A conservative action group is questioning whether the titles on the shelves of local libraries are appropriate for all patrons.

Grassroots American Values, a group headed by Milla Kette of Huron, has called for several books to be relocated from the children's section of local libraries to a parents- or adults-only section.

The Huron Public Library requires a parental signature for minors to receive a library card or to have Internet access.  There are no age restrictions on library materials, however, and that is what has the group upset.

Milla Kette, editor of Grassroots American Values' monthly newsletter, has corresponded with libraries in Sandusky, Huron, Elyria and Lima, to ask why books such as King and King, a story of two princes who fall in love and live happily ever after, are often shelved in the children's section.

Kette said Friday she did not have time to comment.

However, she wrote in the group's first newsletter, "No matter what the defenders of the homosexual lifestyle say, children are better off with a father and mother.  Until proven contrary (and as a taxpayer who, forcibly, subsidizes libraries), I urge you to press our libraries to relocate these disturbing books out of reach of children."

The basis of her claims in the newsletters is that libraries are publicly funded, so patrons should have a stake in the books and other materials the library board purchases.

"They are funded at the expense of our pocket books, we do have the right to say and control Ohio libraries," Kette wrote in the Grassroots American Values newsletter in June 2005.

"We buy based on individual communities, so what you would find in an urban inner city library would be different than what you find in a small town library," Huron Public Library director Anne Hinton said.

If a patron has a concern about the age-appropriateness of a book for the library, he or she can request that it be moved.

Hinton also said that in her 17 years with the Huron Public Library, she has received two requests for relocation of books.  Requests are evaluated by a committee, usually of library staff and board members, for content and appropriateness for age group.

Hinton said she has not received the final paperwork from Grassroots American Values, but the group did send a request to Sandusky Library.  The Sandusky library moved 11 of the 12 books to either the Young Adult Fiction Collection or the Parent/Teacher section.  All Families are Special, a book about a girl growing up with two female parents, remains in the Children's Collection, according to the group.

Julie Brooks, director of Sandusky Library, did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Grassroots American Values can be reached on the Internet at http://www.plan2succeed.org/grassroots/.

Challenged books

Three of the 10 books on the "Ten Most Challenged Books of 2004" were cited for homosexual themes -- which is the highest number in a decade.  Sexual content and offensive language are the most frequent reasons for seeking removal of books from schools and public libraries.  The books, in order of most frequently challenged, are:

"The Chocolate War" for sexual content, offensive language, religious viewpoint, being unsuited to age group and violence.

"Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers, for racism, offensive language and violence.

"Arming America:  The Origins of a National Gun Culture" by Michael A. Bellesiles, for inaccuracy and political viewpoint.

Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey, for offensive language and modeling bad behavior.

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky, for homosexuality, sexual content and offensive language.

"What My Mother Doesn't Know" by Sonya Sones, for sexual content and offensive language.

"In the Night Kitchen" by Maurice Sendak, for nudity and offensive language.

"King & King" by Linda de Haan and Stern Nijland, for homosexuality.

"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou, for racism, homosexuality, sexual content, offensive language and unsuited to age group.

"Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck, for racism, offensive language and violence.

Off the list this year, but on the list for several years past, are the Alice series of books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, "Go Ask Alice" by Anonymous, "It's Perfectly Normal" by Robie Harris and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" by Mark Twain.

Source: www.ala.org