Library Reconsideration Policy is At Risk - Please Come to Commissioner's Court TOMORROW MORNING.
Library Reconsideration Policy is At Risk - Please Come to Commissioner's Court TOMORROW MORNING.
There is also some concern about a proposed committee appointee. Please come TOMORROW (wear red), October 8th at 9:30am to 501 North Thompson, Fourth Floor. Information below to send an email.
First, what is a reconsideration policy?
Once in a while, a patron may find a book that concerns him or her. Perhaps it is a book in the children’s section with mature themes. The patron may think the placement was a mistake, and the book should be moved to the young adult section. That patron has the option to fill out a reconsideration form. This form then goes to a reconsideration committee. The members each read the book and discuss what should be done, if anything.
Just a reminder, these are some of the books that were found in the children’s section of our libraries:
These are children’s chapter books in the same section as Ramona by Beverly Cleary and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl.
Find a list of books here:
As many of you know, we got a new library reconsideration policy last March.
Here is a comparison to the old policy:
OLD POLICY: The reconsideration committee was made up of 5 librarians and 5 community members each appointed by one member of the commissioner’s court. The librarians, who were chosen by the library administrators, were completely fine with books like those above being accessed by very young children.
NEW POLICY: The new reconsideration committee overseeing the children’s and young adult sections is made up by 5 community members. The reconsideration committee overseeing the adult sections is made up of 5 librarians.
OLD POLICY: The committee simply discussed the books and what various members thought should happen with them. The results of the discussion might be brought to the library director, and the director made the final decision. A vote was never taken.
NEW POLICY: The reconsideration committee overseeing requests about the children’s and young adult content now takes a vote and the decision is binding.
OLD POLICY: The meetings were not open to the public, and members were told the meetings were secret.
NEW POLICY: The meetings could be attended by the public and the patron who submitted the reconsideration form would be invited to attend.
One major change, which took a lot of heat, was that books could now be removed from the library collection if it meets Texas Penal Code as harmful material, AND the committee must unanimously agree. This is a very difficult standard to meet, and I do not believe any books in our libraries will meet this standard.
The Committee, by a unanimous vote, may instruct the Library Director to remove the material from circulation within the Montgomery County Memorial Library System. The Committee may only recommend removal of a material if the committee unanimously agrees that the material meets the harmful material standard described in Texas Penal Code § 43.24(a)(2).
This new library reconsideration policy is on the Commissioner’s Court Agenda for Tuesday.
The following agenda item was placed by Commissioner James Noack as it is under precinct 3.
15.A.2. Consider, discuss and take action on the Montgomery County Reconsideration Committee Bylaws and any other committees, by-laws, policies and/or procedures for the Montgomery County Memorial Library System drafted by Judge Mark Keough or his staff.
What could this mean?
I’m not sure, but it might not be good. Read on and find out more.
Reconsideration Committee Appointees
As you may know, County Commissioner James Noack recently lost his bid for reelection to Commissioner-Elect Ritch Wheeler in early March. Commissioner Noack’s term will end at the end of this year, in less than three months.
July 2nd, this past summer, Commissioner Noack attempted to appoint Teresa Kenny for a 4-year term to the library reconsideration committee. Appointees cannot be removed once appointed. Unless the appointee resigns, they must be allowed to continue to serve.
Teresa Kenny is not a conservative and would not have represented our community values. She is an activist and has spoken during public comment at both the Conroe ISD school board meetings and at the Montgomery County Commissioner’s Court. Kenny owns Village Books where the new Woodlands Pride Library is located, on her premises.
She is, of course, perfectly within her rights to house whatever books she wants on the premises of her private business, but I would like to point out that anybody who places books like, Flamer (a graphic novel), on a low shelf right next to the children’s shelf, is probably not going to represent conservative community values. Many of these “banned books” contain graphic sexual depictions, which is why they were removed from school libraries. Many of the young children’s books are about exploring gender identity and gender transition.
Commissioner Noack did not attend that meeting, but I did come to voice my concerns about his appointment. Which you can watch here:
This Tuesday, Commissioner Noack is attempting to appoint someone else to that position for a four-year term again.
As you can see, I have reason to be concerned about who this new appointee is and whether he will represent our conservative community values. I also have good reason to be concerned about what might be proposed in regard to the library policy discussion and potential changes.
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 8th 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:
Commissioner Noack’s term ends at the end of the year (3 months). Therefore, his new appointment to the reconsideration committee should have a 3-month term.
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.
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:
Here is a form email you can use:
Dear Commissioner,
I am writing about my concern about two items on the October 8, 2024 on Commissioner's Court Agenda. Item 9.G.3.A. on the consent agenda and Item 15.A.2 on the October 8, 2024 on open agenda.
In regard to Item 9.G.3.A, in light of Commissioner Noack’s term ending at the end of December, please consider shortening the term of his library committee appointment to 3 months to end at the same time. Commissioner-Elect Ritch Wheeler can then appoint a conservative to represent our community values in January. Please move this item off the consent agenda to the open agenda so the court can vote on this separately.
In regard to Item 15.A.2, please keep the new library reconsideration policy as is. 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)
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