Offended library patron seizes sex-ed books

Offended library patron seizes sex-ed book
A Lewiston woman won't return two copies of 'It's Perfectly Normal,' which she calls 'abnormal.'

LEWISTON — A Lewiston woman who is upset at the content of an acclaimed sex education book published 14 years ago has checked out copies from two libraries and refused to give them back.

"Since I have been sufficiently horrified of the illustrations and the sexually graphic, amoral abnormal contents, I will not be returning the books," Joan Karkos wrote to the Lewiston and Auburn public libraries last month.

Each letter was accompanied by a check for $20.95 to cover the cost of the book, "It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex & Sexual Health."

"This has never happened before," said Rick Speer, director of the Lewiston Public Library. "It is clearly theft."

Speer returned the check, along with a form that Karkos could use to request that the book be removed from library shelves. He said he may seek help from police if she doesn't return what she borrowed.

"That's really what we want," Speer said. "We want the book back."