The Mobile Public Library has removed a graphic children's comic book for review.
"Sex is a Funny Word" by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth was in the children's section at the Moorer/Spring Hill Branch, Parkway Branch, Saraland Library, Semmes Branch, Toulminville Branch and West Regional Branch.
The book includes full nudity images of males and females and encourages masturbation and gender identity ideology.
"Like other holes in our body, the anus is usually very sensitive, which means it can feel good to touch but can also hurt if we are rough with it," the book reads.
Marcus Mitchell, the library system's public relations officer, said the book was pulled from shelves Thursday, the same day 1819 News published a story about the book's graphic content. The library has had the book for 10 years, and Mitchell said it hasn't been checked out very often. In fact, he said, at some locations, it had never been checked out.
After an internal audit, the library pulled the book and will decide whether to move it to the adult section or remove it completely. Mitchell said the library has been conducting these reviews for nearly a year after concerned citizens began to come forward.
"When this all started last summer, we have a listing of books," Mitchell said. "And as we go down and we have time enough that our librarians can go through all of these books, you know, they make a decision."
"Sex is a Funny Word" was not challenged by anyone, but Mitchell said the library has an internal audit review process.
"Some of them sometimes can squeak through the cracks and we don't want any type of books to end up in the hands of children or minors that we don't feel is appropriate for them at their age," he said.
"If there are any citizens that are concerned about the books, we take our book challenges very, very seriously and we want to make sure that we comply with all of the laws and we are here to be an asset to the community," Mitchell added.
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