TREMONTON COUNCIL TO RECONSIDER ‘ADULT FICTION’ ORDINANCE
Book rule ‘a complete shock’
By NANCY B. FULLER, Standard-Examiner correspondent
TREMONTON — A new ordinance that restricts access to books at the city library is likely to be rescinded during Tuesday’s city council meeting.
On April 21, the city council unanimously approved an ordinance requiring anyone under the age of 18 to have parental consent before checking out “adult fiction” from the city library.
Head Librarian Kim Griffiths said the passage of the ordinance caught her by surprise.
“The ordinance came as a complete shock. I feel it is book-banning,” Griffiths said.
“I don’t think it (the ordinance) is a good thing. There are a lot of good books in that section, and a lot of them are classics. A lot of those books have to be read for school. I feel most kids are responsible.”
The ordinance states adult fiction, whether short stories or novels, has distinct attributes to distinguish it from other age categories of fiction, young-adult fiction, middle-grade fiction or children’s fiction.
The vast majority of adult stories portray an adult as the protagonist, rather than an adolescent or a child. The subject matter and story lines are typically consistent with the age and experience of the main character.
Stories are not always suitable for those under the age of 18 or for sensitive individuals, or may have sexual content or strong adult themes, such as drug-taking or violence.
Councilman Lyle Holmgren, who also sits on the library board, said he was unsure how the ordinance made it onto the agenda but voted for it because he thought the library board must have placed it there.
He thinks an innocent form of the ordinance was on a list of things to discuss from former City Manager Rich Woodworth, who accepted another job earlier this year.
Somehow, Holmgren said, the intent was lost in translation. “It was a mistake on my part to let it get this far,” he said. “I guess there was some kind of misconception with the term ‘adult fiction.’ … It’s going to be rescinded.”
Holmgren visited the library after he was asked about the ordinance, and Griffiths showed him the adult fiction section.
Titles such as “The Grapes of Wrath,” “Jurassic Park” and “Treasure Island” are examples of adult books in the library, Holmgren said. He is not aware of any problems involving teens checking out questionable books.
“I think adult fiction is a misnomer. It just means an adult reading level,” he said.
Holmgren called the state library and found that the ordinance might even be against the law.
“After looking into it, we will put this back onto the agenda for next council meeting,” he said. “We don’t want to discourage kids from checking books out of the library. This has caused quite a bit of stress. We live and learn.”
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