Round Rock ISD officials approved updates to a policy guiding how the district purchases library materials, what qualifies as such, as well as how and who might challenge these materials as the district contends with new laws following the 89th legislative session.

What you need to know

Updates to policy EFB Local, which guides the district's acquisition of library materials were approved Aug. 14 in a specially called board meeting.

The details

The update includes among its proposed changes:
  • The addition of a process of public input and board adoption of a list of materials planned for procurement for the district's libraries, or to receive as donations
  • Requiring trustees to approve recommendations for library materials to be added to the district's catalog
  • Language barring materials containing "profane" or "indecent" content, or referring a reader to a website containing content that is legally prohibited
  • Restriction of access to challenged materials during the challenge process
  • Expanding scope of who can challenge library materials to once again include residents. The board updated its policy last year to limit challenges to parents, guardians and employees of the district.
The policy update was approved 6-0, with board Secretary Amber Landrum abstaining.


What they're saying

Landrum expressed concern about the policy changes, which would have the board approve new acquisitions for the district's catalog of library materials, which previously was the responsibility of administrators and library staff. The policy would have administrators recommend books for procurement and make this list available to the public for 30 days before going to the board for approval.

"I feel that it is grossly inappropriate to put this back on the board and to take that responsibility away from our highly trained librarians who have master's degrees in this area, and to put it on lay people who are on a board that don't have this experience and don't have this training," Landrum said. "I just don't think it's appropriate or even sustainable to ask a trustee to review 28,000 books or even 100 books."

Similarly, board President Tiffanie Harrison described the potential implementation of this policy as "overwhelming."


What's next?

RRISD General Counsel Cindy Hill said additional updates for different district policies will be brought to the board at future meetings.