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What you need to know about Missouri's 'burdensome' new library rules

Missouri libraries could lose state funding if they don’t follow new rules regarding what materials children can check out. But librarians say the rules are a huge burden — and have encouraged hostile behavior from the public.

The Missouri secretary of state’s new rules for libraries are in effect starting today. Among other requirements, libraries are banned from purchasing material that’s “pornographic for minors” and from letting minors borrow materials without their parents’ permission. If they don’t comply, libraries risk losing state funding.

Kimberly Moeller is the president-elect of the Missouri Library Association. She told Nomin Ujiyediin that librarians see the new rules as redundant, burdensome and a form of censorship.

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Kansas City Today is hosted by Nomin Ujiyediin. It is produced by Paris Norvell, Byron Love and KCUR Studios and edited by Gabe Rosenberg and Lisa Rodriguez.

As a newscaster and a host of a daily news podcast, I want to deliver the most important and interesting news of the day in an engaging and easily understandable way. No matter where you live in the metro or what you’re interested in, I want you to learn something from each newscast or podcast – and maybe even give you something to talk about at the dinner table.
Paris Norvell is a freelance podcast producer for KCUR Studios,
As an on-demand producer, I am focused on using my skills and experiences across multiple digital applications, platforms and media fields to create community focused audio, video and on-demand products for KCUR Studios. The media that I produce aims to inform, entertain and connect with the Kansas City metro area as we continue to learn from each other. Email me at byronlove@kcur.org.
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