Plans set for public meeting on library books
Posted on Thursday, September 8, 2005
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Fayetteville School Library Book debate
Fayetteville resident Laurie Taylor has made a proposal to place certain Fayetteville Public School library books she considers to be inappropriate for students on a restricted access shelf. Fayetteville School District patrons received a chance to voice their opinions on whether to restrict student access to certain school library books at a special town hall meeting. The Fayetteville School board eventually decided by a narrow margin not to restrict access to certain books. The stories below cover the issue from its beginings through the decision by the school board and the aftermath.
- School board spends much of 2005 debating books (01-01-2006)
- Taylor becomes public figure with war against books (01-01-2006)
- Times Editorial : A good sign (10-06-2005)
- Taylor joins UA debate team for discussion of library books (10-06-2005)
- School committee says ‘crude’ book to stay in FHS library (10-05-2005)
- UA debate team addressing school’s recent book issue (10-05-2005)
- Books wonít be restricted (09-16-2005)
- Times Editorial : Back to the books II (09-15-2005)
- The great book debate (09-14-2005)
- Times Editorial : Back to the books (09-13-2005)
Whether student access to certain books in Fayetteville Public School libraries should be restricted has been one of the most talked about community issues this year.
Due to space limitations, though, only 300 seats are available for the "town hall meeting"scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to gather public input on the issue. The meeting will be held in the Fayetteville High School auditorium.
In a press release, the district said because seating is limited, parents, patrons, students and staff members will receive first seating priority. If any additional seats are available before the meeting begins, those who are not parents, patrons, students or staff members will be allowed to fill the remaining seats.
Public comments will also be limited to parents, patrons, students and staff members of the district.
School board resident Steve Percival said a patron would be someone who pays school property taxes, resides in the district, has a child in the schools or is a district employee.
The meeting comes after much campaigning by Fayetteville resident Laurie Taylor to restrict student access to books that are allegedly sexually explicit in school libraries. This summer, she released a list of 54 books she found objectionable.
More recently, Taylor formed an organization called Parents Protecting the Minds of Children to mobilize her efforts.
Taylor questioned how the officials would be able to judge whether someone was fit to attend. She also said though she and her supporters plan to attend, it might be better to just put the issue to a vote rather than listen to people make the same arguments for and against the books over and over again. "They know both sides of the argument,"she said.
Taylor also said it seemed ridiculous to take comments from students since they are minors and don't necessarily know what is best for them. "I can't imagine them taking comments from students,"she said.
Percival said he wasn't sure if the district would have some sort of door guard to ask those entering the building if they fit the criteria. Ideally, people from out of town would let this be resolved locally. "This is a Fayetteville School District issue, and we feel we should hear from those who are directly involved and have a stake in this issue,"he said.
The intent in making the announcement is to politely deter everyone Arkansas, northeast Oklahoma and southwest Missouri who may have an opinion on the issue from attending the meeting, he said.
At a previous school board meeting, Percival said he didn't think the board should consider opinions from people who have "no standing"with the district.
Recent regular board meetings have been attended by 50 to 70 people interested in the issue, so hopefully a room that seats 300 will be big enough, Percival said.
Percival said he expects patrons who attend and speak at the meeting to be respectful of others even if they disagree with their opinions. People shouldn't be subjected to personal attacks because of their thoughts on the matter, he said. "Disrespect won't be tolerated,"he said. "I don't know why, but it's become too personal for some people."
Time limits and procedures for making public comments are still being thought out, Percival said.
Dr. Kathleen Paulson, who oversees another group campaigning against the removal or restriction of access to any books in school libraries. The group is loose-knit and doesn't have a formal name.
Paulson said she didn't have any problem with the crowd limit given that it is a space issue, and she agrees Fayetteville patrons should be allowed in first.
A special school board meeting will be held at a later date following the town hall meeting. At the next meeting, the board will hear from district librarians and the school district attorney on the issue.
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