ASHLAND — They say a library can be a place where young minds grow.
But for one Northeast Ohio community, some of the books inside a local library are sparking debate over if children should be allowed to access them.
Hundreds of people packed into an Ashland County building Thursday night to discuss five books.
Those books, located at the Ashland County library, have been at the center of controversy. The books in question hit the library’s new arrival shelf at the start of the year. And that is when all the chatter began.
The books discuss puberty, where babies come from, periods and families who are part of the LGBTQ community.
Part of the reason for concern is where these books are located — near the juvenile section.
Those concerned were calling for the complete removal of the books from the library, claiming they were pornographic in nature.
But at Thursday’s board of trustee meeting for the library, the argument shifted to moving the books to the adult section. The library says two of those books of concern have already been moved. One is now housed in the adult section; the other is no longer available at this library.
Library officials say taking those books off the shelves is censorship.
You can watch what community members had to say about the controversy in the player below:
Children’s books in Ashland sparking debate
The next board of trustees meeting for the library is set for Sept. 8.
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