Flathead County Library trustees hold off on overhauling young adult section

Concerned about the age appropriateness of materials in the young adult section, Flathead County Library trustees asked staff Thursday to place additional signs in teen areas, forgoing other proposals, like relabeling books or organizing a community audit.

Board of Trustees Chair David Ingram said that when he raised the issue in February, he was interested in aiding parents confused by the young adult designation, which he described as catering to readers 12 to 25 years old. It’s a sentiment his fellow trustees largely agreed with, aside from Trustee Jane Wheeler.

The young adult section is housed in teen areas of all Flathead County Library branches. A recent audit conducted by library staff revealed that out of the 318 titles in the section, only three books fell into the general adult category. The remainder were for children aged 12 through 18.