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Residents urge Pasco commissioners to remove certain library materials and restrict access for children
Summary
Several residents spoke during public comment asking the board and library leadership to remove materials they described as inappropriate from county libraries and to change policy on library card access for children; speakers identified themselves as members of Protect Our Children and related local groups.
Several members of the public used the board’s public-comment period on April 9 to urge Pasco County commissioners to remove what they described as sexually explicit and age-inappropriate materials from public libraries and to alter library-card policies for minors.
Pastor Troy Peterson, who identified himself as pastor of Flight of the World Tabernacle and Pasco director for Protect Our Children, said he was “thankful for Commissioner [Waitman] for standing up against this wickedness that has tried to come in to indoctrinate our children.” Peterson said he preferred the materials not be in the library at all and asked the board to act to “protect our children.”
Valerie LaFrance identified herself as speaking for Protect Our Children Project and told the board she had spoken with Sean McGarvey, the county library director, and with county staff but remained “concerned” about the library’s materials and card policies. LaFrance asked Commissioner Waitman to poll his colleagues and “get back with me to find out where each of you stand.”
Kayla Nunez, who said she is a mother of three and lives in New Port Richey, urged the board to “turn back toward God’s law” and said that materials in taxpayer-funded libraries are “available freely to our children,” which she opposed. Her remarks included a prayer and religious references; she asked the board to remove the materials and to change the policy on library-card access.
What the board said Chairman Starkey and other commissioners acknowledged the public comments; the record shows staff (library director Sean McGarvey) had met with questioners previously. The board did not vote or direct a specific policy change during the public-comment period recorded at this meeting.
Ending note Speakers requested direct follow-up from Commissioners and staff; no formal board action on library materials or card policy was taken at the April 9 meeting.
