A bill heading to the Ohio House of Representatives looks to give parents power over what their children read at a public library. 

Representative Al Cutrona introduced the unnamed bill last week that looks to restrict  some books in public libraries across the state. If passed, books that are deemed “harmful” would need to be put in a different section of the library and anyone under 18 would need a parent to check them out. 

Harmful according to the Ohio revised code means “any material or performance describing or representing nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sado-masochistic abuse in any form.”

“This is something that is constitutional; it should not run any afoul with the first amendment,” Representative Cutrona said. “We should be molding the young minds of children, not corrupting their minds.”

Local child psychologists, Dr. Nicole Ranttila feels the content shouldn’t be looked at as harmful for every child. 

“Unfortunately not every child has a parent who can sit down and explain things with them the way that we would hope so books are a resource for those kids that need to get more information,” Dr. Ranttila said. 

Some libraries said it won't be difficult to separate the materials but feel it could send the wrong message to children. 

“Anytime you take books away from anybody it discourages reading,” Jim Wilkins, the Executive Director with the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library said. “We don’t buy harmful things, or we try not to, but what somebody objects to a particular book somebody else wants to read so who are we to say what you should and shouldn't have.”

If the bill passes and a parent finds a book in a library that they believe should have been put away they can submit a letter to the committee. If the committee finds the book is harmful, the library must remove it or they will lose their state funding. 

Representative Cutrona feels the definition of “harmful” is clear and believes the bill will protect the children of Ohio. 

“A library should be a safe place for children to come in and to read and to enjoy themselves, not a place that parents need to be concerned with as they leave the house,” Representative Cutrona said.