Two-minute impact
Lake Travis ISD officials proposed a new library policy at a Nov. 15 board of trustees meeting recognizing a parent’s role in selecting their students’ books and banning harmful or obscene material.
Under the new policy, the district would increase transparency and access for parents and community members by allowing them to review library materials and take part in “library acquisition, maintenance and campus activities,” according to the policy draft.
Although staff may assist students in selecting materials, “the ultimate determination of appropriateness remains with the student and parent,” the policy reads. The policy encourages parents to discuss which library books their student may read with librarians and teachers, and select alternative materials.
Parents or community members may also challenge library books they deem inappropriate. If an initial review by district staff finds that a book is harmful or obscene, the formal reconsideration process would be expedited, and the material would be temporarily removed from schools until a final determination is made, according to the policy.
The reconsideration committee, which may include parents, staff and middle or high school students, would take a vote on whether to keep or remove the material, according to an administrative document outlining the reconsideration process. The complainant then has the option to appeal.
The background
The policy comes as many districts across the state have re-evaluated their library policies in recent years, LTISD General Counsel Allyson Collins said. The district launched a digital form in the spring allowing parents to challenge books and see books under review.
In September, a new state law went into effect prohibiting sexually explicit or pervasively vulgar material in public schools. The law may require the district to re-evaluate hundreds of thousands of books, Collins said.
“We’re thinking, logistically, you’re going to have to set eyes on every single book in every single library, and that comes with no funding from the state,” Collins said.
What they’re saying
Lakeway Elementary School Librarian Brekka Larrew expressed concerns about the proposed policy. Larrew said she was unaware of the policy until the day before the meeting and confused why district librarians were not involved in drafting it.
“The policy under consideration may place unnecessary hurdles and burdens on us or on our students,” Larrew said. “[Parents] have every right to decide what books their child can and cannot read, and we respect their choices. However, a parent cannot decide what all children read.”
Place 5 board member Kim Flasch said there would be many opportunities to modify the policy and for district librarians to give their input.
“We want to make sure that we’re doing this as a partnership with you,” Flasch said to librarians present at the meeting. “This is for all of our community. This is for everybody.”
What’s next?
The district will seek feedback from staff members on the proposed policy and may make revisions before the board of trustees takes a vote.
