While former Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft put a target on printed material in libraries during his tenure, Hoskins is aiming at a digital platform that lets users download and read books on their smartphones, tablets and laptops.
In an announcement, Hoskins said he had suspended state funding to an app named OverDrive, which has received $160 in state payments this fiscal year, saying he believes allegations it gives minors access to inappropriate materials.
“Our priority is protecting Missouri’s children while holding taxpayer-funded vendors accountable,” Hoskins said in a statement “We expect Overdrive to clarify its policies and demonstrate how it is ensuring appropriate access to content.”
The company, which has received under $12,000 in state funds since 2022, did not respond to a request for comment Monday.
The Ohio -based company earlier said its product is used by 75,000 libraries and other institutions globally, including prisons and militaries. The app and similar platforms became popular during the COVID-19 pandemic when schools were closed.
The action comes as a Senate panel last week debated a proposal by Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, R-Arnold, that would ban materials deemed explicit from digital libraries. She told the Senate Education Committee that the app gives students access to “sexually explicit material.”
Under the legislation, schools would be required to publish a list of required reading materials on their websites and allow parents access to digital library resources.
Parents could challenge those resources as inappropriate. They could sue school personnel, including librarians, for not following the law.
The legislation is similar to a rule imposed by Ashcroft requiring libraries to create policies preventing minors from accessing obscene materials. Opponents said the action was little more than censorship.
That rule led to Missouri being named in 2023 as one of the top three book banning states by Pen America, which charts attempts to crack down on reading material.
Hoskins, a Republican who aligned with the conservative Freedom Caucus when he served in the state Senate, launched the latest response Friday when he announced his office was investigating agreements between public schools and file sharing vendors.
“It is our priority to ensure that any agreements utilizing taxpayer funds through the Missouri Secretary of State’s Office entered into by public schools are transparent, enforceable, and in the best interest of students, educators and the taxpayers of Missouri,” Hoskins said.
“As we move forward with this investigation, we will work closely with relevant authorities to ensure that any discrepancies are addressed and proper action is taken,” he added.
His office said Attorney General Andrew Bailey also is probing the service. A Bailey spokesperson did not return messages.
During his campaign for the post last year, Hoskins said he supports prohibiting the use of taxpayer funds to purchase or supply library books he said were inappropriate for children.
Missouri is the latest government to enter the debate over student access to e-reader apps.
Schools in Tennessee, Texas and Florida cut off access to the program in recent years over concerns material was available that school librarians hadn’t vetted.
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