Season 51 Episode 23: Libraries and Liability

Idaho Reports

The legislature has adjourned for the year, but not before failing to override a veto on a controversial bill concerning content in libraries. But that isn’t the end of the conversation around materials deemed “harmful to minors” or obscene. This week, we take a look at the months-long debates over collection policies in Idaho libraries, and what more, if anything, those libraries should do to prevent minors from checking out potentially obscene materials. Markie McBrayer from University of Idaho’s Department of Politics and Philosophy joins us to discuss the history of morality politics and civil enforcement mechanisms in law. Finally, Katie Ball from the University of Idaho’s College of Law, Rep. Brent Crane, and Meridian Library board trustee Jeff Kohler discuss civil enforcement, as well as what we may see in coming months in the library debate.