Story Created: Oct 22, 2009 at 10:35 PM MDT
Story Updated: Oct 23, 2009 at 10:58 AM MDT
This time for a book found in the children's section. Now, a Caldwell woman wants to book banned altogether but library officials say they they're not ready to make that recommendation.
Shelly Gering says "How to Get Suspended and Influence People," by Adam Selzer doesn't belong on library shelves.
"I was just appalled," she said.
Gering's 4-year-old son picked up the book from the children's section inside the Nampa Public Library. She admits she didn't look at it until they got home.
"I find the idea as well as the wording offensive," said Gering.
Her concerns - the wording on the back cover, "You don't have to be smart to be a smart a - - But it helps." She also thinks a picture of a woman's chest on the front cover goes too far, and the main storyline, a 14-year-old boy doing a sex ed video for a class project is obscene.
Gering called the library and was told by director: "They would consider moving it to the teen section."
When asked if that was good enough Gering responded by saying: "I don't think it's appropriate for teens either."
Karen Ganske, the library director, declined an on-camera interview but she told the Idaho Press Tribune on Wednesday quote: "I really couldn't recommend taking it out of the collection. it didn't seem to me it was inappropriate."
Ganske says nothing will be decided until the book is returned. It was due back on Thursday.
Three years ago 2 News reported on a similar story after several parents voiced concerns over two other books: "The Joy of Sex" and "The Joy of Gay Sex."
Several parents were concerned about the contents of those books being too pornographic for a library and easily accessible to children. In the end the books were kept on the shelves.
But some parents argue a public library isn't a place to ban books.
"Parents should monitor their kids and if they don't like what they are reading then they should step in," said Miria Davis, a Nampa resident.
Gering says a library should be a safe place for children and not a place to worry about what her children may pick up.
Since Gering does not live in Nampa she cannot be part of the official complaint process to get the book removed. Gering did say that a Nampa man contacted her concerned about the book and told her he was interested in helping get the book of the shelves.
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