Swedish library pulls book with molestation illustrations

VAXJO, Sweden, March 11 (UPI) -- A Swedish library reversed its position and announced a book featuring illustrations of child molestation is being removed from circulation.

The Vaxjo library was criticized by the National Bureau of Investigation's Child Pornography Task Force for offering two copies of "I last och lust," a 1982 book by sexual health organization RFSL that was meant to be an educational resource and included illustrations meant to reflect historical depictions of sexuality, Swedish news agency TT/TheLocal.se reported Tuesday.

The illustrations include images of a child being molested, task force chief Bjorn Sellstrom said during a Monday interview on Sveriges Radio.

"It's rather inappropriate that children are allowed to be presented in this way in a book available to the public," Sellstrom said.

Anna-Karin Axelsson, head librarian in Vaxjo, initially responded to the criticism by saying the book, which was meant to counteract pornography that glorifies violence, would not be removed from the shelves.

"We cannot go back and clean up history just because we've come further in our discussions and values," Axelsson said. "That's not what libraries are meant to do."

However, Axelsson later reversed her position in a statement released by the library.

"The book is a debate book and the pictures surely have a purpose, but we shouldn't have lent it out. We were wrong," Axelsson said.

Axelsson said the book will be kept for reference and research, but will not be made available to the public.