Missouri library will ban explicit book after complaints

Library system in Missouri will remove a book after critics claim it is too explicit.

Missouri library to ban book after public complaints about explicit content

A Missouri library system plans to ban a controversial book, Bang Like A Porn Star: Sex Tips from the Pros, due to complaints about sexual explicitness. The St Charles city-county library decided to take it off the shelves after a review committee found that the book contained explicit images not relevant to the text. Initially purchased to provide helpful information about sexuality for gay men, the book has been at the center of public outcry. While the book will be removed, the 20 people currently on the waiting list will be allowed to read it before it is taken out of circulation.

This decision raises important questions about censorship and the challenges faced by libraries today. As more communities grapple with how to handle materials addressing sexuality, libraries are caught in the middle. Critics argue that such books foster understanding and education, while opponents see them as inappropriate. This incident reflects a national trend of heightened scrutiny over books discussing race, gender, and sexuality, indicating a growing cultural divide.

Highlights

The outcome of this decision may influence future book policies in libraries across the country.