Inform

Idaho, "Obscene Materials," and the Law

There's plenty of misinformation and disinformation swirling around about libraries and "obscene materials" right now.  We've compiled some information with the sections of Idaho Code that define "obscene materials" and "harmful to minors."

Idaho Public Library Statistics Oct 2020-Sep 2021

• 3.77 million people visited Idaho's 162 public library locations

• Idahoans checked out more than 14 million items

• Libraries provided more than 1.8 million uses of public internet services (up 14% from the previous year)

• Idahoans pay an average per capity $44.37 annually to support their public library

• About 43% of Idahoans have a library card--that's more than 795K people

• Libraries held over 20K programs last year, and more than 480K people attended those programs

Book Banning and Censorship

• 75% of voters say preventing book banning is important in deciding how they will vote, cites a new national poll (Sept. 22)

Additional Resources

References: 

https://libraries.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/FY-2021-Statistical-Report.pdf 

https://libraries.idaho.gov/idaho-library-statistics/

Downloadable slides with images of the FY21 Idaho Public Library stats to share on social media and elsewhere.