“I think what we’ve seen in the library mirrors what we’re seeing in schools and in communities,” Brumett said. While Brumett has taken some concerns and complaints from patrons about LGBTQ-related materials, she said they represent a minority of the people who use the library on a daily basis. While the Christian County Library District is separate from the Nixa School District, Brumett says some of the same hot button issues are reaching the library district’s four branches. It’s a great system that serves the community well, but we are getting a lot of people not liking some of the decisions being made.” “There are a lot of things going on, not just in the county, but all over the state, with the discussion about age-appropriate materials,” Morris said. Morris said those current events are likely at the heart of the current surge in interested applicants. The Nixa School District in 2022 and in June voted to remove titles from its high school library based on such feedback, and its dealings with the issue have been featured in The New Yorker and The Washington Post. The debate over such access has reached Christian County. The rules require increased clarification of intended age groups, and expand that clarification to events, displays and presentations. A rule passed by Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft placed new regulations that generally prohibit state funding from going toward a library system that does not consider whether materials are appropriate for minors.Two of them: “Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel” and “Blankets,” were removed from the high school’s library on Tuesday during a special board meeting “Maus” was allowed to remain available for checkout. This new law led Nixa librarians to ask the board for reconsideration of three titles. A law passed by the General Assembly prohibits elementary and secondary educators from providing explicit sexual materials to students, and classifies doing so as a class A misdemeanor.Missouri has seen its policies and regulations change recently: LGBTQ-related issues have been in the spotlight, as people against public exposure of such issues have rallied lawmakers and governmental boards to either remove or limit public access to such materials. I didn’t want to shut them out.” Part of national movement “They have equal opportunity, and that is important to me. “I’m glad (Suarez and Bishop) are going to apply,” Morris said. In light of Suarez and Bishop not serving full terms, Morris said that the commission decided to open up the selection process. He also heard from people with concerns about the placement of LGBTQ-related library materials in public view. Morris, however, said he heard from people who did not think that was a good idea. “That’s what we had been planning to do this year.” Story continues below “In the past, if a board member wanted to continue serving, the seated board would agree to recommend a reappointment to commissioners,” Brumett said. Seats on the board are unpaid, volunteer positions. Both Suarez and Bishop are completing partial terms, having been appointed to fill vacancies. In previous years, the library board has reviewed applicants and made recommendations to the commission for approval, Christian County Library Executive Director Renee Brumett explained. It is taking a more active role in filling the positions on the library’s oversight board. Part of the reason for the surge deals with the county commission itself. “It shows a real serious interest in the selection process.” Commission taking a more active role “I don’t think the library has ever had that many applicants,” said Christian County Presiding Commissioner Lynn Morris. The terms of President Matthew Suarez and current Treasurer Paula Bishop will expire at the end of July.īoth board members have re-applied to serve in the volunteer positions, but so have 21 other people. On that day, a public meeting will be held to name two persons to fill two open spots on the Christian County Library District’s Board of Trustees. Two board members’ terms of service and a national focus on LGBTQ-related materials at libraries converged in Christian County, where an extraordinary appointment hearing will be held on July 3.
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