Libraries are our most democratic institutions. Idaho’s House Bill 710 could threaten that.

Under House Bill 710, a single Idaho resident can dictate library access under threat of private right of (legal) action, writes guest columnist Mary DeWalt. (Getty Images)

Idahoans should be concerned with House Bill 710, (Libraries, Prohibited Materials). With it a single resident can dictate library access under threat of private right of (legal) action.

To be clear, this bill facilitates and sanctions bullying. Once again, legislators are telling citizens that some people’s rights are more important than other people’s rights. 

Bill co-sponsor Jaron Crane is now telling Idahoans that if a reconsideration form was submitted and the library declined to move a book, one can threaten the library by saying “you’re going to need to move that because I’m a taxpayer too, and let’s get it put in a different section.” If not, they can sue.

Idaho Rep. Jaron Crane. R-Nampa, listens to the State of the State address on Jan. 8, 2024, at the State Capitol building in Boise. (Otto Kitsinger for Idaho Capital Sun)

Libraries are our most democratic institutions. Everyone has an equal opportunity regarding library use.  Libraries have an implicit pact with their communities: 

For their part, libraries offer materials based on a selection policy set by locally elected or appointed trustees. There are many criteria in these policies, including community member recommendations. The selection policy ensures the library offers a wide variety of quality materials to meet the needs and interests of a diverse community. Materials are carefully selected and cataloged (in an assigned location) by professionals.

For their part, community members choose materials from this vast collection that meet their individual/family needs, interests, and values. If there are items they would like to see in the collection, they communicate that with their library.  If they have a question about an item in the collection or where it is shelved, they communicate that with their library.  

This system has been working for centuries. Yet the Idaho House has passed a bill that would force libraries to break this time-hallowed pact. Sponsors and supporters of House Bill 710 believe not everyone in the community is on equal standing. They believe some people should have the power to determine others’ access. A single community member would have the power to dictate where a book they disapprove of should be shelved or, in the case of school libraries, if it should remain on the shelves at all, since school libraries do not have the “adults only” section the bill requires. 

The library covenant of trust, open communication, and liberty to choose must not be broken by House Bill 710. 

It was reported Crane thought “relocating materials should be something ‘everybody can agree on,’ because it doesn’t result in the banning of books.”  First, the Britannica definition of book banning is “the practice of prohibiting or restricting the reading of certain books by the general public or by members of a local community or religious group.” Restricting to an “adults only” area meets that definition. Second, everyone is not in a position to “agree on” this because the bill facilitates just ONE person dictating relocation — one person who does not have a master’s degree in library science or any type of training or access to professional resources that assist in acquisition. That could mean one person out of 85 in the Prairie Library District or one of 241,000 in Boise, or anywhere in-between.

House Bill 710 is anti-democratic and anti-Idaho. Our state constitution states “all men are by nature free and equal” and protects inalienable rights of all. By usurping local government control and allowing one-person power over others individual rights, the bill violates sponsors’ own Republican party platform which states: “We believe in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all…We believe the most effective, responsible, responsive government is government closest to the people … We believe the protection of individual rights is upheld when personal responsibility for behavior is exercised.”

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