No books have been banned at the Peru Public Library. But Library Co-Director Emily Schaub says people have asked her about it. She says when people ask to ban a book, most people just want to be heard.
She says a book ban happens when someone finds a book offensive or inappropriate. Some people have asked for the Bible to be banned because it goes against their religious beliefs.
A bill passed in the Illinois House requires libraries to adopt the American Library Association’s Bill of Rights which says a book will not be removed from a library because it doesn’t fit someone’s beliefs. If a library imposes a book ban the Secretary of State’s Office could deny them grant funding. Schaub says that would hurt the Peru library because one grant they get every year goes toward getting new books and updating their catalog. There have been calls from some people who don’t want their kids reading books with LGBTQ plus themes in them.