LIBRARY: Censorship is wrong

Before reading this, I ask my fellow citizens to pause and consider two words: theft and censorship. What do they mean —and why are they both wrong?

In December 2024, 140 book titles disappeared from the shelves of the Community Library Network. They’ve now vanished completely from the library catalog. These weren’t 140 individual books — many were popular titles with multiple copies.

What happened to them? Officially, they were removed for “internal review.” Yet no patrons challenged them under Idaho House Bill 710, the law governing book challenges. That law is clear: books must remain available during the review process, and reviews must be completed within 60 days. It’s now been over 290 days. When you think of the word theft, does “unlawful removal of property” come to mind? Because that’s exactly what this is. These books belong to the taxpaying citizens of CLN, and they’ve been taken without consent or process.

Why were they removed? The director has offered no explanation. Many of the missing titles address LGBTQ+ lives, racism, unwanted pregnancy, or violence. It appears someone decided those subjects were unacceptable for public access. That is censorship.

CLN leaders say they’re making libraries “safe again.” But safety built on theft and censorship isn’t safety, it’s control. House Bill 710 was written to restrict access for minors, not adults. Yet CLN’s actions have silenced access for everyone.

Let’s call it what it is: theft, censorship, and a betrayal of public trust.

MICHELLE LIPPERT

Post Falls