Opponents of new Idaho library law say it creates censorship

Across North Idaho, people gathered Monday to protest a new Idaho law that requires libraries to review and remove books deemed "harmful to minors."

House Bill 710 went into effect July 1 and allows adults and children to submit a form to their library that requests a book be reviewed for harmful material.

If the library doesn't review and remove a "harmful" book within 60 days, they can be sued for $250.

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Opponents of the law said it poses a censorship issue and unfairly targets vulnerable groups.

"We believe that it's isolating certain groups. We think the LGBTQ group is being isolated and will be affected most," said President of North Idaho Library Alliance, Theresa Birkett.

Birkett said parents should be the ones deciding what their kids can and cannot read, not the state.

"We want to the public to know that we support libraries, and we support librarians. We don't want to see this happen. But we want the public to know what is going to happen, that your tax dollars are going to pay for these legal fees," she said.

Dan Kunz attended the Coeur d'Alene Library rally and said the potential fines are problematic.

"These libraries are educated professionals. They don't need to be putting up with ideology. That's an infringement of my freedom and my tax dollars to go to fight those fines," said Kunz.

In compliance with the law, the Hayden Library provides forms for people to report library material they believe should be reviewed.

Kathy Kulka often brings her grandkids to the library and is in support of the law.

"I don't think that it's okay for anything sexualized to be given to kids that are under the age of say, 13. And I think the parents should be the ones to determine whether or not they want their children to see those books and if parents want their kids to see those books , Amazon is available or the adult section is available," said Kulka.

Rallies against Bill 710 took place in Hayden, Post Falls, Spirit Lake and other cities.

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