Missouri Takes Action on eBook App Over Inappropriate Material

Missouri’s Secretary of State, Denny Hoskins, has stopped payments to Overdrive, a company that provides apps for eBooks and audiobooks. On Monday, he announced he would not pay a $30,000 payment that was due every three months. This decision came after reports that children were able to see inappropriate content through the company’s apps.

“Our main goal is to keep Missouri’s children safe and make sure companies using taxpayer money are responsible,” said Secretary Hoskins.

Overdrive runs an app called Libby, which people who use the St. Louis County Library can use to read and listen to books. A library spokesperson said that the library pays for this app from its own budget, so library users will not be affected.

Overdrive also provides access to a shared online library called MOREnet, which students in Missouri schools can use. The MOREnet website says that the books and audiobooks can be sorted by grade level, and that the state and schools set rules for what content is allowed and who can see it.

Connor Riley, who used online books as a student, said, “I used online reading a little in elementary school, and I remember it was checked pretty well.”

Three years ago, some parents were worried about inappropriate books in school libraries, and some schools removed certain books. However, at that time, there was not much discussion about eBooks.

“The important thing is that we have to check these things,” said Bill Carmody.

Rachael Dunn, who works for Secretary Hoskins, said, “The Secretary hopes Overdrive will show that they have good rules and ways of doing things to make sure children see appropriate content and to ease parents’ worries.”

We tried to contact Overdrive for a statement but have not received a response.