In 2021 and 2022, the Craighead County Library in Jonesboro became a flashpoint for the city, the region, the state, and ultimately the nation over the appropriateness of certain books in the children's section. Parents and citizens raised legitimate questions about sexually explicit material placed where young children could easily access it. Defenders of the status quo treated any scrutiny as an existential threat to free expression. Book bans became the battle cry! Media coverage, both print and television, was everywhere.

In 2023 the Arkansas Legislature responded with Act 372. The law created a new Class A misdemeanor offense for knowingly furnishing children material "harmful to minors"--defined using established Arkansas obscenity standards. It also required public libraries to adopt clear written policies for selecting, relocating, and retaining materials, and it established a process allowing citizens to challenge the appropriateness of items, with local elected officials holding final authority--rather than appointed bureaucrats. Once again, media coverage--local, state, and some national--was widespread. Book Ban Dan became the battle cry!

Opponents came screaming out of the woodwork. A lawsuit followed, arguing........

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