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Audit sample finds sexually explicit passages, profane language and violence in 22 titles held by some Utah high school libraries
Summary
Auditors read 22 book titles found in a sample of secondary‑school library catalogs and reported counts of statutorily defined sexual conduct, sexually explicit content, profane language and violence. The audit prompted vigorous committee discussion; the committee referred a review of school library books to the Education Interim Committee and the
Legislative auditors told the Legislative Audit Committee on 2025-09-25 that, in a sample drawn from secondary‑school catalogs, they read 22 book titles in full and identified multiple instances that met statutory definitions of sexual conduct, sexually explicit content, profane language and depictions of violence. The committee voted to refer a review of school library books to the Education Interim Committee (lead) and the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee (review).
What auditors did and what they found
- Sample and method: Auditors searched catalogs from secondary (high) schools and examined 22 titles they located in 42 sampled secondary‑school catalogs. Auditors said the search stopped after reaching the number of titles they were able to review in full; the sample does not cover all Utah secondary schools.
- Counts in the sample: In the 22 books auditors read in full, they reported 153 instances they categorized as statutorily defined sexual conduct, 68 instances of content the report labels as sexually explicit, more than 800 instances of profane or explicit language and 112 references to violence. The auditors applied statutory definitions used in the sensitive‑materials statute when coding the texts.
- Process recommendations: Auditors reiterated recommendations from an earlier June audit of sensitive materials that urged school districts and libraries to adopt or strengthen selection and purchasing checks, to implement multi‑person review processes for new materials and to use existing databases and vendor resources to screen materials before purchase.
Reactions and context
Committee members exchanged strongly held views. Several legislators argued the sample demonstrates that some titles in school libraries contain content they find inappropriate for a school setting and urged clearer selection safeguards. Others cautioned against treating all titles the same way; a legislator noted some titles (for example, Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye) have been important in some students’ lives and can have educational value when used with appropriate instructional context.
Superintendent Molly Hart, representing the Utah State Board of Education, emphasized that the state rule and current statute focus on removal and that school districts and library media specialists retain responsibility for selection and curation. Hart said many districts already train media specialists and use vendor databases for selection, but added districts also face a practical challenge: libraries may already hold thousands of volumes and a full retrospective review presents logistical and fiscal burdens.
Action taken
The committee voted to refer a review of school library books to the Education Interim Committee as lead and to the Public Education Appropriations Subcommittee as review committee. The motion carried after voice vote and the chair announced the motion passed.
What’s next
Auditors recommended that districts adopt clear selection policies, multi‑person review processes and vendor/database screening before purchases. Committee members requested that the Education Interim Committee consider implementation costs and district capacity when it takes up the referral.
