Library Concerns: Please Join Us at Commissioner's Court Tuesday

We are in trouble, and most friends will be working the polls!! Please come TOMORROW (wear red), October 22th at 9:30am to 501 North Thompson, Fourth Floor.

Recap of the last meeting:

Library Update: Think Long Game

I am concerned that we will not have a good showing at court because most of our friends are going to be handing out voter guides at the polls. If you can spare an hour or two on Tuesday morning (tomorrow 10/22), please come to Commissioner’s Court at 9:30am. Wear red.

October 22, 2024 @ 9:30am
Commissioner’s Court
501 North Thompson
Fourth Floor

Commissioner Noack wants to change the new (recently revised after all our hard work) library policy.

Here is a recap over the past few months:

• On March 26, 2024, a new library policy was brought before commissioner’s court and passed. The new policy put citizen appointees in charge of the reconsideration process. (For instance, if a book with mature content was placed in the children’s section, the committee could vote to move it to the adult or young adult section.)

• During the last Commissioner’s Court (October 8th), Jim, a local dad, during public comment stated that his 9-year-old had recently come across a book with alarming material:

  • If a girl her age does not have a crush on boys, she might be gay.

  • If she has a longer index finger she might be gay.

  • The word lesbo was mentioned multiple times.

  • The main character, multiple times, had context of sexual nature with adult strangers.

• When librarians controlled the committee, mature content found in the children’s section was determined to be age appropriate. (Also, keep in mind that librarians determined to put the above-mentioned book in the children’s section recently.)
  Mature content includes:

  • If you are depressed, it might be because your gender is different than your biological sex.

  • Finding information about transitioning on the internet, and to make sure to delete your search history so your parents don’t find out.

• Neither the new policy, nor the old policy required proof of residency to request a book placement be reconsidered. The form has a place for your address and library card number.

• The new policy requires a book to be moved to the adult section until a final decision is made. This is important because before this change was made, the librarians on the committee would slow walk the decision for over 6 months. We should err on the side of caution here.

• Two weeks ago, Judge Keough moved to table the library policy discussion because Commissioner Riley was not present that day.

• We can be reasonably concerned that Commissioner Noack may want to put librarians back in charge of the reconsideration committee. If a librarian is placed on the committee, I hope this will be as an advisory capacity only. Librarian members can be intimidating to citizen members, and there should be a provision that the librarian can be asked to leave during sensitive discussion and voting.

Examples of children’s chapter books that the librarian-controlled reconsideration committee approved for young children.

The Montgomery County Memorial Library System (MCMLS) is the second largest budget item for the county.

How YOU can help:

Come to Commissioner’s Court —
WEAR RED.

I really need everyone who can, to please-please-please show up at Commissioner’s Court TOMORROW, October 22th at 9:30am. Commissioner’s Court will be held at the following location:

Alan B. Sadler Commissioners Court Building
501 North Thompson, Fourth Floor
Conroe, Texas 77301

You do not have to talk because you will be wearing red and the commissioners will know where you stand, but if you would like to make a comment, here are the talking points:

• This is about the public libraries, NOT the school libraries, therefore removing books is not what we want. Remember Mein Kamp and The Communist Manifesto are both in the libraries. Books remind us of where we have been and where we never want to go again. The difference is that these books are in the ADULT section.

• We are for age-appropriate books in age-appropriate hands. That means, mature themed books should be in the ADULT section, and not available to kids without parent supervision/approval. Certainly, these books should not be shelved in the children’s section for children to inadvertently pick up.

• Last March, the other side made it sound like there would be no books left in the libraries by the end of the summer. This was simply not true. The standard for removal is very high as explained earlier in this article. I do not believe any books will be removed.

• There needs to be specific standards for what kind of content should not be placed in the children’s section. If Jim’s testimony tells us anything, it’s that we need a stronger policy. Parents absolutely must be vigilant regardless, but how in the world did the book he is describing make it to the shelf in the children’s section?

If you would like to speak, when the judge asks if there are any citizen comments, raise your hand. You will need to state which agenda item you wish to comment on.

Email/call your commissioner:

I would like to quickly remind you that Commissioner Gray, Commissioner Walker, and Judge Keough all voted FOR the new (current) library policy which was passed in March of this year. For more information about the policy, please visit this article:

(17) New Library Materials Reconsideration Policy PASSED! (substack.com)

Here is a form email you can use:

Dear Commissioner,

I am writing about my concern about item 22.A.1 on the October 22, 2024 commissioner’s court open agenda.

Please keep the new library reconsideration policy as is, or if anything, make the policy stronger to keep the children’s section age appropriate. If any changes are made, please do not take away the voice of the citizens in shaping accessibility of mature content in our public libraries. We must continue to have strong efforts to protect children, upholding the values of our community.

I will be attending court wearing a red shirt in support of this agenda item.

Thank you for your support of these very important agenda items.

Sincerely,

(Your name here)

Find your commissioner:

Here is their contact information:

Montgomery County Commissioner Precinct 1

Office of Commissioner Robert Walker
936-539-7815
commissioner.pct1@mctx.org

Montgomery County Commissioner Precinct 2

Office of Commissioner Charlie Riley
281-259-6492
karen.cantrell@mctx.org

Montgomery County Commissioner Precinct 3

Commissioner James Noack
Spring: 281-367-3977
Conroe: 936-539-7817
Fax: 281-364-4231
Evan.Besong@mctx.org

Montgomery County Commissioner Precinct 4

Commissioner Matt Gray
936-597-4444
contactp4@mctx.org

Montgomery County Judge

The Honorable Mark Keough
(936) 539-7812
Email: cojudge@mctx.org

Pray!

Finally, please pray for every heart and mind of the court, their staff, and their families.

Thank you again! I cannot express how grateful I am for you.

Article written by Michele Nuckolls, homeschool mom who spends a lot of time in the public library with her kids.
email: twomomsandsomebooks@gmail.com