SI swimsuit issue back on library shelves

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COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 13 (UPI) -- Cries of First Amendment infringement prompted Sports Illustrated to change its mind about shipping its swimsuit edition to libraries in Ohio and elsewhere.

The annual bikini-filled issue of the magazine was not mailed to 21,000 subscribers such as libraries and schools, prompting complaints from librarians nationwide, the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch said Tuesday.

"I've never heard of that happening before," said Jay Kegley, acting manager of the Columbus Metropolitan Library's Science, Business and News Division.

Leslie Burger, American Library Association president, said in a statement that the magazine's initial decision to withhold the issue was "an infringement on the First Amendment rights of library users and an unwarranted attempt to censor the materials available in our nation's libraries."

Executives at Sports Illustrated agreed.

"It was a bad decision made within our organization to withhold the issue," said Rick McCabe, spokesman for the magazine. "We won't be withholding the swimsuit issue in the future."

McCabe said SI will send a postcard to the institutions that will allow them to order a copy of the swimsuit issue.