Join LaVerna in her quest to rid
Utah schools of sexually explicit books.

Step-by-step instructions to protect your children.

STEP 1

Join the LaVerna in the Library Facebook page
LaVerna's Facebook page is a community of concerned parents who share ideas and strategies to protect their children.  It also highlights sexually explicit books that have been found in Utah school libraries.

STEP 2

  1. RatedBooks.org is a searchable website that has catalogued the rated reports of over 300 books that are commonly found in public school libraries.  Browse the website to see what types of books are available and how the rating system works.​
  2. A list of book locations in Google My Maps was created for many Utah districts.  Browse the maps to see what is available in schools.  As some books may have been removed, see Step 3 for instructions on how to search your school.

STEP 3

Learn how to find sexually explicit books in your child's school library
Find books in your public school library.  Every school is different.  Some only let you search for one school at a time, while others let you search the whole district.  With many schools, you can use this link to search your school. 

Book Lists

  1. Use the book list above to search for books. Start with the worst books, rated 5/5 and 4/5.
  2. Type the book title into your school's library catalog per the instructions in the video above.
  3. Record where the books are.​

STEP 

Share Your Findings with Others
  1. You can create and share a district page to involve other parents in challenging books in your school or district.  RatedBooks will create a district page for Utah school districts for free if you fill out this form. (Out of state costs $35 here.)
  2. Ask your principal for a MEDIA CHALLENGE FORM.  Districts in Utah are required to have a media challenge policy by 10-1-22 that requires compliance with HB374, the sensitive materials law that went into effect on May 4, 2022.  Through that law (76-10-1226) there is no serious value to minors if there is a description or depiction of 
    1. ​(i)human genitals in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal;
      (ii)acts of human masturbation, sexual intercourse, or sodomy;
      (iii)fondling or other erotic touching of human genitals or pubic region;
  3. Help us review books!  If you found an excerpt that concerns you, please email MaryinthelibraryUSA@gmail.com with the book title, author and page number(s) where you found the offending passage.  Please provide a screenshot of the offending image and/or type it out.

HELPFUL LINKS


Davis School District Media Library Policy:  ​
https://tinyurl.com/dsdlibrarymediapolicy

Davis School District Sensitive Materials Review Request: 
https://tinyurl.com/dsd374request

Davis School District Parent Lottery for Sensitive Materials Committee Member
Parents with standing who wish to volunteer to be on a Sensitive Material Review Committee may apply each school year, and will be chosen randomly using a digital randomizer. (4I-202 School Library Media Centers, Section 4.1.5)

Davis School District Appeal Sensitive Material Decision
The original requester or another individual with standing may appeal the determination of the review committee using this form. The appeal must be submitted within 15 school days of the date the original determination was posted to the website. An appeal must state how the rational or outcome of the review process violates policy or clearly articulate why a further review of the material in question is justified. (4I-202 School Library Media Centers, Section 4.7)

Washington School District Media Policy:
https://www.washk12.org/media-center/media-policy


GET INFORMED

​Below are some links to presentations and Laws in Utah that can be used to challenge obscene books in libraries.​

Repealing Obscenity Exemptions:
https://docs.google.com/.../1nYSFNEcTe9bo7v9sZTrJ.../edit...
Utah Obscenity Exemptions: https://docs.google.com/.../1UArSnjR29.../edit...
 
Utah Criminal Code against obscenity:
t tps://drive.google.com/.../178mTEzpxwtbJ5bTQpIA.../view...

Utah Sex Ed code:
https://drive.google.com/.../1ajgtGBd5tooJmka6guj.../view...
Sample of Citizen's Reconsideration Policy of Books (Cache):
https://drive.google.com/.../15nU2rLxEE58DYXiwjBG.../view...

Utah Code, Title 76, Chapter 10, Part 12
Specifically 1203 and 1204.
https://le.utah.gov/xcode/Title76/Chapter10/76-10-P12.html

US and Utah violation concerns are listed below:
https://www.schools.utah.gov/.../96361a05-763d-4edb-9df3...

There is a very strict vetting process for materials that are used in Sex Education.
https://le.utah.gov/.../Tit.../Chapter10/76-10-S1206.html...
https://le.utah.gov/.../Title53E/Chapter2/53E-2-S301.html...
https://www.govinfo.gov/.../USCODE-2019-title18-partI...

Children's internet protection act.
http://ifea.net/cipa.html
https://www.ecfr.gov/.../subchapter-B/part-54/subpart-F
E-rate program. "§ 54.520 Children's Internet Protection Act certifications required from recipients of discounts under the federal universal service support mechanism for schools and libraries."