City librarians in Huntington Beach began moving books about the human body and puberty out of the children’s section at Huntington Beach Central Library on Wednesday.
Librarians made the changes in an effort to comply with a city council resolution to restrict access to books with sexual content to people 18 and older.
The controversial measure, sponsored by now-Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark, was passed on a 4-3 vote in October with support from her fellow conservative council members.
Librarians began reviewing books dedicated to the human body, health and puberty Wednesday morning. They told LAist they had been instructed to move any books out of the children’s section showing body parts that typically would be covered by a bathing suit.
Van Der Mark told LAist it sounded like the process was consistent with what she expected from the resolution. She added that she was unaware the book review was starting today until she was contacted by LAist.
Screening books for ‘sexual content’
In the bright, ample children’s section, librarians began their review by flipping through books on shelves dedicated to the human body, health and puberty.
The librarians debated whether to move certain books, like one, a science book, with an illustration of a nude male body showing the muscular system, and another with a page full of photos, one of which showed the top half of a female toddler in a bathtub. The former stayed on the shelf; the latter got moved.
They also decided to remove a book that had information about miscarriages, though it had no accompanying photos.
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