No Left Turn Missouri is denouncing the St. Louis County Public Library for its opposition last week to the Secretary of State’s proposed new rule that requires the implementation of a state library certification discerning between age-appropriate and non-age-appropriate books.
“It’s actually pushing sexuality on children and it's pushing the idea of gender fluidity and it's pushing these ideals onto children who are not mentally prepared for sexually explicit material,” said Andrew Wells, Missouri state chapter president of No Left Turn in Education. “They're not prepared for these advanced concepts.”
Wells was responding to a resolution that the St. Louis County Library Board of Trustees approved on Nov. 21, which lists censorship and equitable access as stumbling blocks to their support of CST 30-200.015 Library Certification Requirement for the Protection of Minors.
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, who is up for re-election in 2024, proposed the administrative rule last month. It would also prohibit state libraries from sponsoring, promoting, or spending money on drag queen story hours while Ashcroft is in office.
“I'm almost to the point of being sick and tired of this incorrect narrative that we are trying to ban any books,” Wells told the St. Louis Record. “We do not want to ban any books of any kind. We believe only age-appropriate material should be available to children.”
Currently, there are 367 state libraries and 19 state bookmobiles in operation, according to SOS data, and Wells expects Kansas City, Springfield, and Columbia public libraries to follow in the footsteps of St. Louis County Public Library.
“What do all of these areas have in common? They are heavy Democrat voters who are following the left-wing ideology that wants to normalize the sexualization of children,” he said.
If finalized, the new rule would curb the flow of state funding to libraries statewide that does not adopt a policy detailing how selections are made when considering books for minors.
“If the library board feels that they can do without state funding, that is their choice,” Wells added. “I do not believe they have the monetary backing to forego state funding and under our current system, the Secretary of State is in charge of the libraries. He determines basic rules, regulations, and funding guidelines for the libraries.”
Before it becomes law, the new rule will undergo a 30-day public commentary period and the St. Louis County Library is allegedly using taxpayer monies to encourage library cardholders to write letters to Ashcroft opposing the proposed rule.
Wells calls it an improper use of state funding.
“Public schools cannot endorse a political candidate,” he said. “No other government entity, government body, or state government agency can openly push back against a state official like this using government funds and I question the legality of it.”