious affiliation, gender identity or sexual orientation. This provision will have devastating consequences for children and families who have the right to view and check out these materials with ease and without judgment.

This is an unfunded mandate that would cost thousands to implement, and there's no plan or definition of materials to be included in this provision. Our library system has a rigorous collection development policy in place that is used to evaluate books and other materials based on their value in terms of interest, information and enlightenment of all people in the community.

What can you do? Write to Governor DeWine and ask him to use his line-item veto power to remove this language from the budget bill. State government should not decide what materials are accessible to children. This is the role of parents working together with librarians to find the information and resources they need for their children.

Thank you for your support of Worthington Libraries!