Publishers, a library and others sue over Idaho’s law restricting youth access to ‘harmful’ books; AP, February 5, 2025

 REBECCA BOONE, AP; Publishers, a library and others sue over Idaho’s law restricting youth access to ‘harmful’ books

"Idaho’s law took effect last year, requiring schools and public libraries to move material deemed “harmful to minors” to an adults-only section or face lawsuits. If a community member complains that a book is harmful to minors, the library has 60 days to address it or children or their parents can sue for $250 in damages. The law relies on Idaho’s legal definition of obscene materials, which includes “any act of homosexuality.”

At the time, the Idaho Library Association warned that the law was vague and subjective, and said it would likely lead to significantly limited access to information for the public.

In fact, that’s exactly what happened, according to the lawsuit. The Donnelly Public Library operates the only after-school program in Donnelly, a town of about 250 residents, but it had to bar minors from entering unless a parent or guardian first completed a waiver. 

That’s because the library operates out of a small log cabin and a handful of teepees, and there is not enough room to create an adults-only section for some books like “The Handmaid’s Tale,” according to the lawsuit."

Publishers and library sue Idaho over book ban that defines 'homosexuality' as 'harmful to minors'; The Advocate, February 6, 2025

Ryan Adamczeski, The Advocate; Publishers and library sue Idaho over book ban that defines 'homosexuality' as 'harmful to minors' 

"Several large book publishers and a small public library are suing the state of Idaho over its book ban that requires libraries to restrict content "harmful to minors" to patrons 18 and older.

House Bill 710, which went into effect on July 1, allows community members to request that their local library move books they claim are "harmful to minors" to an adults-only section within 60 days or be liable for $250 in damages. There is no appeal process outlined in the law.

"Harmful to minors" includes content that contains "sexual conduct," which the law defines as "any act of masturbation, homosexuality, sexual intercourse, or physical contact with a person's clothed or unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks or, if such person be a female, the breast."