League City OKs formation of board to review library books
League City leaders approved the creation of a new board to determine whether materials that some consider offensive can be allowed in the public library.
City Council voted 5-3 to approve an ordinance that authorizes the formation of a board to review community members’ complaints about the appropriateness of library items, specifically materials in the children’s section. The vote came after dozens of residents spoke out against the ordinance during the public speaking portion of Tuesday night’s meeting. It also followed months of heated protests from the community and civil liberties groups.
“I think it’s wrong on so many levels, and again I do not trust anybody in an elected position making decisions that should be made between a parent and a child,” said Councilmember John Bowen, who voted against the item.
Tuesday’s vote allows the panel, to be named the Community Standards Review Committee, to review the content of challenged library items during a 30day process and determine whether their access should be restricted.
The approved version of the ordinance included a revision that any challenged library item could not be removed or restricted without supermajority support from City Council.
“I think that would remove some of the politics from it and to really show that it’s the book that’s the problem,” said Councilmember Tom Crews.
The board would assume a role previously handled by the city’s existing library board to review complaints about library materials, a process Mayor Nick Long has called flawed, saying a system is needed to give a voice to community members who felt their concerns have been ignored by the library staff.
The council’s decision drew criticism from Shirley Robinson, executive director of the Texas Library Association.
“It is disheartening to see League City leaders approve of creating a review committee to dictate which materials are
available within the public library,” she said in a statement Wednesday. “Allowing a committee of City Council-appointed members to decide which books should be removed from the public library based on vaguely defined ‘obscenity’ criteria is concerning and will likely lead to content to be taken out of context, resulting in the potential removal of books that have significant value to members of our community.”
Councilmember Chad Tressler, who voted against the ordinance and is the most vocal opponent of the original resolution introduced in December, argued that the revisions make little difference in the overall outcome.
“The fact is it is still what was originally intended,” Tressler said. “What was first published on our agenda — and through multiple revisions — was an attempt to define books as offensive, harmful or inappropriate because they were books that addressed certain communities within our community, plain and simple. That’s not right and taking some of the language out of the ordinance doesn’t change the fact that that was the intent.”
The committee would consist of three members from the library board and three members with a background in childhood education appointed by the mayor and approved by council, with a chairperson acting as a potential tiebreaker.
The makeup of the committee has been a point of contention for many who opposed the formation of the board, saying it will result in a hand-picked committee stacked against the interest of the community.
“This is just political grandstanding, and this opaque cabal will consist of Christians who fall in line with an agenda,” said resident Scott Berger.
Before the first reading of the ordinance Feb. 14, the reference to a tiebreaker was part of the amended version ultimately approved, but council has so far not given any specific details about this role, including how that member would be appointed.
“The resolution and ordinance have been amended six times,” Danica Surman, a teacher in the Houston area and a member of the LGBTQ community, said after the vote Tuesday. “Tonight’s amendment (to the ordinance) was an improvement, but we still fear this committee will try to target books they’re not legally allowed to target.”
Other opponents say the council is catering to politically motivated agendas that would limit access to certain kinds of educational materials and suppress LGBTQ voices and representation at the library.
“This is an attack on our gay community,” said League City resident John Cobarruvias. “When I was in the service, I took an oath to the Constitution to protect everybody no matter who they love. I believe there are better things to do with your time, and this is not it.”
Tuesday’s vote came nearly three months after the council voted 4-3 on Dec. 6 to pass a resolution to potentially ban certain books from the library if they met a vaguely articulated definition of “obscene.” The resolution outlined thematic categories including rape, bondage and books that “discuss or depict any type of sex, nudity, sexual preference or related topics where the intended audience is below the age of 10.” The resolution joins a national trend of local entities that target materials relating to themes of racism, sexuality and LGBTQ issues.
Tressler accused some council members of misrepresenting their objectives.
“When they talk to supporters on social media who don’t actually pay attention to the meetings, they tell them that they won, that this is a book ban, that this is going to somehow protect kids from being exposed to lifestyles they find offensive,” he said, “Yet when they talk to the press or they come here to council, they tell us this is not a book ban.
“That’s doublespeak and hiding your intentions, and it’s dishonest. I’m embarrassed to be a part of this board if that’s how we’re going to operate — at least own what you’re doing.”
The Galveston County Library Alliance, a grassroots group created in response to the League City Council’s recent library measures, held a protest outside council chambers before the meeting. Some read excerpts from books that have a history of being banned.
Alan Van Fleet held up his laptop to show council members an e-book version of “To Kill a Mockingbird,” which has been challenged repeatedly since it was published in 1960.
“They got what they wanted and that’s to allow people to oppose books they don’t agree with based on values that don’t represent all the constituents of League City,” said Katherine Swanson, a representative of the group. “I predict we’re going to have an influx of absurd reconsiderations for books in the library.”
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas, which has issued letters of oppositions to council, stated after the Feb. 14 vote that it would be paying close attention to League City as the measures are implemented.
Tressler warned the council about lawsuits, as did several members of the community.
“Our voices have fallen on deaf ears, and it's no longer if someone sues the city, but when someone sues the city the moment a book is banned,” said resident Jeff Murello. “This will cost the city money.”