A federal judge struck down key parts of an Arkansas law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing "harmful" materials to minors.

A federal judge has struck down as unconstitutional two provisions of a state law aimed at criminalizing the furnishing of obscene materials to minors at public libraries and bookstores.

A federal judge on Monday permanently blocked portions of Arkansas’ law that would have changed how librarians handle challenged materials and given elected officials the final say over what books are available to the public.

Section 1 of Act 372 sought to criminalize those working at a library or bookstore in Arkansas for “furnishing a harmful item to a minor.”