A book aiming to educate teens on relationships and safe sex, among other subjects, was moved to the adult section of the Hudson Library following a vote by the Fontana Regional Library board.
FRL Director Tracy Fitzmaurice confirmed that the FRL board of trustees voted 5-2, with two members absent, during a special-called meeting Monday, June 5, to move “Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human” from the teen section to the adult section of the Hudson Library in Highlands.
A second book, “Nick and Charlie,” will remain in the teen section of FRL libraries after it didn’t get enough votes to move or remove.
Fitzmaurice said the decision applies to all six FRL libraries if they choose to add “Let’s Talk About It” to their inventory. According to its online database, there’s one copy of “Let’s Talk About It” in the FRL system, located at the Hudson Library in Highlands. Fitzmaurice confirmed the copy is now in the adult section after the vote. There are three copies of “Nick and Charlie” in the FRL system, one each at the Macon County Public Library, Hudson Library and the Jackson County Public Library.
“Let’s Talk About It: The Teen’s Guide to Sex, Relationships, and Being a Human” is a graphic novel by Erika Moen and Matthew Nolan that, according to its description, covers “relationships, friendships, gender, sexuality, anatomy, body image, safe sex, sexting, jealousy, rejection, sex education and more.”
“Nick and Charlie” is a novella in the Heartstopper series by Alice Osema, which according to the book’s description, tells the story of a gay teen couple who is about to become separated as one goes off to college.
The challenge was made by Elizabeth Albers, according to the agenda of the June 5 meeting. It was not said why each book was challenged, but both books contain descriptions and illustrations of a sexual nature. This follows multiple claims by a group of Macon County residents to the library boards and county commissioners over the last two years that books containing sexual illustrations and descriptions should not be available to adolescents, saying it is akin to giving children pornography. Many have singled out books featuring gay and lesbian characters and themes.
Fitzmaurice said that at the June 5 meeting, the FRL board considered requests from a patron on each book: remove the books altogether, or if not, then move the books into the adult section.
These requests were appeals of Macon County Librarian Abby Hardison’s decision to not move or remove either book after the initial March 18 complaint. Fitzmaurice said Hardison’s decision came after advisement with the Macon County Public Library’s Board of Trustees. The appeal of Hardison’s decisions was made on May 9, triggering the 30-day FRL board decision timeline.
Fitzmaurice said this was the first time a patron has appealed an FRL librarian’s decision.
According to Fitzmaurice and draft minutes, which haven’t been approved by the FRL board, the first vote on “Let’s Talk About It” was about removal. Ed Trask made a motion to remove the book, but a lack of a second killed it. A motion to move the book to the adult section was made by Wood Lovell and seconded by Trask. The vote passed 5-2.
The same process happened with “Nick and Charlie.” No board member made a motion to remove the book after a call for a motion by the board chair. On the vote to move the book to the adult section, Trask made a motion, but there was no second and it died.
Both decisions are final. Fitzmaurice said those two books can’t be challenged for the next three years.
Each step of the process worked as intended, Fitzmaurice said, with librarians and board members taking the process seriously.
“I think our board worked very hard to make the right decisions,” Fitzmaurice said. “They read the books and did a lot of research. They voted after a lot of consideration. They were very diligent, and I am very grateful for that.
Going forward Fitzmaurice said she expects more book challenges.
New board appointments
A vote was scheduled to be held at the Tuesday, June 13, Macon County Board of Commissioners meeting regarding three new Macon County Public Library board of trustees members. The vote was originally part of the May 21 commissioners’ agenda but was postponed until this month’s meeting.
A total of 17 applications were filed: Elizabeth Albers, Bert Dean Bateman Jr., Justin Bohner, Diann Catlin, Jim Gaston, Leah Gaston, Janet Jacobs Greene, Linda Herman, MaryAnn Ingram, Tim McQuilty, Tricia Genevieve Middleton, Kevin Patterson, Brooke Reale, Patricia Trick, Michael Wray Vargas, Lisa G. Welch and Jennifer Germain. Margaret “Peggy” Hawes Salay withdraw her name from consideration after the May 21 meeting and Germain added hers.
According to Deputy Clerk to the Board of Commissioners Mike Decker, there were eight board members at the start of the year. One seat was vacated by Dr. San Ho Choi and a second by Paula Alter last week after their terms expired. Decker said the county office was told both declined to serve another term.
The third seat to be decided comes after Hardison seeks to fill a ninth seat on the board that is allowed by county bylaws, but previously has not been filled.
Out of the six current board members, three terms expire in 2024, and the other three in 2025. The next three-year term expiration is that of Ed Trask on Feb. 9, 2024. Following Trask is Wood Lovell on July 13, 2024, and Bill Trotter on Aug. 13, 2024. In 2025, the terms of the three remaining members expire: Linda Tyler on Jan. 12, 2025; and both Bill Dyar and Debbie Tallent on March 8, 2025.