Public outcry may have dulled the blow of one controversial Manatee County proposal.
County commissioners unanimously voted April 18 to authorize staff to work with Commissioner Amanda Ballard to craft an ordinance expanding the existing five-person county library advisory board by four members, as well as increasing board duties to include collection development.
The Manatee County Public Library System includes seven facilities throughout the county, including the Island Library, 5701 Marina Drive, Holmes Beach, which features collections of printed books, digital material and movies, as well as offers tools, classes and special events.
The county’s existing library advisory board meets monthly to discuss library policy for commission consideration and consists of five people, including one person appointed by the city of Bradenton and one person appointed by the city of Palmetto.
The other three members, a majority of the board, are appointed by the county commission based on residency, including:
- One who must be a resident of the unincorporated areas of the county;
- One from the county at-large;
- One who must be a resident of either Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach or the town of Longboat Key, based on recommendations from the four municipal governments.
All appointments are for four years.
The terms of three current members, including those appointed by the cities of Bradenton and Palmetto, as well as a county commission-appointed island resident, will expire Jan. 1, 2024.
The April 18 work meeting agenda included a one-line proposal from Ballard to consider the establishment of a “citizen’s advisory board for library collection development.”
The item sparked a protest outside the county administration building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, where about 15 people gathered.
The protestors carried signs opposing the proposal and chanted “Ban ignorance, not books” and “Trust librarians to do their job!”
Shannon Keever, communications director for Women’s Voices of Southwest Florida, led the protest and told The Islander April 18 that she homeschools her two children with the assistance of library resources.
“Really, it comes down to what’s the government’s job on protecting our children from materials in the library, versus what is the parents’ job of deciding what is and isn’t appropriate for their own children,” Keever said. “This is a nonpartisan issue.”
She said the board of county commissioners was “trying to stoke” culture wars and provide a solution to an issue that doesn’t exist.
“They’re trying to usurp (the existing board’s) authority,” Keever added. “I think they’re doing fine. I think we need to trust our librarians. I think we need to trust the processes we already have.”
Ballard said at the meeting that the libraries had a “responsibility to present all points of view” and proposed creating a 15-member advisory board based on demographics to oversee the development of the system’s collection.
She said the board would consist of two parents of children ages 0-5, two parents of children ages 6-18, two homeschooling parents, four general community members, two teachers, one library professional or retiree, as well as two at-large retirees.
The board would not have the power to remove materials from libraries or veto library acquisitions but would work with staff to review items for purchase, according to Ballard.
She said that while the library system already allows people to request new acquisitions, she wanted to pursue a 10%-15% “patron-driven” acquisition model.
Ballard’s original motion, which was seconded by Commissioner Jason Bearden, also included:
- A requirement for a parent’s presence or signed parental consent form for children under the age of 16 to borrow books featuring young adult fiction, adult fiction, human sexuality, sexual techniques, sexual orientation and sexual hygiene;
- The addition of physical genre labels to children’s books, specifically labeling books comprising LGBTQA+, human sexuality and coming-of-age content.
Ballard mocked claims that the discussion was fascist or involved potentially banning and/or removing books and said such claims were attempts to fearmonger.
Her proposal stemmed from a Feb. 21 workshop where county library services manager Tammy Parrott presented an update on operations.
Following Parrott’s presentation, almost every county commissioner voiced criticism.
Commissioner James Satcher suggested the library system split from the American Library Association because he claimed it pushed “indoctrinal (sic) ideology” that resulted in “a bunch of left-wing ideology books on our shelves.”
Satcher also discussed establishing a review process for books that receive complaints from patrons.
Ballard claimed the library’s collection had a “liberal” skew and proposed establishing a collection development oversight board.
Bearden suggested funding the purchase of new books by selling some of the library’s existing collection to the blue states of New York or California.
Commissioner George Kruse reminded board members of their words at the April 18 workshop.
“You can’t say, ‘Nobody has mentioned taking away books.’ Literally, at our work session, people were talking about taking books out of the library,” Kruse said. “You can’t just spout off at times for soundbites or to prove a point. … There was a conversation about that, so you can’t fault people for thinking what we said.”
Kruse argued that there hadn’t been any issue with the library system over the past 50 years and said Ballard’s proposed board would be redundant since the county commission already controlled a majority of the existing board.
“I like smaller government, that’s just me,” he said. “I also think the government is terrible at overseeing my life and to find a way of expanding government with an additional advisory board to tell me more of what to do with my life seems to be counterintuitive to everything I campaigned on.”
Kruse added that the library system already features a way to request new acquisitions and does not allow children ages 12 or under inside without parental supervision.
Out of 51 public comments submitted to the county via email ahead of the meeting, totaling 65 pages of email threads, 48 expressed opposition to Ballard’s proposal and two voiced support.
One comment was miscategorized and did not address the library issue.
During public comment, 14 out of 18 in-person commenters — including Keever and several protesters — voiced opposition to Ballard’s motion.
Julie Perry of the Friends of the Island Library was one of the 14 opponents.
“This is censorship, plain and simple,” Perry said. “To impose your ideology on others with fear is dangerous to Manatee County. … Our librarians are the epitome of professionalism, leadership and integrity. Please respect their knowledge, education and experience they bring.”
Following public comment, Ballard said she could understand how her proposed board might be redundant.
She amended her motion to instead expand the existing board by four members and to increase duties to include advice on collection development.
Bearden seconded the motion, which passed.
Assistant county attorney Bill Clague said he would work on a proposed ordinance for commission consideration.
Perry told The Islander April 20 that she believes public feedback played a part in Ballard amending her motion.
“I do think that the public was heard,” Perry said. “I hope that the public will continue to be heard and continue to have a voice.”
She added that she did not oppose the expansion of the existing board if the county commission did not “cherry-pick” the new appointees.
“I would like this board to have a diverse opinion of ideology,” Perry said.