The Oklahoman
See the italicized part...haven't I been saying this all along? ;-)
Some Oklahoma House members are threatening to kill new funding for the Department of Libraries unless libraries across the state remove homosexual-themed books from children's shelves.
Libraries haven't pulled gay-themed kids' books
'If the libraries do not comply with what the Legislature feels is the prevailing community standard of our towns and cities and entire state, then yes, there is a possibility that they will not receive extra funding,' said Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City.
Kern is vice chairman of the subcommittee handling the Department of Libraries appropriation. The subcommittee chairman, Rep. Tad Jones, R-Claremore, said while no decision has been made on the library appropriation, linking it to the shelving issue 'is something we will definitely be considering.'
The Department of Libraries received almost $1.6 million in state funds this year. It has requested an additional $841,000 for next year.
The House of Representatives passed a resolution Monday urging library officials to restrict children's access to books with homosexual themes. Linking compliance to the library appropriation puts teeth in the resolution, said Lynn McIntosh, president of the Oklahoma Library Association, an organization of librarians that supports local decision-making for libraries.
'Should we let the Legislature control what's in libraries all across the state? Libraries are a reflection of their communities, and communities vary greatly,' McIntosh said.
Kern said community standards are state standards.
'My guess is that 88 percent of Oklahomans and 80 percent or more of the people in Oklahoma County support limiting access to children of homosexual-themed books,' Kern said.
The issue arose in March, when Kern asked Oklahoma City's Metropolitan Library Commission to place the book 'King and King' and others like it in the adult section.
'King and King' is a children's tale about a prince who chooses another prince as his life partner.
After a hearing May 5, a committee recommended the shelving policy remain the same. The full commission will take up the matter when it meets at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Downtown Library, 300 Park Ave.
The only other public library in the state with copies of 'King and King' is in Tulsa, McIntosh said. Libraries at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa and Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant also have copies, she said.
Although no rural libraries have 'King and King,' linking funding to shelving policy would hurt those libraries disproportionately because most of the new money requested was earmarked for them, several librarians said.
Donna Morris, executive director of the Metropolitan Library System, said many small libraries across the state depend on state funding to buy new books.
'If money was withheld from small libraries that don't even have the book, that would seem strange,' Morris said.
Kern said that is not her intent and her committee will be searching for a way around that.
'We're looking at doing something where those that are not cooperating will not receive additional money. We're not going to do anything to hurt those libraries that are complying,' she said.
The Senate appropriations subcommittee handling the library budget request is making no demands in exchange for funding, said Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield, the chairman.
'I don't like putting policy attached to appropriations,' Crutchfield, D-Ardmore, said. 'I don't think that's part of the appropriations process. That's what we have substantive bills for.'"
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