It’s been over a year since Heather Cloud and Julie Emerson refocused our public libraries to prioritize children’s innocence. The new law, RS 25:225, states that authorities may withhold funding from any library system that does not comply with the new rules. These rules vividly define vulgar kids’ books prohibited in a public library’s children’s section.
Learn more about the Left’s relentless effort to indoctrinate the next generation from Dr. James Lindsay at our November 21 event.
The public tends to believe that laws like this will magically end libraries’ practice of pushing nasty books on our kids. Many in the conservative movement mistakenly believe that we have won the battle. Therefore, they can abandon it and go back to sleep. They forget that famous cliche: “It’s only illegal if someone catches you.”
And that’s precisely where we find ourselves today. We can’t catch them if no one is looking! This is not just a local problem, by the way. A well-funded, nationally organized group is actively working to sexualize our children. That is one reason Citizens for a New Louisiana is bringing in Dr. James Lindsay in November. He’ll discuss the Marxification of Education (and nearly every other government institution) as the Left’s primary tactic to come for our children.
A few things to know.
Today, I will tell you about vulgar kids’ books we found available to children in numerous public libraries across Louisiana. Before we get too far, we should clarify a few things. First, these are not the only nasty books librarians have inappropriately shelved in the kid’s section.
As resources permit, we will continue reviewing materials that librarians are leaving or even adding to the children’s section of your local public library system. It’s also critical to know that these practices will continue as long as some librarians think no one is paying attention. This is why your support of our work is vital. Without us shining our little flashlight into the dark corners of local government (yes, the public library is government), no one knows anything except what the elite leftist media wants them to know.
Are you ready to help? Here are some more ways you can get involved.
Second, the word “child” has a connotation that nefarious librarians use to their advantage. The average person might think that someone who qualifies for the children’s menu at a local restaurant is the definition of a “child.” Generally, that’s twelve years of age and younger. However, RS 25:225(B)(2) clarifies that an adult is someone who has reached the age of majority (18 years old). That sets the “children’s section” standard to mean 0-17-year-olds.
People shouldn’t expose thirteen-year-olds to inappropriate, vulgar material simply because they no longer qualify for kid’s menu prices. Proponents of this material being available to children will use deceptive words like “teen” or “Young Adult” (library jargon for children as young as 10). Let’s not mince words. In Louisiana, shelving these books in the children’s section is illegal.
Elana K. Arnold.
The latest books we’ve found include Damsel, Red Hood, and What Girls Are Made Of, all by Elana K. Arnold, a college professor from the Left Coast. A new website, booklooks.org, addresses some vulgar kids’ books. The titles above link to Book Looks. If you tap or click on them, the content will be disturbing. What’s more alarming is even the author says that her books are “uncomfortable.”
You’ll notice that Damsel’s cover includes a silver medal. “
The ALA is the same organization that encourages the promotion of what it has dubbed “banned books.” The term itself is ridiculous because you can purchase all of these supposedly “banned books” online, at your neighborhood bookstore, and, in all likelihood, find them available (and strongly promoted) at your local public library.
Vulgar kids books
Publishers and the ALA recommend these particular books, which sensationalize sex acts between children (specifically restricted in RS 25:225), for children as young as thirteen years old. You read that right. Louisiana law prohibits books like these from being in the children’s section. And yet, the publisher and the ALA are pushing them on children.
Our article, “The ALA is using explicit cartoons on our kids,” discussed the ALA’s strategy extensively. We referenced the federal government’s restriction on using cartoons to promote cigarettes. If you’ve been around a while, you may remember when people said that Joe Camel cartoons promoting smoking unduly influenced children. Today, publishing companies use the same marketing-to-children strategies that big tobacco once employed. This time, it’s to market sex to children. However, unlike the big tobacco scenario, your tax dollars pay for this promotion.
Which libraries are out of compliance with state law?
Pundetry is easy; data is hard. So, let’s get down to brass tacks. I searched nearly 70 public library catalogs across Louisiana. There are sixty-four (64) parish systems, four (4) municipal libraries, and one (1) state library. Of those, forty-four (44) or sixty-four percent (64%) had at least one of these books available to children.
If you thought, “We fixed it” with that new law from 2023, here’s a wake-up call. Yes, you still need to help us to remain vigilant. Seriously. We can’t do this without you. The Left is relentless and never rests. If you believe protecting children’s innocence is essential, you can help. Funding our research to expose the nefarious deeds of darkness is one significant thing you can do. We could double our work output if everyone on our email list chipped in just $10 a year. Certainly, most people can do a little better than that.
Are you ready to help? Here are some more ways you can get involved.
In the following table, a clickable book icon indicates which of these three books a particular library has available to children. Clicking on the book will take you to the library’s online catalog, where you can see it yourself. I’ve left out library systems where I couldn’t find these three books. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other vulgar books on their shelves.
Here’s the list!
| Name | Damsel | Red Hood | What Girls Are Made Of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acadia Parish | 📖 | ||
| Ascension Parish | 📖 | 📖 | 📖 |
| Assumption Parish | 📖 | ||
| Avoyelles Parish | 📖 | ||
| Bienville Parish | 📖 | ||
| Bossier Parish | 📖 | 📖 | 📖 |
| Caddo Parish (Shreve Memorial) | 📖 | 📖 | 📖 |
| Calcasieu Parish | 📖 | 📖 | |
| Cameron Parish | 📖 | ||
| Claiborne Parish | 📖 | 📖 | 📖 |
| DeSoto Parish | 📖 | 📖 | 📖 |
| East Baton Rouge Parish | 📖 | 📖 | 📖 |
| East Carroll Parish | 📖 | ||
| Iberia Parish | 📖 | 📖 | |
| Iberville Parish | 📖 | 📖 | |
| Jackson Parish | 📖 | 📖 | |
| Jefferson Davis Parish | 📖 | ||
| Jefferson Parish | 📖 | 📖 | |
| Lafayette Parish | 📖 | 📖 | 📖 |
| Lafourche Parish | 📖 | ||
| Lincoln Parish | 📖 | 📖 | |
| Livingston Parish | 📖 | 📖 | 📖 |
| Madison Parish | 📖 | ||
| Natchitoches Parish | 📖 | 📖 | 📖 |
| New Orleans | 📖 | 📖 | 📖 |
| Ouachita Parish | 📖 | 📖 | 📖 |
| Plaquemines Parish | 📖 | ||
| Pointe Coupee Parish | 📖 | ||
| Rapides Parish | 📖 | ||
| Sabine Parish | 📖 | ||
| St. Charles Parish | 📖 | 📖 | |
| St. James Parish | 📖 | 📖 | |
| St. John the Baptist Parish | 📖 | ||
| St. Martin Parish | 📖 | 📖 | |
| St. Mary Parish | 📖 | 📖 | |
| St. Tammany Parish | 📖 | 📖 | |
| Tangipahoa Parish | 📖 | 📖 | |
| Tensas Parish | 📖 | ||
| Terrebonne Parish | 📖 | 📖 | |
| Union Parish | 📖 | ||
| Vernon Parish | 📖 | ||
| Webster Parish | 📖 | 📖 | 📖 |
| West Baton Rouge Parish | 📖 | 📖 | |
| West Felciana Parish | 📖 |
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Why doesn't somebody do something?!
Big government in our state has steadily grown, our private sector has shrunk, and our citizens have been forced to move away for better opportunities. Why doesn't somebody do something? Seven years ago, we started a rag-tag organization called Citizens for a New Louisiana to address the root problems facing our communities and, thereby, the state of Louisiana.
From day one, I decided we would not chase the popular talking points of other failed popup groups. Instead, data would lead the way. Our strategy has been so incredibly successful that we've not just been on the front lines but have established them. As far as I know, we're the only organization in Louisiana to be sued by local elected officials and bureaucrats seeking gag orders to stop us from telling you what's really going on in your government!
Instead of sharing cheap, empty platitudes about "government bad, taxes bad," we chose the more challenging path of exposing specifically what your local and state governments are doing. From de-woking public libraries by helping Christian Conservatives take over to exposing very specific details on wasteful spending and unnecessary tax increases, our work has changed the trajectory of Louisiana. But we could be doing so much more!
We've done everything possible to stay nimble and run a state-wide organization on a shoestring budget. Focusing on data has made us incredibly successful, even with limited resources. "Why doesn't somebody do something?" is your clarion call to action. We don't just think Louisiana is worth saving; we're doing our part to accomplish it, one little bit at a time. Will you answer the call and do your part? Here's the chance to prove it. Partner with the movement that's actually making a difference or chip in monthly so this critical work continues.
