Public library leaders in Nampa, responding to the threat of a lawsuit, have reversed a decision banning two sex education books.

In June, the library board voted 3-2 to permanently remove “The New Joy of Sex” and “The Joy of Gay Sex” from its public shelves, and ordered them to be stored instead in the library director’s office, available only upon request. But last week, the American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho sent a letter threatening to sue the board, contending the ban violated the constitutional right to free and open access to information.

During an emergency meeting last week, the board reversed course, citing financial concerns of defending a First Amendment case in federal court. During the meeting, the Nampa City Attorney suggested the case could cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight.

The decision also reverses the board’s June vote to amend library policy to restrict minors’ access to any future library acquisitions that have graphic sexual illustrations that meet the definition of “harmful to minors” under state law. (AP)