The St. Charles City-County Library is keeping on its shelves almost all of the books challenged by residents after a statewide rule aimed at protecting minors from explicit content went into effect a year ago.  Books with LGBTQ-related themes and characters available in the library’s collection have been the target of public criticism from library patrons and county residents who consider them pornographic or obscene.  Review committees are still reviewing one, but have only ruled against one titled, “Bang Like a Porn Star: Sex Tips from the Pros.”

Meanwhile, the embattled chief of St. Charles City-County libraries is resigning to take the top job at another library district.  Over the past years, Jason Kuhl, who has served in the post since 2017, had become the target of public anger over complaints about a library employee’s attire, some books in the system’s collection with LGBTQ themes and characters, and others about sex, gender and identity, plus a short-lived plan to close three branches. Some of the meetings over the year drew hundreds of residents and heated tempers.  Kuhl’s last day at the St. Charles County system is set for Nov. 4. Library trustee Matthew Seeds said the board will form a search committee, find an interim director and then search for a new director.

The St. Charles City-County Library will not renew its lease for its branch inside of Mid-Rivers Mall in St. Peters.  The branch, which opened earlier this year while the Spencer Road and Middendorf-Kredell branches underwent renovation, is slated to close Nov. 23.  The Mid-Rivers branch was not one of the three permanent branches the library district considered for closure earlier this year; it was always considered temporary,