A parent’s concern about a library book at Taft High 7-12 has sparked concerns about age-appropriate materials in Lincoln County schools and has opened discussion on what parents can do if they object to such materials.

Lincoln City resident Bridget O’Donnell said she was horrified when she found out her daughter had brought the book, “The Little Black Book For Girlz” home from school.

“A classmate of my daughter checked the book out of the Taft High library and gave it to her,’ said O’Donnell. “All her friends had been talking about the book and when she brought it home she was kind of hiding it.”

O’Donnell described the book as “very graphic.”

“It is simply too graphic for a seventh grader and for my daughter,” said O’Donnell.

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In response to a small group of parents who objected to a novel being taught in their middle school children’s classrooms that contained explicit language and mature themes, District 97 will offer those parents an alternative book for their students to read.

But the district will not remove the novel Monster from its reading curriculum, based on a decision made last week by school administration following a review of the book.

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Rejecting claims of a direct link between violent video games and violent behavior, Elmhurst Public Library board members Tuesday turned down requests by a small group of residents to change the library’s selection policy for violent video games.

“There’s no evidence I can see between these games and violent behavior,” said library director Mary Beth Campe.

Campe and board members made clear they see the inclusion of the materials in the library’s collection as an issue of First Amendment freedom of expression.

Schuetz, who spoke for the citizen group Tuesday, insisted the group is not asking for a ban on the games.

“We are asking the library to implement improved selection criteria and procedures,” Schuetz told board members.

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