Russian libraries to check IDs of anyone borrowing books by ‘foreign agents’

Media outlets in two Russian cities have reported that libraries will check borrowers’ IDs before issuing books by authors who have been deemed “foreign agents” by the Russian government.

Books by “foreign agents” will no longer be available to minors, the authorities in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk have said, according to the Borus Telegram channel. From now on, such titles will not be on public display and can only be accessed via a librarian.

The same rules apply in libraries around the region, the local Culture Ministry confirmed. Literature written by “foreign agents” will be marked 18+ and taken off the shelves.

Local news website NGS55.RU reported that librarians in Omsk, another Siberian city, would only issue books by “foreign agents” to readers with a valid ID. The books in Omsk have not been removed from the shelves but will only be issued to adults.

Borus anticipated municipal authorities throughout the country would soon follow suit in adherence to federal law. Since last year, bookshops have been obliged to label books written by authors on the Justice Ministry’s list of “foreign agents” and restrict their sale to minors.