Because women were discouraged to read
It’s like how there’s vegan restaurants in Wisconsin. Some people are just trying to fail
You were clearly never a bookish teenage girl. A lot of people think it’s abnormal for a girl to be interested in reading to the exclusion of other activities. Put the book down and go out with your friends! Why do you like books more than boys?
It has a large, secret porn section.
This was in the original screenplay, there was even a really long song and dance routine about it, but Angela Lansbury refused to do the movie if they left it in.
I bet people in the town are illiterate except for a handful of people including Belle. People are often dismissive of what they don’t understand. For them maybe there’s no value in something they don’t see as useful.
The townspeople also think Gaston is great so they clearly have bad tastes.