A children's story hour at Columbia's main library has suddenly become a political flashpoint, with Missouri Secretary of State Denny Hoskins warning he will try to choke off funding if the event goes forward.
Hoskins said Friday that he would seek to withhold state and federal grant dollars from the Daniel Boone Regional Library if the Columbia Public Library proceeds with a queer-themed "Rainbow Story Time" planned for this weekend. The library describes the program as a family-friendly event for toddlers and preschoolers that features short picture-book readings, songs and an activity. After local residents raised concerns, Attorney General Catherine Hanaway also sent a letter to the library board, asking that any program be carried out "consistent with Missouri law."
What officials said
In a written statement, Hoskins noted that the State Library "falls under the Office of the Secretary of State" and warned he would "do everything in my power to block every dollar of state and federal funding" if the story time takes place, according to ABC17.
The Columbia Public Library's online calendar lists "Rainbow Story Time" as a queer-led story time for families, scheduled for Saturday morning in the Children's Program Room. Hoskins tied his threat directly to his office's role overseeing state library grant administration, making clear he views the event as falling within his funding leverage.
Library response and program details
Library spokeswoman Mitzi St. John told KQ2 that the 30- to 45-minute session will feature readings of the picture books Rainbowsaurus and Big Wig, and said that "neither include sexual content." The library shared images from the books with reporters and lists the program on its events calendar as geared toward families, toddlers and preschoolers on the Daniel Boone Regional Library events calendar.
Legal backdrop and new state law
Hoskins pointed to recent state action that tightens rules around minors' access to explicit material. Earlier in July, Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a bill that creates age-verification requirements for adult websites, according to a signing summary from the Governor's office. Separately, Missouri law makes furnishing pornographic material to minors an offense under the section of the Revised Statutes dealing with sexual offenses, as outlined in RSMo §573.040.
What happens Saturday
The Daniel Boone Regional Library still has "Rainbow Story Time" on its schedule for Saturday morning, according to the library's events calendar. Library officials told reporters that the attorney general's letter would not alter their plans, and the program remains listed on the library site and calendar.
For now, the standoff leaves an open question hanging over Columbia: how far state officials might go in using their control over library funding to influence what happens in a children's reading room.
