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Library Update: Think Long Game
We will lose ground if we don’t stay vigilant. The other side is playing for keeps.
20Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.
21Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.
Isaiah 5:20:21
Watch Commissioner’s Court for yourself here:
Oct 08, 2024 Commissioners Court - Montgomery County, TX (swagit.com)
Public Comment:
The best comment award (which I just made up) goes to Jim, a local dad who has challenged a book since the new policy went into effect. Here are his words:
“I am here because a few months ago my daughter, she’s 9 years old, she checked out a book from the Conroe (Central) Library. We try to scan through books before she reads them. In this particular case, I just happened to check out the book just before she had started to read it on a fishing trip we were on. I scanned through this graphic novel. (I believe it’s called The Real Riley Mays or something like that.)
In this particular book there is a number of falsehoods that were portrayed:
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.
All of these things are concerning. The thing that really concerned me the most though was that the main character, multiple times, had context of sexual nature with adult strangers, and my wife and I were concerned.
We’ve found books in the library that we didn’t agree with before. Our concern with this particular book was that it could set up children to trust adults that they should not be trusting. We thought it was harmful, and as far as what’s been said here today, that giving children access or having children read whatever they want, having adults give children any kind of book is harmful.
To put things in their heads that could put them in dangerous situations is, is just, it’s terrible, so we submitted a request for it to be reconsidered. We did not ask for it to be banned, we did not ask for it be removed. We put in a request to have it moved to the adult section because our concern is there are going to be parents out there that are like us. We got lucky, and we managed to catch it. We don’t think all parents will. Our ultimate goal with this is that parents are made aware of what’s out there.
It’s not about restricting access. If the parents want to allow their kids to have access to books that’s not what this is about, and I don’t think that’s what the current policy does. It gives everybody access to books if they so choose.”
Sidenote: We need a stronger policy.
If Jim’s words tell 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? It’s not difficult to pre-read a graphic novel; did someone think this was appropriate?
Another Sidenote: Friends of the Library
Before the consent agenda was voted on, our library director Rhea Young honored the Friends of the Library for everything they do for the library and community. I would like to say that their affordable prices allow many community members to build a home library for their children. They raise surprising amounts for the libraries to purchase books and provide programing. I am very thankful for them and appreciated this proclamation. It of course passed unanimously.
Commissioner Noack’s Appointee
County Judge Mark Keough moved to move item 9.3.G.A (the appointee) from the consent to the open agenda. This allows them to vote on that item independently.
After the consent agenda was approved, the judge moved that Commissioner Noack’s appointee’s term end with the commissioner’s term on December 31, 2024. Commissioner Gray seconded this. This passed. Therefore, as soon as Commissioner-Elect Ritch Wheeler takes office in January, he will have the opportunity to appoint somebody.
Library Policy
Commissioner Noack recommends the following changes:
He recommended a change to require a patron to provide proof of residency before filing a reconsideration form.
The judge made the comment that this is because some of The Woodlands Residents reside in Harris County and use The Woodlands libraries.
I would like to point out that this was not a requirement in the previous policy, which was in effect since 2013.
The new policy requires books under reconsideration be immediately moved to the adult section until a decision is made. Commissioner Noack makes a comment about how the books could be “indefinitely” moved to the adult section, and he is concerned that the Brave Books could be moved indefinitely too.
This is interesting since before the new policy if a book with naked cartoons in sexual positions (shown in detail, yes this is a real children’s book) was challenged, it could take the librarians 5 months to meet about the book, and the director could take an additional month (or two or three) to make a final decision. With the new policy, the book is immediately moved until a final decision is made, and miraculously, the process is shorter. Interesting how that works.
I strongly suspect that the commissioner would have also recommended that librarians also be added to the committee, but after Jim’s comment, he might have rethought that. This is speculation of course. However, 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.
Judge Keough motioned to table the discussion until Commissioner Charlie Riley is back in town, so he can engage in the discussion as well. This motion passed.
As I stated previously, I hope that if the policy is put back on the agenda, the commissioners will work to make it stronger, not weaker, to protect the children of Montgomery County. While block walking this week, I met another mother who told me her daughter does not take her grandkids to the library anymore after too many bad experiences. She buys her grandkids a lot of books, and books (especially new books) are not cheap.
The libraries are the second largest budget item in the county. I would wager that most of the patrons of the libraries are families with young children. What is the point of spending all that money if we can’t give parents some measure of comfort that they can allow their children to browse the shelves without having to run in front of them and read through every book first? It sounds ridiculous, but that is exactly what the advocates of this content want. No parent is going to do that; they just won’t come anymore.
The next court date is Tuesday, October 22nd. If the library is put back on the agenda, I will publish an action alert the Monday before. Please consider attending.
The best thing you can do is pray, whether you’re in the courtroom or at home.
In the meantime, feel free to contact 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)
Find your precinct:
Montgomery County Commissioner Precinct 1
Office of Commissioner Robert Walker
510 Hwy 75 N. Willis, TX 77378
936-539-7815
commissioner.pct1@mctx.org
Montgomery County Commissioner Precinct 2
Office of Commissioner Charlie Riley
19110 Unity Park Drive
Magnolia, Texas 77355
281-259-6492
karen.cantrell@mctx.org
Montgomery County Commissioner Precinct 3
Commissioner James Noack
1130 Pruitt Rd
Spring, Texas 77380
Spring: 281-367-3977
Conroe: 936-539-7817
Fax: 281-364-4231
Evan.Besong@mctx.org
Montgomery County Commissioner Precinct 4
Commissioner Matt Gray
Contact us
936-597-4444
contactp4@mctx.org
Office
23628 Roberts Road
New Caney, TX 77357
County Judge
Judge Mark J. Keough
Contact Us:
501 North Thompson
Conroe, Texas 77301
Suite 401 - Fourth Floor of the Alan B. Sadler Commissioners' Court Building
(936) 539-7812
email: cojudge@mctx.org