Daviess County Public Library has received criticism from community members who say the staff offered books to teenagers with sensitive, even explicit, content through their Libcrate subscription program.
Beth Eckstein, mother of 10 children, said her two daughters subscribe to Libcrate, which offers teens aged 13 to 18 free books on a monthly basis. According to the DCPL website, a Libcrate box contains two young adult books, which are free for the teen to keep. The theme for February’s box was “Love is in the Air.”
Eckstein said her 27-year-old daughter offered to sign up her two younger sisters, age 13 and 15.
“She wanted to encourage her two younger sisters to read,” Eckstein said.
Eckstein said her older daughter flipped through the books and noticed some of the content was inappropriate for the teens and didn’t allow them to read the books until Eckstein could review them.
“I was appalled,” Eckstein said of the content of the young adult books, titled, “South of Sunshine” by Dana Elmendorf and “A Totally Awkward Love Story” by Tom Ellen and Lucy Ivison.
Eckstein posted to social media excerpts from the books, which described sexual acts and used explicit language.
“These books encouraged promiscuity and for teenagers to lose their virginity,” Eckstein said. “It was very adult subject nature.”
Eckstein contacted DCPL to report the books and was sent a form to return them, which she told Owensboro Times she plans to do.
DCPL Director Erin Waller said the form is a request for reconsideration and is the formal process to lodge a complaint about material.
“This will enable the library to respond to the complaint in the most productive manner,” Waller said.
According to Waller, the situation is unique in that the books did not come from the library shelves, but rather were given to the teens to keep.
“It is important also to note that this was a voluntary program for teens to participate in,” Waller said. “The DCPL does require the acceptance of a disclaimer indicating that the material may not be appropriate for all on the registration page for the Libcrate program.”
That disclaimer on the Libcrate registration page states: “I understand that Young Adults titles may contain controversial themes, mature content, and/or profanity. I accept that it is the responsibility of the teen and their parents/legal guardians to determine what is and is not appropriate reading material for a particular teen.”
Waller said from now on that reminder will be included in the boxes.
“Also, we will gladly take back the books and replace them with something else the parent may feel is more age appropriate,” Waller said. “But in the future parents should acquaint themselves with a couple of sources they can use when reviewing material that will fit within their own family’s moral code. Common Sense Media is one that I use as a parent.”
Owensboro Times was not able to find either “A Totally Awkward Love Story” or “South of Sunshine” on the Common Sense Media site.
The situation brings up a larger censorship issue, which Waller said is something outlined in the American Library Association’s Freedom to Read Statement, a document to which DCPL adheres.
“As librarians, it isn’t our duty to pass judgment on any material on the shelves of our library or most media created, for that matter,” Waller said. “It is extraordinarily important for families to make those decisions for themselves. I feel safe to say that there are items within this library that I would find personally offensive. But my belief in having them available for individual or family judgment outweighs my personal morals.”
Waller said DCPL collection development relies on trusted publishers and review resources.
“When a book is deemed appropriate by publishers and reviewers for a certain audience we have no choice but to take their word for it…it is impossible for us to read every title we purchase, nor should we since the responsibility of judgment lies with the individual,” Waller said. “I do commend the parents in this case for taking that responsibility seriously and for reviewing the material prior to giving to their children.”
As of Tuesday, Waller said she had received calls and visits from concerned community members regarding February’s Libcrate books, but no formal complaints had been filed.
