DONNELLY, ID – This week is Banned Books Week, and it comes at time when the battle over free speech is increasing across the country. Libraries in Idaho and other states are at the center of this fight.

Book banning has increased in recent years, most often targeting works that include the LGBTQ community and people of color.

In Idaho, lawmakers passed House Bill 710 last year, which requires libraries to segregate material deemed harmful to children or face legal action.

Sherry Scheline is director of the Donnelly Public Library in rural central Idaho. She said book banning is hard on remote libraries like hers.

“When the government puts constraints on what you can and cannot read,” said Scheline, “librarians have a difficult time doing their job effectively, especially rural and small libraries.”

Donnelly Public Library joined a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of House Bill 710. Authors and book publishers have also joined the suit.

Dan Novack is associate general counsel for Penguin Random House, which is part of the legal challenge. He said Scheline’s library had to go to “absurd” lengths to comply with the law.

“Rather than risk enforcement, which would be incredibly punitive – the Donnelly Public Library cannot afford to even defend itself against an enforcement action, let alone pay penalties – they decided to go adults only,” said Novack. “So, kids aren’t allowed inside, and honestly it’s a tragedy.”

Scheline said libraries provide vital services, especially in remote communities like hers that are far from urban areas.

“Those libraries are stepping up and they’re offering telehealth, they’re offering community service programs,” said Scheline. “They’re offering after-school programs. Libraries across the United States are stepping up and offering things that are not offered anywhere else in the community.”