Committee reviews library book list to comply with Senate Bill 13; list limited to Laredo campus for now

Penny Price, director of library and media services, briefed the business and support services committee on Oct. 9 about a list of proposed library purchases to meet requirements of Senate Bill 13.

Price told the committee that SB 13 expanded parental rights and added board review requirements for library collections, including notifying parents about books their children check out, providing parents access to collections and posting book lists 30 days before board review. She said the list in the committee packet applies to the Laredo campus and that other campus lists will be brought forward in February and in future board cycles.

A trustee asked whether a local history title about Laredo could be added; Price said she already has a list of campuses that do not yet have the title and would recommend librarians include it in their orders. Another trustee asked for clarification that the committee was approving only the list before them, and Price confirmed that was the case; campus‑level itemizations would follow.

No committee vote was recorded; staff said the item will be included on the Oct. 16 regular board meeting agenda for review and approval per SB 13 requirements.