Submitted by the Lafayette Public Library System
Daniel Kelly, Board of Control of the Lafayette Public Library, issued the following statement:
LAFAYETTE, LA (Apr. 23, 2024) – Lafayette public libraries should be safe places for all patrons, especially our children.
Recent news reports, social media, and those whose values are not in sync with what’s in the best interest of our children have been peddling false narratives and significant misinformation regarding the decision of the Lafayette Library Board to revise the Libraries’ book display policy.
It’s time to set the record straight.
The current Lafayette Public Library Board, by majority vote, recently revised and approved the Lafayette Public Library book display policy to align with current Louisiana state law. The revised book display policy provides safeguards to protect children from graphic and sexually explicit material that may threaten the “age of innocence” and their well-being, and also to respect parental authority.
There’s no appropriate way to display inappropriate and harmful sexually explicit material to children. Children in Lafayette are among our most vulnerable. They have a right to be protected from materials and content that sexualizes them, violates their “age of innocence” and harms their well-being.
The revised Lafayette Library book display policy protects our children’s well-being, respects parental authority, and aligns with Louisiana State law.
