Samuels Library Trustees make rulings on 3 books location, create new youth library card categories

On July 10th the Samuels Public Library Board of Trustees met with its Ad Hoc Committee to reach decisions on public appeals of rulings of library staff on several titles submitted for removal from the library by members of the CleanUp Samuels Library (CSL) group. That group and its supporters are seeking removal of 134 books dealing with sexual identity or sexual behavior issues at various points through puberty available in youth sections of the library.

Initial decisions to retain the books were appealed by petitioners, bringing the matter to the Library Trustees through its Ad Hoc Committee. Books at issue on July 10 were “I am Jazz”, “This is Why They Hate Us”, and “Ana on the Edge”. Motions by the committee and decisions by the Board of Trustees were as follows:

1. “I Am Jazz” – this is a Juvenile Non-Fiction title. The Committee recommended retaining the book in its current location. A motion to retain was made and seconded, with 12 board members voting to retain the title as is and 2 in opposition.
2. “This is Why They Hate Us” – this was a Young Adult Fiction title. The Committee recommended moving this book to the newly created New Adult Collection. A motion was made and seconded on that recommendation, and was passed unanimously.
3. “Ana on the Edge” – this is a Juvenile Fiction title. The Committee recommended retaining the book in its current location. Again a motion was made and seconded on that recommendation, with 12 Board members voting to retain the title as is and 2 opposed.

Samuels Public Library from the front, Criser Road, side, appearing somewhat fenced in. Royal Examiner File Photo

The week following these decisions Royal Examiner sat down with library officials and asked where they were in the ongoing process related to the removal requests initiated by the CSL group. Library Director Michelle Ross explained, “Staff are continuing to review the Requests for Reconsideration that we’ve received according to our procedures. We are creating a new collection, ‘New Adult’ which is for 16 through college aged. Staff are evaluating each title in the Young Adult collection to determine what needs to be moved.

“We have implemented two new card types,” Ross added of a result of discussion between library staff and board of supervisor members. Of those new cards, she elaborated, “There is a Juvenile Limited card which restricts access to only physical juvenile materials. This card type can’t check out Hoopla or Libby e-books, Young Adult materials, New Adult materials, or Adult materials. There is a Young Adult Limited card which limits them to Juvenile and Young Adult physical materials. This card type can’t check out Hoopla or Libby e-books, New Adult materials, or Adult materials. We are continuing to work with the Board of Supervisors on an agreement and have hope that we can arrive at a compromise that addresses concerns without infringing on anyone’s First Amendment rights.”

Royal Examiner file photo of Library Director Michelle Ross exerting her 1st Amendment right to get out of the office, here at the Library’s ‘Story Walk’ along Eastham Park.

During our discussion, it was noted that a new influx of requests for reconsideration of some books had been received. How would this impact the process, we asked.

“We did receive an additional 200 Requests for Reconsideration. Many of the titles are repeats of ones we’ve already received. We will work on them as we have the others,” Ross said, observing of the process, “It does take a lot of staff time to review each title. Staff members read the books in their entirety, and research reviews and other relevant information regarding the title.”

And so it goes as Samuels Public Library staff and its Board of Trustees, as well as County officials, navigate the legal, Constitutional, and philosophical minefield between opposing sides of the issue of what is proper reading material for youth traversing puberty in this third decade of the 21st century, perhaps with questions about their own sexual identity and approaching physical maturity.

Are the books at issue simply “pornography” as many in the CSL movement contend or are they books offering emotional or educational support to children facing their own sexual identity and behavioral questions as they make their way through their teenage years toward young adulthood? And even if the latter, is such support an unjustified use of the tax revenue of people who would consider such support of what they see as non-traditional sexual identities as a “sin” on the road to eternal damnation?

Uh oh, here comes one of those Constitutional minefield issues regarding the separation of church and state in an increasingly volatile national debate on religious values being applied to the laws of the nation.