In a recent development, Montgomery County has greenlit the establishment of a novel citizen-led book review board dedicated to overseeing the content within the children’s, young adult, and parenting sections of its public libraries.
This decision, made earlier this week, opens up the opportunity for any resident to nominate books falling under these three categories for review. Interested individuals are required to provide their name and contact details with their submissions, although proof of residency within the county is not mandated.
The framework for this initiative, titled the “Reconsideration of Library Materials” policy, was discussed during the Montgomery County Commissioners Court meeting held on Tuesday. According to the policy’s guidelines, “a panel of citizens, appointed by members of the Commissioners Court will meet to formally consider the Request for Reconsideration of Library Materials.”
Expressing reservations regarding the absence of librarians in this process, Teresa Kenney, the proprietor of a bookstore in The Woodlands, articulated concerns about the new procedure. “We’re all in the business, we all have a passion for sharing our love for reading,” she remarked. “To restrict librarians who are incredibly well-educated, I think, is very disadvantageous to our community.”
Under the newly introduced protocol, both the citizen committee and the individual submitting a book for reconsideration are obligated to read the entire book before its review. Subsequently, the book may be relocated to a section targeting an older audience or potentially removed altogether.
Notably, books targeting adult audiences will not fall under the jurisdiction of the citizen review committee; instead, they will undergo assessment by a committee inclusive of at least two librarians. Moreover, the policy emphasizes that “library material should not be removed based upon viewpoint or information, but only upon the objective standard laid fourth in the collection development and maintenance policy.”
Nevertheless, concerns persist among advocates regarding the potential for censorship stemming from this committee’s decisions.
Anne Russey, co-founder of the Texas Freedom to Read Project and a parent within the Katy Independent School District, voiced her opposition to a similar book policy enacted in the Houston-area district last September. This policy prohibited any books depicting or implying nudity. Russey emphasized the politicization of library books both statewide and nationally.
Speaking to the underlying motivations behind proponents of book bans and censorship, Russey remarked, “Their best idea of kind of what proponents of book bans and censorship are saying is that their intention is to protect children.” She further elaborated, “But what we see in example after example is the books that they’re actively fighting to remove are more and more books that include affirming and inclusive messages for LGBTQ young people, for youth, and children.”
In response to Montgomery County’s new book review policy, Russey’s organization has initiated a petition. As of Thursday, the petition has garnered over 1,300 signatures from individuals across Texas.
