Mom’s viral video shows the real impact of an Idaho library law that limits what kids can read

In case you don’t follow news out of Idaho, the state recently passed and enacted House Bill 710, which went into effect on July 1. Under this law, parents can sue schools or public libraries that they believe are offering “harmful” materials to minors. Now, one mom is going viral on TikTok for documenting her experience—and it’s a must-watch.

Carly Anderson, a mom of three who lives in Idaho Falls, a town in the southeastern part of the state, shared, “Kids have lost access to public libraries. That sounds dramatic, but this is a real-life story that happened to us yesterday in Idaho.”

In her video, Anderson explained that her 11-year-old daughter Scarlett had just finished reading “The Hobbit,” so they headed to the library to grab “The Fellowship of the Ring,” which is stocked in the adult section. Before they got there, though, they were stopped by a new sign.

“The sign says that if you are under 18, you’re not allowed up there unless you have an unrestricted library card or your parent that is over 18 signs an affidavit for you,” Anderson said. So she showed her ID and Scarlett’s library card, thinking they’d be good to go—until librarians allegedly stopped them.

“But no, why don’t they let me? Because I’m holding a baby, my 1-year-old,” Anderson explained. Yep, even an infant needs the proper documents to enter the adult section of the library under the Idaho law. “They said that because I had a baby there (who can’t read), I’m not allowed in the library with her unless she has a library card or I signed an affidavit. So me and Daphne just watched from the edge while Scarlett goes in to find her book. The librarian ended up helping her.”

Anderson added that she doesn’t blame the librarians for this.

“They were being so nice and patient,” she said. “I felt like the librarians are sick of it. They feel so bad turning kids away from going into the library.”

The Library Alliance of North Idaho is one of the groups rallying against the state’s new library law, as well as showing their support for local libraries. Earlier this summer, the Library Alliance of North Idaho invited the public to sign thank you cards that will be delivered to librarians.

“Our hope is first, that our librarians and our library workers know that we support them and appreciate the work that they do and we trust them,” Megan Dardis-Kunz, who is with the Alliance, tells KREM News. “We trust them to make the decisions about what material should be in our books.”

Anderson also voiced some extremely important concerns: “My heart broke because what about these kids that aren’t coming in with parents? What about the Matildas out there that literally come to the library to just read, read, and read and then gain superpowers because they’re Matilda? What about the Hermiones out there that find amazing answers because they go into the restricted section of the library?”

In a follow-up video, Anderson shared more context around the new Idaho library law.

“All public and school libraries are having to work around this new bill to make sure they don’t get sued,” she explained. “For some libraries, it’s doing something like this: having an unrestricted card, or making sure that a parent, a legal guardian, signs an affidavit. Even sadder, some of the smaller community libraries have been closed since July 1 because they just don’t have the funding to restructure a library like this, or the funding to get sued every time someone gets offended.”

She also shared even more concerns about the potential fallout from the law.

“The problem is, what about our marginalized groups? What about these smaller communities? What about these kids that don’t get to come in with their parents? What about grandparents taking their grandchildren and they’re not their legal guardian? What about teenagers that are looking for answers about eating disorders, about abuse? They don’t get to unless they talk to their parent about it and can drag their parent to the library with them or talk them into giving them an unrestricted library card,” she said.

Currently, a lawsuit is seeking to stop enforcement of the law on behalf of a number of schools, parents, churches, and library associations, claiming it violates first amendment rights.

The importance of allowing kids to have full library access

Allowing children full library access is crucial for their intellectual and personal development. Libraries serve as gateways to knowledge, offering a vast array of resources that can spark curiosity, foster creativity, and nurture a lifelong love of learning. When children have unrestricted access to library materials, they can explore diverse subjects, discover new interests, and develop critical thinking skills at their own pace. This freedom to choose what they read and learn empowers children, helping them build confidence in their abilities and encouraging self-directed learning.

Moreover, full library access exposes children to a wide range of perspectives and ideas, promoting empathy, cultural understanding, and open-mindedness. Books and other library resources can introduce children to different cultures, historical periods, and ways of thinking, broadening their worldview and helping them become more well-rounded individuals. By allowing children to navigate the library independently, we also teach them valuable skills in information literacy, research, and decision-making, which are essential for kids today.