The Marshall, Mo., Democrat-News rounds up some of the national coverage of the local debate over removing Fun Home and Blankets from the Marshall Public Library.
The Marshall Public Library Board of Trustees is expected to decide the fate of the graphic novels at tonight’s meeting. The board held a public hearing last week after local resident Louise Mills complained about the books, referring to them as “pornography.”
Mills and other residents voiced concern over their tax dollars being used to purchase such material.
“Does this community want our public library to continue to use tax dollars to purchase pornography?” Mills said at the Oct. 4 meeting. “We may as well purchase the porn shop down at the junction and move it to Eastwood. Some day this library will be drawing the same clientele. I sincerely hope the board will listen to the community. Let’s not contribute to the delinquency of minors.”
Others spoke in support of the graphic novels, arguing that they’re neither obscene nor pornographic.
An informal weekend poll on the Democrat-News website showed 71.5 percent (216 votes) against banning the books, and 28.5 percent (86 votes) for the ban.
The board meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Central. A limited amount of time will be allotted for community comments.
