A local religious leader, along with other citizens, cowed the Metropolitan Library Commission to shelve certain books out of the reach of children.
According to a story in The Oklahoman, books in metro libraries' "family talk" sections now will be shelved five feet or more off the floor. These sections, created in 2006, have books about sexual orientation, drug and alcohol abuse and premarital sex. The commission voted for the reshelving after concerned citizens asked them to move the books so youngsters could not access the publications.
"What we're asking is that parents be the gatekeepers for that information," Paul Blair, pastor at Fairview Baptist Church in Edmond, reportedly said to the commission.
Lori Nelson, a board member, also told her fellow board members that she isn't ready for her 2-year-old to see (who can read?) some of the books on lower shelves, like ones about domestic abuse or Alzheimer's disease.
"I'm not saying these are bad books. I'm saying put them high enough so that my child can't get to them," Nelson reportedly said.
But board member and civic activist Nancy Anthony cautioned members against isolating certain subjects, The Oke reported.
"The purpose of these books in the library was to help people," Anthony reportedly said. "The library is certainly one of the most positive places we have. I think to send them the message that something might be dangerous is wrong."
Meanwhile, the Rev. Blair is on a tear in other areas of morality, too. According to The Edmond Sun, Blair and his congregation recently hosted a group called the Parents Television Council, regarding "advocating responsible entertainment."
Blair told the Sun that the organization was there to give the congregation information about how they might address decency standards on television, which Blair claims have slipped. Indecency is creeping into our living rooms, he said in the story.
"Television producers are obviously not policing themselves," Blair said.
