Encourage your GA State Representative to pass SB 74, to repeal the library obscenity exception currently in GA law O.G.C.A. Section 16-12-104. Ask Rep. Tyler Paul Smith, Chairman of the Judicial Non-Civil Committee via his staffer Ronnie Pouliot at (404) 463-7853 and thank him and the Committee for bravely taking a stand for children's innocence and protecting our tax dollars from buying overtly obscene content and staging it in libraries throughout Georgia. Georgia law defines obscene material in O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80.

Georgia libraries were once safe heavens—a place for young minds to learn and explore without an unwanted encounter with obscene or violently graphic content; unfortunately, I found this to be untrue when my child became an unintended audience to obscene material within our local library and it wasn't a copy of National Geographic.

The opposition claims that there are ZERO obscene materials in our libraries. Now, there is definitely pornographic materials in our libraries, which may, or may not, qualify as obscenity. Whether or not pornographic materials are obscene is largely determined by your community standards. I don't believe that you want your tax dollars spent on pornographic or obscene materials for your public or school libraries. 

If you have seen, or your children have been accidentally exposed to any obscene or pornographic materials in ANY library, please leave a comment on this petition so we can debunk this claim.

Now, more than ever, libraries in Georgia are becoming conduits for publishers, authors, and distributors who, in their push for increased sales, have relentlessly allowed obscene and violent content to slip through their vetting mechanisms. This is because libraries often opt for bulk purchases and cannot individually screen all items they procure.

These are not isolated incidents; they represent a rising trend that threatens our libraries' original intent—to promote learning and growth. It is no surprise that our libraries have euphemistically been granted 'obscenity exemptions.'

That is why we need to bring attention to Georgia's SB74—legislation intended to remove this obscenity exemption. SB 74 defends libraries and  responsible librarians as they remain a safe, conducive learning environment for all—children and adults alike.

GA State Senators bravely passed SB 74 and have sent it to the GA House  of Representatives Judiciary Non-Civil Committee and are now deciding whether or not to bring the bill to the House floor for a vote. We need to urge them to push this bill forward. If Georgia is to truly value its citizens' growth and safeguard the innocence of our children, we should offer unwavering support to the implementation of SB 74. If people want to purchase obscene books or other media please don't endorse libraries spending YOUR tax dollars to do it. 

Some legislators are worried about how the books in the library will be managed. The Columbia County, Georgia, library has adopted guidelines for shelving book in an age-appropriate manner keeping adult content where it belongs --> in the adult section of the library. Shelving guidelines can be employed to help support SB 74. No one is seeking to remove any categories of books from libraries, just the OBSCENE ones.

So, stand with me, as we implore our GA House Representatives to bring SB 74 to the floor. Together, we can reinforce the walls of these intellectual sanctuaries. Sign this petition to demand preservation of values in Georgia libraries.