Challenged Books

A far western Kentucky public school system pulled some books from its high school library shelves after a mailer in support of the state’s so-called “school choice” amendment was sent out earlier this week questioning whether they were appropriate for students.

The Kentucky Public Library Association membership recently elected Tammy Blackwell as its new chair during the organization’s annual conference in Owensboro this March.

Like libraries nationwide, Kentucky libraries experienced a surge in challenges to materials in 2022. Data released by the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom earlier this week indicated the number of challenges nearly doubled in the U.S. since 2021, but in Kentucky they tripled.

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The measure makes it easier for parents to challenge books, programs and instructional materials they deem obscene.

The challenges show religion is "on the minds of many people," says Deborah Caldwell Stone of the American Library Association. Another reason people objected to books was explicit sexual content.