A Bloomington Public Library patron came across sexually explicit books. About 30 books that were on display for the Library’s theme ‘Enjoy A Graphic Novel’
Jesse Simmons said the display is concerning because also on the display were children’s books.
“When you walk up the stairs they have a display case, when you go to the left there’s the children’s area and to the right is the adult department for adult books. They have this roundabout display shelf with multiple shelves, I’ve always just seen children’s books on it,” said Simmons.
Simmons said she has been going to the library for 12 years.
“My kids aren’t going to be drawn or attracted to a boring 1,000-page novel of just words. They pick up the colorful, cartoon character kids books from that section of children’s displays. The fact that they are mixing adult books and children’s books is questionable to begin with. Who knows what the adult content is and its adult for a reason. That in itself should be reconsidered,” said Simmons.
The Bloomington Public Library Director Jeanne Hamilton said it’s a three sided display, and that the library has always had it where half the display has children’s and half had adult collection.
“It’s in between those two areas. Each month the staff choses a theme, This month was actually graphic novels and the illustrated medium, like comic style. So not graphic as in explicit in any means,” said Hamilton. “There were a wide range of different materials. There were more things that were superhero style, and there did happen to be materials that have more adult content in them.”
The display is being taken down tomorrow, Sept. 30 due to a new theme coming out. This month’s theme will feature ‘Cooking.’
“That wasn’t something that was thought ahead or planned on being something that was provocative. We did receive complaints from the parents, we’ve tried to be really responsive to that. We’ve sent them responses back, we haven’t heard anything from them. One of the things we told them, is we are telling our staff to be more mindful of what goes on the displays, and think of that as more of a family friendly display area,” said Hamilton. “We were trying to highlight graphic novels, which really are an important collection. They often engage reluctant readers. Definitely an important area of the collection.”
Children of any age can check out any book. Hamilton said minors checking out books rests solely with their parents and legal guardians, according to library policy.
“For any librarian to say ‘I didn’t know’ you didn’t even open one book? It says ‘adults only’ on the back. These aren’t labeled in any special way that anybody would know. I’m worried that a child could pick it up and check it out on their child minor card,” said Simmons.
One of the adult books on display in close proximity to Dr. Suess’ Green Eggs and Ham was Patience and Esther, which is a graphic novel that reads on the back: ‘Adults Only’ and is described as ‘a steamy period romance and an inspirational erotic journey across the epic sweep of history, from the end of a gilded age to the start of an uncharted future.’ Cities cannot post the images within the book due to obscenity law.
“The material, the covers themselves were not obscene in any way. They are a part of our adult collection, there was some explicit content in these. I don’t know they would be considered pornography in of themselves. We were not displaying sexually explicit covers,” said Hamilton.
Simmons is calling for better policy to be practiced at Bloomington Public Library regarding the display of adult books.
“Someone hand selected them and showcased them on a display like a trophy, right next to and mixed in with children’s books. I’m shocked that this was allowed to happen,” said Simmons.
Hamilton said the book Wendy, another graphic novel where the character is described as ‘an aspiring artist in a party city, and she’s in a rut. She spends her time snorting mdma in gallery bathrooms and watching Nurse Jackie reruns on her laptop while hungover,’ and Patience and Esther were likely bought with general funds from the library’s budget.
“The Bloomington Public Library is promoting pornography, hardcore pornography, intense killing scenes and violence that have children in the scenes,” said Simmons. “The extreme profanity usage, the extreme drug usage, demon characters chopping up heads and tearing out hearts. As a child you can’t un-see this.”
Simmons said they make these books attractive to children, knowing children will be confused thinking it’s a child’s book and picking it up.
“Some 11-year old preteen girl could pick up Wendy and go five steps over and check it out under her name,” said Simmons.
Is the specific marking on these books that indicate if they are sexually explicit?
“We certainly make sure that they are age appropriate. We don’t necessarily mark them in that way, but we would make sure it goes into an area of the collection that is age appropriate. We encourage parents to be very involved in their children’s selection of materials. Each family and each child has a different level of what’s appropriate for them at the point in their life,” said Hamilton.
Hamilton said there is a process for submitting complaints and requests for reconsideration of materials selected.
“None of the emails have been apologetic from the library, in a way shape or form or admitting wrongdoing. The adult services manager, Carol, just asked whether or not these books were displayed on the adult side,” said Simmons. “I don’t think anybody understands until they view the material how extremely explicit and flat out obscene all of it is.”