Midway ISD moves quickly to implement Senate Bill 13 rules for library access, delays creating advisory council

Midway Independent School District officials told trustees on Tuesday they have implemented several immediate changes to comply with Senate Bill 13, the new Texas law on school library materials that takes effect Sept. 1, and recommended adopting board-level policy that does not yet create a local School Library Advisory Council.

The administration described how parents can now view their child—s school library catalog and checkout history in Midway—s Destiny (Follett) platform and can block individual titles for their child. Trustees approved EFB(Local) as presented on the consent agenda, which the administration said implements four of the law—s five main components while deferring the optional advisory council.

Dr. Becky Otejima, leader of the district—s teaching and learning department, said SB 13 contains five components: enhanced parent access to library catalogs and checkout records, a state-mandated library collection standard to be issued by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, new board-review procedures for acquisitions, a formal…