WV Librarians Could Be Criminally Charged for Obscene Books

CHARLESTON — Lawmakers Monday finally took a look at a bill that could throw the book at librarians over books deemed by some to be obscene.The House Judiciary recommended House Bill 4654 – removing bona fide schools, public libraries, and museums from the list of exemptions from criminal liability relating to distribution and display to a minor of obscene matter – to the full House in a 21-3 vote Monday evening after nearly two-and-a-half hours of discussion.

The bill would lift criminal liability exemptions from schools in the presentation of...

(NEW YORK) — The West Virginia legislature is considering a bill that would remove protections for librarians in case minors come across books that contain what the state considers “obscene” material at their facilities. The bill passed the House of Delegates on Feb. 16 and has now been introduced in the Senate. The bill would remove any exemptions from criminal liability for public libraries or museums that display or distribute “obscene matter to a minor.” A librarian or museum who violates these restrictions could be charged with a felony, fined...