(Photo: NewsDakota)
VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NEWSDAKOTA/KFGO) – Heated debate at a public hearing in Valley City Thursday evening about the book in the youth section of the local public library called, “Let’s Talk About It.”
Since September, a group of citizens had asked the library director and the board of directors to remove the book from circulation due to what they said is the graphic images and the message it portrays about human sexuality.
Phil Kleymann was among the 20 people who testified at the hearing. He said the book sends the wrong message to young adults. He said there are those behind the book who are “cheering this one on…and it blows my mind.”
Duane Coates had a different view. He said the book should not be banned. He said there is a minority who want to censor speech and he asked, “what would stop a mob from wanting to micro-manage the library director.”
Carter Hass said he didn’t agree with the images or the message the book portrays but he said, citing 1st Amendment rights, the book should not be banned or removed from the library.
Library Board member Duane Magnuson asked the audience to raise their hands if they supported moving the book to the adult section of the library. Several hands were raised. Then, board member Vicky Lovell asked for a show of hands from anyone who wanted the book banned from the library. There didn’t appear to be any hands raised to support that idea.
The library board will take two weeks to review all of the testimony before making a decision about the book.
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